Jussie Smollett release

Disgraced former “Empire” star Jussie Smollett is currently in jail serving out his 150-day sentence for allegedly lying to police about staging a hate crime against himself. Now, however, Smollett’s legal team is demanding he be given an emergency release because he has been receiving “vicious threats” while behind bars.

According to Smollett’s brother Jocqui, Jussie has been moved from a psych ward and into a jail cell with a bed.

Smollett Demands Emergency Release

The New York Post reported that in an emergency filing, Smollett’s attorneys claimed that he has been targeted by “vicious threats” on social media, and that this hate from the internet “no doubt reflects the hatred and wish for physical harm toward Smollett, which he may experience during incarceration.” 

A representative for the Smollett family claimed that one of the actor’s siblings was “bombarded” with disturbing phone calls after his or her phone number was listed as Smollett’s emergency contact in the jail system.

“I hope what they do to that guy in jail — here’s what they’re going to do, right. They’re going to take a broom handle, and take that little [expletive], shove it in there, and he’s gonna go, ‘[shrieking sound],’” a man could allegedly be heard screaming on the call.

Related: Former ‘Empire’ Actor Jussie Smollet ‘Placed In Jail Psych Ward’ According To His Brother

Smollett Uses COVID To Try To Get Released 

Smollett’s legal team is also claiming that the actor has a “compromised immune system” and could die if he catches COVID-19 during his time in jail.

While a doctor signed an affidavit supporting this claim, any health conditions Smollett may suffer that would compromise his immune system were not specified.

On top of that, Smollett complained that he is in protective custody, which they say could do “extraordinary damage on his mental health.” 

“As a result, any custodial setting poses a safety and health danger to the life of Mr. Smollett,” they stated, alleging that protective custody is simply a “euphemism” for solitary confinement. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office fired back by stating that a judge had ordered that Smollett be placed in protective custody,  and that he is currently someplace that is “frequently utilized for individuals requiring a high level of supervision and care for mental health needs.” 

“This housing may also be utilized solely for security reasons due to the enhanced monitoring that can occur in this setting, and it would be inaccurate and irresponsible to make any assumption about his mental or medical condition based on where he is currently housed,” the agency continued. “To clarify, Mr. Smollett is not currently on suicide watch.” 

Backstory: Jussie Smollett Unravels In Bizarre Rant After Being Sentenced To Jail Time (VIDEO)

Smollett Claims He’s ‘Not Suicidal’

After being sentenced last Friday, Smollett claimed that he was “not suicidal.”

“I did not do this and I am not suicidal and if anything happens to me when I go there, I did not do it to myself and you must all know that,” Smollett yelled at the judge as he was led away to jail. “Your honor, I respect you and I respect your decision, but I did not do this and I am not suicidal. If anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that.”

Smollett claimed back in 2019 that he was jumped in Chicago by two men who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him while also shouting “this is MAGA country!”

After investigating, police concluded that Smollett had paid two men to attack him in the hopes of raising his profile enough to earn a raise on “Empire.”

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