Netflix has just dropped “The Truth About Jussie Smollett?”—and, wow, it’s the documentary everyone’s talking about again. This isn’t just a rehash of old headlines. The 86-minute film dishes up exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage, letting Smollett break his silence since the drama rocked Hollywood in 2019. Ready to have your assumptions shaken up? Here’s what you need to know about the doc that’s challenging everything you thought about one of the wildest scandals in recent celebrity history.
Jussie Smollett’s Side of the Story Gets the Mic
For the first time since his 2019 interview with Robin Roberts, Jussie Smollett himself sits down to tell his version of events. The film gives equal space to:
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Smollett’s personal account—his claim of being attacked outside a Chicago Subway at 2 a.m., with all the original details: slurs, bleach, and the infamous noose.
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Police, lawyers, and investigators involved in the case, including exclusive interviews with former Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Smollett’s lawyer, Tina Glandian.
Smollett maintains his innocence throughout and directly addresses the burning questions about withheld phone records and the decision to put the rope back on for police. He reveals his reasoning: privacy concerns, mostly about not wanting his drug use publicized, not to hide evidence.
5 Major Things the Netflix Documentary Reveals
1. The Case Wasn’t as Open-and-Shut as You Thought
The film splits the story in two: first laying out the prosecution’s narrative (with evidence collecting, footage, and payment trail), then diving into the inconsistencies and claims that cast doubt on the entire investigation.
2. Prosecutors Got It Wrong—Or Did They?
Past news mostly headlined the “hoax,” but the doc includes new alleged evidence and counter-arguments that question the certainty of the conviction. Smollett’s conviction was overturned in November 2024 by the Illinois Supreme Court; legally, he cannot be re-tried for this case.
3. The Osundairo Brothers Tell Their Side
The documentary brings the Osundairo brothers—the extras on Empire who say Smollett paid them to stage the attack—front and center. Their testimony is detailed, but so are the holes in everyone’s stories. The film lets viewers play jury, highlighting how perspectives differ based on which “facts” you trust.
4. The Case’s Media Madness
A major theme: how the story exploded online and in politics. The doc digs into how the early #BelieveJussie movement transformed into accusations of a “modern-day lynching hoax,” with major public figures—from then-VP Kamala Harris to President Trump—taking strong stances before the investigation was closed.
5. Some Questions Just Don’t Have Answers
The most important truth? There’s no definitive “solution.” There’s no video of the attack and no DNA evidence—just conflicting accounts. The documentary closes with Smollett steadfastly defending his innocence, but leaves the audience to draw their own conclusion.
“The Truth About Jussie Smollett?” won’t settle the debate, but it throws open the doors for a new round of public re-examination—and challenges everyone to confront their own biases about the intersection of race, celebrity, justice and the media circus. Love him or loathe him, you’ll walk away with more questions than you started…and that’s exactly how Netflix wants it.
