Appeal court affirms actor Jussie Smollett’s convictions and jail sentence

Jussie Smollett was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

An appeal court has upheld the disorderly conduct convictions of actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to police.

Smollett, who appeared in the TV show Empire, challenged the role of a special prosecutor, jury selection, evidence and many other aspects of the case.