But Mr. Smollett sought early in his testimony to indicate just how happy he had been with his role on the show and, asked directly, said he had no problem with Fox.
Over the course of the trial, prosecutors have sought to paint a picture of the attack as a bid for publicity, pointing to how, days before the attack, Mr. Smollett had received the letter at the studio for “Empire.” It included a red stick figure hanging from a noose, a homophobic slur and the acronym “MAGA,” said Daniel K.
In January 2019, when the attack was reported, public sympathy for Mr. Smollett was immediate and widespread.
The Osundairo brothers told the police that Mr. Smollett had orchestrated the whole thing, giving them a $100 bill to buy supplies for the attack, including ski masks, a rope and a red hat meant to indicate that the attackers were supporters of former President Donald J.