Chris Rock Slams Jussie Smollett: ‘You’re Jessie From Now On’

Oscar Host Chris Rock performs his monologue to open the 77th Academy Awards telecast in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, 2005. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File

Chris Rock slamed Jussie Smollett at NAACP awards: ‘What the hell was he thinking?’

Comedian Chris Rock pilloried “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett on March 30 after he was apparently told not to make any jokes about him.

“They said ‘No Jussie Smollett jokes’ ... What a waste of light skin. Do you know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair? My career would be out of here! I’d be running Hollywood,” said Rock at the NAACP Image Awards in Hollywood, California, according to CBS News.

Actor Jussie Smollett (R), listens as his attorney, Patricia Brown Holmes, speaks to reporters at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse after prosecutors dropped all charges against him, on March 26, 2019. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

Rock said: “What the hell was he thinking? You’re ‘Jessie’ from now on. You don’t get the ‘u’ no more. That ‘u’ was respect. You ain’t getting no respect from me!”

Smollett has been in the midst of controversy for weeks.

The actor is accused of staging a racist attack on himself in January in Chicago to promote his career. A number of news outlets, celebrities, and politicians echoed his claims before police accused him of lying about the attack.

Actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on 26, 2019, after prosecutors dropped all charges against him. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

Smollett said that two men approached him, beat him, and then threw bleach on him before shouting, “This is MAGA country,” in reference to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

But last week, prosecutors dropped all charges against the actor while Chicago police, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and others decried the move.

Smollett also allegedly sent threatening letters to himself.

Abel Osundairo (L), and his brother Ola Osundairo, the Nigerian brothers were arrested in connection with the alleged attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett but were released after reportedly telling detectives Smollett paid them to stage the attack. Team Abel/Instagram

Chicago officials said on March 27 that the city is planning to bill him $130,000 for the cost of the investigation, CBS reported.

“The city feels this is a reasonable and legally just amount to help offset the cost of the investigation,” Bill McCaffrey, spokesman for the department’s legal department, told Deadline Hollywood.

“The City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department take seriously those who make false statements to the police, thereby diverting resources from other investigations and undermining the criminal justice system,” the letter from the legal department also said. “Ultimately, the Chicago police investigation revealed that you knowingly filed a false police report and had in fact orchestrated your own attack.”

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (R), and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson appear at a news conference in Chicago, on March 26, 2019. Teresa Crawford/AP Photo

Meanwhile, Emanuel said he thinks Smollett created a hoax.

“Given that he doesn’t feel any sense of contrition and remorse,” Emanuel told reporters. “My recommendation is that when he writes the check, in the memo section, he can put the words, ‘I’m accountable for the hoax.'”