On the hit TV show ‘Empire,’ Taraji P. Henson was fiercely protective of her sons – one of whom was played by Jussie Smollett.
And off-screen her support for the embattled actor is proving equally as unshakeable.
Particularly in the wake of the 39-year-old being sentenced to five months in jail in his hoax hate attack case.
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Echoing similar sentiments expressed by Jussie’s actress sister, Jurnee Smollett, Henson stressed that she had no interest in debating the actor’s innocence or guilt. Rather, her issue stems from what she deems the unfair jail sentence he received.
Sharing a picture which read #FreeJussie, Henson compared what she articulated as an injustice to the case of Emmett Till:
“I am not here to debate you on his innocence but we can agree that the punishment does not fit the crime. Emmett Till was brutally beat and ultimately murdered because of a lie and none of the people involved with his demise spent one day in jail, even after Carolyn Bryant admitted that her claims were false. No one was hurt or killed during Jussie’s ordeal. He has already lost everything, EVERYTHING! To me as an artist not able to create that in itself is punishment enough. He can’t get a job. No one in Hollywood will hire him and again as an artist who loves to create, that is prison. My prayer is that he is freed and put on house arrest and probation because in this case that would seem fair. Please #freejussie 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾”