The actor, famed for his role in the television series "Empire," had been accused of orchestrating a racist and homophobic attack on himself in January 2019 in Chicago.

Smollett, who identifies as black and gay, originally reported that he was assaulted by two men who shouted racial slurs, attacked him, and placed a noose around his neck. The incident quickly garnered widespread media attention. However, in 2021, Smollett was convicted on five counts of disorderly conduct after two men testified that they were paid $3,500 by Smollett to stage the attack. Subsequently, Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail but served only six days before being released pending appeal.

The overturning of Smollett's conviction stems from an argument by his attorneys that a special prosecutor should not have been brought in after the Cook County State Attorney’s Office dropped the initial charges in exchange for community service. The state Supreme Court agreed, emphasizing in their opinion that it would be more unjust to set a precedent where legally binding agreements, such as the one made with Smollett, could be disregarded.

However, the decision has not been without controversy. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, among others, expressed frustration, arguing that Smollett avoided necessary accountability for what they see as unethical actions. The uproar had previously led to a special prosecutor re-establishing charges against Smollett, complicating the legal landscape of the case.

According to prosecutors during the trial, Smollett’s alleged motive for staging the attack was dissatisfaction with the studio's reaction to hate mail he had received. Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout, insisting the incident was a genuine hate crime.

This high-profile case continues to elicit a wide array of opinions, highlighting complex issues about justice, celebrity influence, and public trust in legal agreements.