Charles Barkleyis speaking out aboutJussie Smollett.
During TNT’sInside the NBAon Thursday night, Barkley, 56, joked about the 36-year-oldEmpireactor, who Chicagopolice saypaid two men $3,500 to stage a “bogus” hate crime attack against him to draw attention to himself because the actor was dissatisfied with his salary.
During a panel withShaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson where the four men were discussing which basketball prediction “had no chance of happening,” Barkley responded, “two black guys beating a black guy up.”
After the men laughed, Barkley continued, “America, let me just tell you something: Do not commit crimes with checks. If you’re going to break the law, do not write a check… get cash, man!”
“You wasted all that damn time and money,” Barkley continued, addressing Smollett. “You know what you should’ve did? Just went up toLiam Neeson’s neighborhood. It would’ve solved all your damn problems,” referring to Neeson’s controversial confession earlier this month that he oncewanted to “kill” a black manafter a female friend of his was allegedly raped.
Barkley’s statements came just hours after Smollett, who claimed he was thesubject of a racist and homophobic attackat the hands of two men on Jan. 29 in Chicago, waspresent in bond court on Thursdayafternoon, hours after he turned himself into police.
Roy Rochlin/WireImage; Slaven Vlasic/Getty
In a bond proffer, prosecutors allege Smollett wrote a $3,500 personal check to brothers Olabinjo “Ola” and Abimbola “Abel” Osundairo in order to stage the hate attack. Prosecutors claim Smollett had met Abel on theEmpireset, where the latter had been working as a stand-in for the character Kai, who is an on-screen love interest of Smollett’s character.
Also on Thursday, police allege Smollett staged a bias attack on himself as a publicity stunt to boost his salary on the Fox show.
Jussie Smollett leaving court on Feb. 21.TANNEN MAURY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
WATCH: Jussie Smollett Allegedly Paid $3,500 to Stage Attack Because He Was Unhappy with Salary: Police
“Today we witnessed an organized law enforcement spectacle that has no place in the American legal system,” the statement began.
If Smollett is found guilty, falsifying a police report is a Class 4 felony which carries a potential sentence of up to three years in prison.Smollett, who was also asked to surrender his passport, is scheduled for his next hearing on March 14.
source: people.com
