In a shocking resurgence of controversy, Jussie Smollett has doubled down on his claims of being the victim of a hate crime, despite a conviction for staging the incident. Speaking in a new interview with Variety, Smollett defiantly pointed fingers at the Chicago Police Department and the city’s mayor, asserting that he remains steadfast in his narrative while others have changed their stories. “The villains are the two people who assaulted me,” he declared, igniting a firestorm of debate six years after the alleged attack.

Surveillance footage from that fateful night revealed a staged assault, leading to Smollett’s conviction for orchestrating a hate crime hoax in 2019. Although his charges were later overturned on due process grounds, the fallout from the incident has left an indelible mark on public discourse surrounding race and justice in America. Critics are incredulous at Smollett’s refusal to apologize, with commentators suggesting that his continued denial may stem from a desperate attempt to reclaim relevance in the entertainment world, including a budding reality TV career.

As Smollett prepares to appear in a new reality show and a Netflix documentary, questions loom over the implications of his narrative. High-profile figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, previously expressed support for Smollett, calling the incident a “modern-day lynching.” Now, as he clings to his claims, many are left wondering how this will affect public perception and the ongoing discourse about hate crimes in America.

With Smollett’s latest statements reigniting the debate, the nation watches closely. Will he ever concede to the overwhelming evidence against him, or will he continue to navigate this treacherous path of denial? As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: the saga of Jussie Smollett is far from over.