On June 26, while strutting on the red carpet at the 2022 BET Awards, the 40-year-old former Empire actor opened up about his future plans.
Smollett was released from prison three months before his appearance at the celebrity-studded gala after being found guilty of filing a false police report in 2019.
Smollett wore a white shirt, a tan jacket, brown slacks, and black shoes to keep his look refined and casual. He finished off his outfit with a gold bracelet that matched and a lot of gold necklaces.
Smollett, who is the director of the upcoming BET+ movie B-Boy Blues, isn’t referring to his return to the entertainment industry as a comeback.
The actor admitted to Entertainment Tonight, “You know, I’ve never thought of myself as earning my way back.” “My goal has always been to increase the size of my enterprise.” I have to raise the bar for what I’m trying to do.
Smollett responded to the question of what motivates him at the moment by saying that it’s “the ability to usher in simply a new generation of artists, of actors, of this tremendous talent that’s out there.” That is what is fueling me, “he continued.
Smollett released a statement with his fans who have supported him during his legal drama, in addition to revealing that new music is coming “very soon.”
“I tell them just, with all my heart, just thank you,” he told the outlet. “They were steadfast.I will always be appreciative of the fact that they never crossed the line. That bothers me a lot. “
He went on, “My loved ones, my genuine friends, and supporters—just, it’s you know…”
Just know that there is a hug in my heart for you even if I never get the chance to give it to you in person. “
Smollett admitted to filing a fake police report in March after telling detectives that he had been the victim of an alleged hate crime in 2019.
As a result, he was given a sentence of 150 days in jail and 30 months of probation. When Smollett’s lawyer appealed the verdict, he was let out of jail six days into his sentence.
