Jussie Smollett's brother has spoken out in defense of the star, calling accusations that his alleged attack was staged 'ludicrous', and arguing the Empire actor is suffering night terrors over the incident.

Jojo Smollett said his sibling's 'life has been turned upside down' in under three months as he endures 'unrelenting attacks to his character and reputation'.

In an op ed for Bet, Jussie's older brother said: 'To define this experience as unjust would be an understatement.

'The numerous police leaks, which prompted an internal Chicago Police investigation, convicted Jussie in the court of public opinion before he even entered a courtroom. Simply ask yourself this, “What if Jussie is telling the truth?”'

Jussie Smollett's brother JoJo, left, has spoken out in defense of the star, right, calling accusations that his attack was staged 'ludicrous'

Jojo Smollett, pictured left with his brother Jussie and the Obamas, said his sibling's 'life has been turned upside down' in under three months

Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago flanked by his loved ones after prosecutors dropped all charges against him in March

Empire actor Smollett, 36, was accused of staging an attack on himself on January 29 to try to get a raise on the show.

Police say he paid Abel and Ola Osundairo to beat him in what he then described as a racist, homophobic attack by two Trump-loving perpetrators. He has always maintained his innocence and insisted he was attacked.

And Jojo says he has seen his younger brother 'violently awakening from night terrors' as a result of the alleged assault.

He adds: 'To suggest that he staged his own attack to boost a sagging career is ludicrous.

'I have literally seen him violently awakening from night terrors, following the assault. Some of my siblings, as well as Jussie’s partner and closest friends have seen similar things.'

Jojo added: 'I am definitely not asking you to feel sorry for my brother. He would never allow that. He still carries a humility, grace and knows he walks in more rarefied air than so many people who have been wrongly accused and paying a heavy price.'

Jussie has spent time with his family in Hawaii after the charges were dropped.

His sisters, Jazz and Jurnee, supported him throughout his case but did not attend court as frequently as his brothers did.

Jussie Smollett pictured with his siblings, left to right, Jazz Smollett-Warwell, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Jake Smollett in 2018

Smollett told police on January 29 that two apparent supporters of President Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck, and poured bleach over him wile yelling 'This is MAGA country'.

He told officers the unknown chemical substance was used on him while 'Empire f****t' and 'Empire n*****' was shouted at him.

Investigators later said they believed Smollett may have paid Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo $3,500 to assault him in an alleged orchestrated attack.

But Jojo condemned those accusations, writing: 'Jussie is an exceptional individual. He’s a loving son, brother, partner, and friend.

'Jussie didn’t even want to contact the police, following his assault. He was weary and didn’t care for the unnecessary attention it might garner.

'If he staged the attack for publicity to boost his career, as alleged, why would he not want to make the incident public?'

The case against Smollett, 36, was suddenly and unexpectedly dropped last month by State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office in questionable circumstances and questions surrounding Foxx's alleged role in that decision have run rampant since.

Foxx's office maintains it has not acted unethically and welcomes an independent investigation.

Smollett was arrested in February for allegedly lying about the attack. Police say he paid Abel and Ola Osundairo to attack him and that he thought he could use it as leverage to get a raise on Empire, a claim he denies

But Foxx continued to meddle in the Jussie Smollett case after 'recusing' herself, calling him a 'washed up celeb who lied to cops' and telling the prosecutor she had handed the case over to that he was being overcharged just two weeks before the case was dropped, new documents have revealed.

In messages sent weeks after she recused herself from the case Foxx wrote to Joe Magats, the prosecutor who she had handed the case over to, and appeared to compare Smollett's charges to those leveled at another celebrity defendant, R. Kelly.

She said: 'Pedophile with 4 victims 10 counts. Washed up celeb who lied to cops, 16.'

She was referring to the 16 count grand jury indictment Smollett was hit with for allegedly staging a hoax attack on himself on January 29.

Thousands of texts and emails about the case were made public by State's Attorney Kim Foxx's office earlier this week as criticism of her handling of the case grew.