The Osundairo Brothers Reveal Jussie Smollett’s Alleged Hollywood Hoax Inspiration
Jussie Smollett’s high-profile legal saga has taken another dramatic turn after Illinois’ Supreme Court overturned his conviction on a technicality, leaving many outraged and reigniting the controversy surrounding his staged hate crime hoax. While Smollett continues to deny wrongdoing, new revelations from the Nigerian brothers he hired to help execute the scheme have sparked fresh debate — and even more intrigue.
Abel and Ola Osundairo, the brothers at the center of Jussie’s hoax, revealed in a recent interview what convinced them to participate in the bizarre incident. According to Abel, Jussie justified the staged attack by claiming that faking dramatic events is common in Hollywood. He even alleged that Kim Kardashian’s traumatic 2016 robbery in Paris, where she was bound and held at gunpoint as $10 million worth of jewelry was stolen, was fabricated.
“[Jussie] made it seem like this is what Hollywood does,” Abel shared, adding, “He mentioned Kim Kardashian. During that time, she had an incident where she got robbed and kidnapped in France, and he said that was made up, that was fake. So that’s what I was thinking, like, ‘oh, this is what Hollywood does.’ My brother and I are professional actors, and we thought, ‘oh, this is our introduction into Hollywood.’”
Kim’s robbery was widely reported at the time, with French authorities arresting and convicting the perpetrators. There has never been any suggestion from officials that the incident was staged.
Jussie’s claim is just one twist in a saga that began in January 2019, when the actor reported being attacked in Chicago by two men shouting racist and homophobic slurs. He claimed the attackers wore MAGA hats and tied a noose around his neck. However, police quickly discovered that the Osundairo brothers, whom the actor had paid $3,500, were the alleged perpetrators.
Abel and Ola have since spoken out against Jussie’s actions, urging him to admit his guilt. “It was not about the money at all. It was more so us helping out a friend,” Abel said, emphasizing that their motivation was not financial, though they are still owed $500. “The real injustice,” Ola added, “was the sweetheart deal he was given by Kim Foxx’s office at the beginning of all of this.”
In 2021, Jussie was convicted of lying to police after a contentious trial. However, his sentence was overturned this week due to a legal technicality involving the initial deal offered by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. The court’s decision has drawn sharp criticism, with many arguing that the actor received leniency because of his celebrity status.
The case has long been a flashpoint for public frustration. Former President Donald Trump and Chicago officials called Jussie’s hoax an “embarrassment” and a “whitewash of justice.” Critics argue that the actor exploited racial tensions for personal gain, while the Osundairo brothers lament that such privilege highlights the disparity between ordinary citizens and powerful individuals.
