We’d thought that “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett had gotten off easy with the forfeiture of his $10,000 bond and 16 hours of community service at Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Prosecutors say they agreed to drop charges against Jussie Smollett if he performed community service. Letters appear to show he performed only two days of service — for the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition. https://t.co/sgEIIH3QgD — Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) March 26, 2019

What hadn’t occurred to us was that those 16 hours of community service weren’t even court-ordered; apparently, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx thought he’d served his time by doing whatever it is he had already done there.

Glandian also insisted, as Smollett's team has all along, that community service was not part of any deal with prosecutors. His two days at Rainbow Push were not compulsory in any way, she said. — Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) March 27, 2019

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition released a statement:

NEW: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr’s Rainbow PUSH releases statement on #JussieSmollett’s 16 hours of community service there: “When we first heard of Jussie Smollett’s crisis, we reached out to him and “Empire” to see if we could be helpful.” /1 — Dakarai Turner (@Dakarai_Turner) March 27, 2019

“Jussie met with us and has given of himself to our organization and the movement for social justice. We have members and supporters across the country and around the world.” /2 #JussieSmollett — Dakarai Turner (@Dakarai_Turner) March 27, 2019

“Many of our members and supporters give of themselves and their time to help achieve the goals of the organization. Jussie is a member of our organization. He, like many other members, has given of his time and talent and continues to do so.” /3 #JussieSmollett — Dakarai Turner (@Dakarai_Turner) March 27, 2019

“During this period of disruption to his life and livelihood, Jussie has spent time here helping to advance this important work. There was no court-ordered community service here.” /4 #JussieSmollett — Dakarai Turner (@Dakarai_Turner) March 27, 2019

So Rainbow PUSH “reached out” to Smollett and “Empire” to see if there was anything they could do to help, and Smollett spent his time “helping to advance … important work.” And no, there was no court-ordered community service; he’s just such a giver.

So community service wasn’t even part of the deal? It was just taken into consideration by Foxx?

“Jussie has spent time here helping to advance this important work. There was no court-ordered community service here… Jussie should not be the one to defend the decision. He has maintained his innocence from the very beginning” Rainbow PUSH Coalition https://t.co/i7O97Mo8nd — EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONYMag) March 27, 2019

Jussie Smollett 'met with staff and gave his suggestions' at Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition. https://t.co/pekQKgurAH — The Western Journal (@WestJournalism) March 27, 2019

Rainbow PUSH is hardly community service… — Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) March 27, 2019

Seriously, can this joke get any more ridiculous?

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