In January 2019, actor Jussie Smollett, known for his role on the TV show Empire, reported that he was the victim of a hate crime in Chicago. He claimed that two men attacked him, using racial and homophobic slurs, and tied a noose around his neck. The incident drew significant media attention and sparked discussions about race and LGBTQ+ issues. As the investigation unfolded, police found inconsistencies in Smollett's account. In February 2019, he was charged with filing a false police report. In December 2021, Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to the police about the incident.