Now that Jussie Smollett has been arrested for falsifying a police report, we have a much clearer idea of how the actor went about staging his own assault. Allegedly, that is. Courtesy of documents filed by prosecutors at Smollett's bond hearing on February 21, we know when Smollett contacted the men who would help his go through with this scheme… what the original plan was between the trio… and what Smollett provided these men with in order to carry out the supposed assault. Again: Allegedly, that is. The details described here are chilling and disturbing. Scroll down to get a fuller picture of exactly what Smollett is accused orchestrating. 1. Smollett is Free on $100,000 Bond He was released from jail on Thursday afternoon and rushed to a waiting SUV, not saying anything to the throng of reporters gathered around him as he made his way to the car. 2. What Has He Been Charged with Again? Felony disorderly conduct – for falsifying a police report. The charge he faces carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail. 3. The Judge Comes Down Hard During Thursday’s proceedings, members of Smollett’s family were in the courtroom with him as the judge, John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr., said that he found the investigators’ account of the incident disturbing, especially the assertion that Smollett had used a rope around his neck to heighten outrage. 4. What Did the Judge Say? “We live in a country where you are presumed innocent,” he told the actor “However, if these allegations are true, I find them utterly outrageous. Especially the violent, despicable use of a noose, which conjures such evil in our country.” 5. As for the Details in These Legal Documents? They start with the letters sent to Smollett on the set of Empire. It remains a little ambiguous whether police believe Smollett sent them to himself, but they contained a powerdery white substance. 6. Was It Anthrax? It was meant to come across that way, but it turned out to be crushed Ibuprofen. View Slideshow
Counting On stars Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson suffered a miscarriage late last year. Jessa Duggar is pregnant and showing off her baby bump at 25 weeks, but she’s not insensitive to Lauren’s pain. In fact, she’s penned a lengthy, lengthy tribute to her sister-in-law’s loss. “Pregnancy,” Jessa’s lengthy post begins. “Such a precious gift, and definitely not something I take for granted.” “As we look forward to meeting our baby,” she writes. “We’re also feeling an exceptional amount of grief.” That grief, Jessa explains, is “over my brother Josiah and sister-in-law Lauren’s loss of their baby.” “Lauren and I shared the exact same due date,” she reveals. “We have cried so many tears, both together and apart,” Jessa shares. “My heart aches for them.” “I weep when I think of how difficult it must be for her to see me pregnant in the very stages where she would’ve been,” Jessa writes. She says that Lauren should have kept pace “right up through the baby’s due date.” “And yet, even in a flood of emotions, there are perplexities of the human heart that may cause us to want to clam up or remain silent through such a trial,” Jessa observes. “Because of this,” she says. “Many people feel like they’re walking this road alone” “It is true that speaking for the sake of filling silence is not needful and is often hurtful,” Jessa continues, waxing philosophical. “I’ve watched Lauren converse with people who have been unknowingly insensitive,” she says. “And I am amazed by her graciousness.” “I’ve heard some try to give reasons or explanations, not realizing that their unsolicited opinions might be very painful, like salt to a wound,” Jessa says. Sometimes, the words that people use to comfort only cause greater pain. “One might never know the tears you cry at night as a result of their words flowing back through your head,” Jessa expresses. “Often times, ‘I love you and I’m praying for you’ along with a hug are quite sufficient,” she suggests. Jessa emphasizes: “We do not need to fill every silence with words.” “But at the same time,” Jessa continues. “Conversations of lost dreams should never feel suppressed.” “Silence can stifle healing,” she acknowledges. “But a carefully chosen word may work to help bring life and healing to the soul.” “We must all reinforce the fact that emotions over a life lost are not something to be resisted,” she suggests. “They’re not wrong,” Jessa emphasizes. “And you should never think that for a moment.” Grief is healthy, folks. “If you’ve lost a child, know this,” Jessa writes. “YOU ARE A MAMA, and you will never cease to think about and cherish the life you carried…” “So no matter how hard or difficult the journey,” she instructs. “Please don’t feel guilt over this.” It is around this point that Jessa’s message becomes too long for her captions and spills over into her images. “You’ll never stop wondering all of the details,” Jessa notes. “From what the baby would look like, hair color, eye color, personality, etc.” “It’s only natural,” she admits. “Your tender heart just goes to show what a loving, caring person you are.” “That you care so deeply for one you were only graced [to] hold for a short time,” Jessa affirms. “My heart aches for you,” Jessa expresses. “As topics of babies or pregnancy arise in conversation.” It sounds like Jessa is dealing with a version of survivor’s guilt . “It’s likely you were already acquainted with the first trimester symptoms of nausea, food aversions, and fatigue,” Jessa says. “And,” she predicts. “You would have given anything for the opportunity to labor and deliver your baby” Jessa notes that this would be the case: “No matter how long or painful the process.” “When complaining or grumblings are verbalized over colicky babies or sleep that’s been broken up for night feedings …” she begins. She continues: “… Oh, what you wouldn’t give to be in their shoes!” “We do continue to pray that God will bless you with a baby to hold in your arms,” Jessa writes. “But,” she notes. “This is not to insinuate that having another will remove the grief over one that’s been lost.” “That life can never be replaced,” she affirms. “And will forever hold a special place in your heart.” “Lauren, you’re such a positive, life-giving soul,” Jessa praises. She notes that this continues to be true “Even in walking through such a great hardship and suffering so much loss.” “I don’t know how you can grieve through such a trial,” Jessa confesses. “And at the same time be so thoughtful to say, ‘Jess, if you ever feel too sick or tired and need some help …'” “‘Do not hesitate to text or call,'” Jessa recalls Lauren saying. “‘I would be more than happy to make a meal, watch the boys, etc.'” “That is God’s grace,” Jessa writes. “And it radiates from your life.” “We love you both so much,” she concludes. “And pray that God would continue to comfort your hearts.” A miscarriage is tough enough without a pregnant in-law who is a constant reminder of what you don’t have. It’s good of Jessa to acknowledge this with so much compassion. View Slideshow: 33 Stars Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage
Dwyane Wade is in mourning. The NBA superstar lost one of his cousins on Friday when she became a victim of crossfire on the sidewalk in Chicago. According to CNN and other outlets, Nykea Aldridge died while pushing a stroller down a South Side street when a multitude of men started shooting at each other. She was simply an innocent bystander. Tweeted Wade in response to the tragedy: “My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough.” CNN has reported that one of the bullets struck Aldridge in the head, while another hit her in an arm. She died approximately 45 minutes after the shooting at a nearby hospital. Aldridge’s aunt told an ABC affiliated that she was on her way to an elementary school when she was gunned down. Two suspects are reportedly in custody. Wade’s mother, Jolinda Wade, spoke on behalf of the family last night while holding her inconsolable sister close outside the emergency room where Aldridge was pronounced deceased. “Just sat up on a panel yesterday, The Undefeated, talking about the violence that’s going on within our city of Chicago, never knowing that the next day we would be the ones that would be actually living and experiencing it,” Jolinda Wade said. “We’re still going to try and help these people to transform their minds and give them a different direction, so this thing won’t keep happening. “We’re still going to help empower people like the one who senselessly shot my niece in the head.” Chicago has been hit especially hard by violence this year. More than 2,600 people have been shot in the city, mainly on the South and West sides. In July, Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and LeBron James opened the ESPYs by standing on stage and addressing this exact topic in front of a national audience. They were responding at the time to the Black Lives Matter movement and the rash of African-American deaths at the hands of police officers. They were also responding to the misguided responses of those who attached members of law enforcement in response to these incidents. ESPYs: NBA Stars Speak on Black Lives Matter to Open Ceremony “The endless gun violence in places like Chicago, Dallas, not to mention Orlando, it has to stop. Enough. Enough is enough,” Waed said on stage. This is not the first time Wade’s family has been touched by gun violence, either. His nephew, Darin Johnson, was shot twice in the leg in 2012 but recovered. We send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the entire Wade family at this time.
Dwyane Wade is in mourning. The NBA superstar lost one of his cousins on Friday when she became a victim of crossfire on the sidewalk in Chicago. According to CNN and other outlets, Nykea Aldridge died while pushing a stroller down a South Side street when a multitude of men started shooting at each other. She was simply an innocent bystander. Tweeted Wade in response to the tragedy: “My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough.” CNN has reported that one of the bullets struck Aldridge in the head, while another hit her in an arm. She died approximately 45 minutes after the shooting at a nearby hospital. Aldridge’s aunt told an ABC affiliated that she was on her way to an elementary school when she was gunned down. Two suspects are reportedly in custody. Wade’s mother, Jolinda Wade, spoke on behalf of the family last night while holding her inconsolable sister close outside the emergency room where Aldridge was pronounced deceased. “Just sat up on a panel yesterday, The Undefeated, talking about the violence that’s going on within our city of Chicago, never knowing that the next day we would be the ones that would be actually living and experiencing it,” Jolinda Wade said. “We’re still going to try and help these people to transform their minds and give them a different direction, so this thing won’t keep happening. “We’re still going to help empower people like the one who senselessly shot my niece in the head.” Chicago has been hit especially hard by violence this year. More than 2,600 people have been shot in the city, mainly on the South and West sides. In July, Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and LeBron James opened the ESPYs by standing on stage and addressing this exact topic in front of a national audience. They were responding at the time to the Black Lives Matter movement and the rash of African-American deaths at the hands of police officers. They were also responding to the misguided responses of those who attached members of law enforcement in response to these incidents. ESPYs: NBA Stars Speak on Black Lives Matter to Open Ceremony “The endless gun violence in places like Chicago, Dallas, not to mention Orlando, it has to stop. Enough. Enough is enough,” Waed said on stage. This is not the first time Wade’s family has been touched by gun violence, either. His nephew, Darin Johnson, was shot twice in the leg in 2012 but recovered. We send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the entire Wade family at this time.
