Thread by @CharlieDeMar

BREAKING: Jussie Smollett now on the stand in his own defense.

He faces six felony counts of disorderly conduct for staging his own attack and lying to police about it in Jan. 2019. @cbschicago

@cbschicago Defense attorney Nenye Uche is now asking Smollett to explain his childhood..parents occupations etc. Explains mom has been court everyday and dad was white and Jewish. @cbschicago

He testified that he did not grow up rich

Jury now sees child family pictures of Smollett family. @cbschicago

Smollett asked about occupations of each sibling and he smiles after responding

"I was a working child actor. The Olson twins were child stars--I was not a star." @cbschicago

Smollett talking about some of the films he was in as a child. Mentions his role in Mighty Ducks. @cbschicago

Uche: Can you sing?

Smollett: A little bit

After acting as a child he worked retail jobs and a clown at birthday parties. @cbschicago

Smollett's older sister sent him an article about Lee Daniel's idea for the show Empire. Smollett really wanted the role. He messaged Daniel's explaining why he would be the perfect fit for the role. @cbschicago

Smollett testifies he made $27k-$28k per episode for 10 episodes for the first season of Empire

Smollett asked by defense attorney about how he felt about the attention the show was received. He testified over 30 Millions viewers.

Smollett: "It’s jarring"

Re-negotiated contact at the end of the second season. "It was the biggest show on television."

Now, he was making $30k/episode.

For season 3 he was paid $80k/episode

Uche questioning Smollett about his salary negotiating and asked about season 7..

Smollett: "Well, I was fired season 5."

Empire bumped his salary up to the point he was making $100k per episode.

Now, Smollett talking about his relationship with Abel Osundairo and when they first met.

Smollett asked about going to club with Abel and doing drugs in the bathroom.

"I always had weed on me..well, not now. And he (Abel) had the cocaine."

Now, Smollett testifies about going to a bathhouse in Boystown with Abel.

"There's gay pornography on the screens."

Smollett says he had never been to the bathhouse before this time with Abel. Smollett got a private room.

"We did more drugs and made out."

"Uche: Anything else beyond making out?

Smollett: "There was touching."

Uche: Asked why Smollett was doing drugs

Smollett: "I liked it. It got me away from everything else."

Smollett felt like he was carrying a lot of people on his shoulders with the show. He felt a lot of pressure online.

Uche: Do you regret doing drugs:

Yes, I'm sitting in court in front of a jury and my mom explaining it..Of course.

Abel supplied drugs according to Smollett.

Uche: Did Abel ever mention that he worked security?

Smollett: Security was mentioned a lot. @cbschicago

@cbschicago Smollett says he would drive around with Abel and smoke weed.

@cbschicago Uche is attempting to debunk prosecutors theory of the dry run of the attack. Smollett's Mercedes was on camera picking Abel up and driving back to the scene of reported attack.

Defense establishing that it was normal for the two to drive around and smoke weed. @cbschicago

@cbschicago Smollett says that he felt weird around Ola Osundairo.
He wouldn't talk to Smollett when they were together.

"He didn't like me or he wasn't feeling me--it's fine."

Now Smollett talking about a second trip to the bathhouse with Abel.

"We did drugs, made out a little bit and this time we masturbated together." @cbschicago

@cbschicago Smollett says he did not trust Ola. It has already been established that Smollett had a friendship with Abel and not Ola

@cbschicago Smollett says he needed to get into shape because Lee Daniel's told him that he was fat and needed to drop 30LBS before coming on set.

Smollett testified that he had to be shirtless for a music video he was shooting and it was important for him to get into shape.

@cbschicago This testimony will likely link to the check Smollett wrote to Osundairo for $3,500.

Smollett says it was for training/meal plans.

Brothers say the check was for the attack and training.

Court breaks for lunch. Back in 45 mins

Smollett back on the stand after lunch break.

Smollett says he hired Abel Osunidaro to get in shape and Abel mentioned that he could get an illegal herbal supplement that is available in Nigeria but not U.S.

Abel testified that there is no such herbal supplement.

Smollett testifies that it is not unusual to pay a trainer thousands of dollars at once. He was shown an invoice for $5,000 for a previous trainer he paid. @cbschicago

Smollett testifying that the $3,500 check was for training/nutrition.

Uche: Could you afford to have injuries on your face?

Smollett: Not at all.

Now, Smollett testifying about the threatening letter sent to the studio. @cbschicago

@cbschicago the "meet on the low" text Smollett sent to Abel was for that illegal weight loss supplement--not to plan a hoax attack, he testified

@cbschicago Smollett now getting into the night of Jan. 29th. The night of reported attack.

Video from the Subway is played. Other customers are inside with Smollett.

@cbschicago He described his attackers:

"It felt like something out of Looney Tunes adventures. It felt like someone massive coming up to me. Not enough time to think."

"This person felt significantly larger than me. Dressed in dark clothes. A ski mask.

“I would like to think I landed a punch. I know I certainly threw one.”

Asked why he didn't call police.

"I’m a black man in America. I don’t trust police."

He said when he got attacked he was emasculated.