Jussie Smollett siblings speak out about alleged attack: Who are his brothers and sisters?
Jussie Smollett’s sister Jurnee Smollett supports him. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Openly gay Empire actor Jussie Smollett was recently charged with filing a false report, after claiming he was involved in a racially motivated attack. His siblings have since shown him a lot of support.
Jussie Smollett maintains his innocence, and he says he has been “betrayed” by the system.
Meanwhile, his siblings have spoken out about the case. They are fellow actors and activists, sisters Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Jazz Smollett-Warwell, and brothers, Jocqui, Jake and Jojo Smollett.
Jussie Smollett’s sister Jurnee and brother Jocqui say the media makes “the victim look like the criminal”
Jussie Smollett’s siblings blame the media for the events leading up to their brother’s arrest.
Smollett’s sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell and brother Jocqui Smollett both posted a quote on Instagram in defence of their brother’s case.
Jussie Smollett (L) and brother Jocqui Smollett attend 2017 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Paras Griffin/Getty)
“This is the media, the irresponsible media. It will make the criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal,” Jocqui Smollett’s post reads.
“If you aren’t careful, the media will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
Smollett’s sister, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, reposted the image.
And after Smollett was charged, Jocqui posted a statement from his brother’s legal team.
View this post on Instagram
Jussie Smollett’s sister Jazz and brother Jake talk about the attack
After the attack, Jussie Smollett’s siblings said that their brother was “healing.”
Smollett’s sister, actress Jazz Smollett-Warwell, said: “I’m really glad that tomorrow, there will be his first interview and so everyone can see from his mouth. And we are just – we are glad that he’s healing. He’s doing better, so. We are a strong family.”
His sister sat alongside his brother Jake Smollett, who is also an actor.
Who are Jussie Smollett’s sisters?
The 36-year-old actor’s sisters are fellow actresses and activists. Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Jazz Smollett-Warwell also worked under former president, Barrack Obama as leading campaign surrogates.
Smollett-Bell posted about her support for Obama on Instagram on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day, January 20, 2017.
Smollett-Bell wrote: “Feeling a lot of emotions. I remember meeting then Senator @barackobama 9 years ago. I’d been invited to introduce him in Nevada during the primaries. He was the underdog, the odds were stacked against him. Said he was too young, too black, too different…he was an other.”
She continued: “I’ve always been an other so I saw myself in him. My own relative told me I was wasting my time, going state to state, knocking on doors for this guy with the funny name. I can’t tell you how many people hung the phone up on my sister @jazzsmollettwarwell and me as we clocked in our hours, phone banking.”
The activist went on to explain that she worked hard for free because of how much she believes in the former president. She ended her long caption with, “Because it never was about you, it was about us, the “others”. Yes we can. Yes we did. Yes we will.”
Indeed, the family has a lot of admiration for the Obamas. Less than a year ago, Smollett was seen dancing with Michelle Obama.
A family of actors
Jussie Smollett began his acting career as a child alongside his siblings.
The famous Smollett family hit television sets in a short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own from 1994–95.
Much like the Empire actor, his brothers and sisters continued their acting career.
