Late last month, Chicago prosecutors dropped all charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett for filing a false report in his alleged hate crime attack case. Although city officials were convinced the actor staged his own attack with the help of friend, Abel Osundairo and his brother Ola, Smollett, the actor maintained his position as the victim as his lawyers placed the blame on the Nigerian brothers.
But now, just weeks later, the two brothers, who participated in the alleged attack, are suing Smollett’s lawyers for defamation.
In court documents obtained The Blast, Abel and Ola Osundairo have filed a suit against attorney Mark Geragos, his law firm and his associate Tina Glandian, who reportedly represented Smollett in Chicago, for “making public defamatory statements against Plaintiffs, which were published broadly in Illinois by major news outlets.”
“Moreover,” the brothers continued, “these tortious statements involve a hoax conducted in Illinois and orchestrated by Mr. Smollett. Finally, and importantly, these statements also impacted the reputation of Plaintiffs, who are employed and live in Illinois.”
The men addressed the fact that Smollett’s attorneys accused them of carrying out the hateful act and highlighted another instance, in which Glandian suggested that her client had engaged in “homosexual sex acts” with Abel, which is illegal in his country.
“As a result of Ms. Glandian’s comments, Plaintiffs have suffered significant emotional distress and feel unsafe and alienated in their local Chicago community,” they continued. “This is because Ms. Glandian, a very famous attorney, false and publicly stated Plaintiffs have committee a gruesome hate crime, lied under oath, and intentionally misled CPD.”
“Ms. Glandian’s globally broadcasted statements that Bola Osundairo is homosexual endangers him and the lives of his Nigerian family,” the lawsuit said. “Ms. Glandian’s statements indicating Plaintiffs actually criminally battered Mr. Smollett without his consent are patently false and defamatory, as Mr. Smollett originated, planned and orchestrated the attack.”
