Celebrity / Jussie Smollett Jussie Smollett Enters His Plea As his TV dad looks on in support By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff Posted Mar 14, 2019 11:20 AM CDT Copied 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett, center, arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court Building for his hearing on Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Chicago. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Thursday to 16 charges of lying to authorities. The Empire actor, 36, is accused of staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself Jan. 29. His TV father, Terrance Howard, was in the Chicago courtroom Thursday to support Smollett, Fox News reports. Smollett, who is currently free on bond, is due to return to court April 17. (More Jussie Smollett stories.) Report an error