Fair warning: There are questions we just can't answer at this point. But there are also plenty we can. Here's an attempt to explain the charges against the Empire actor — and the move to drop them.
A lot has happened in roughly two months — from the Empire actor's initial police report in Chicago to prosecutors' decision to drop the charges against him. Here's a brief history of the key dates.
The Empire actor was accused of filing a false report of a hate crime. Now, the decision to drop the charges has exposed a stark fault line between Chicago authorities and state and county officials.
The charges expand the initial single count of filing a false police report. Now Smollett is charged with multiple counts tied to different aspects of his alleged false report about being attacked.
The actor was arrested Thursday for filing a false police report. Now, it appears the role that made him famous may be in doubt. Empire producers said they chose to "avoid further disruption on set."
The Empire actor has been arrested for falsifying his report to the police. Authorities say Smollett paid two brothers to stage last month's attack to "further his own public profile."
The star of the Fox drama was reportedly assaulted Tuesday in downtown Chicago. His attackers are said to have poured a chemical substance on him and wrapped a rope around his neck.
Brash, biting Cookie Lyon is arguably the most compelling character on Fox's hit show Empire. The show's co-producer and writer Attica Locke says that's because we've all got a bit of Cookie in us.
By now, most Las Vegans have seen Absinthe, the vaudeville-style show performed in a tent outside Caesars Palace. Unlike the large-scale cirque spectacles, the acts in Absinthe are performed at close-quarters, with just a few props.
