Attacking Jussie: The Osundairo Brothers Story

Attacking Jussie: The Osundairo Brothers Story is a six-part series featuring EXCLUSIVE, in-depth interviews with Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo. Hosted by journalist Charlie Webster. On January 29, 2019, actor and singer Jussie Smollett reported to the Chicago Police that he had been the victim of a hate crime. According to Smollett, two so-called white supremacists attacked him while he was walking to his apartment in the affluent neighborhood of Streeterville, where he lived while working on the FOX series Empire. Smollett reported the assailants spewed racist and homophobic slurs while beating him, pouring bleach over him, and tying a noose around his neck.   A police investigation concluded the two attackers were Ola and Bola Osundairo, Chicago-born brothers of Nigerian descent who had worked with Jussie on the set of Empire and befriended him. The Osundairo brothers claimed the attack was a premeditated hoax Jussie orchestrated to garner public attention and sympathy.  The attack and subsequent trial became a media sensation, touching on the complex issues of race, LGBTQ+ rights, and politics in an increasingly polarized America. The Osundairo Brothers share their perspective and more, revealing the shocking truth of their involvement in the hoax and how it altered their lives forever.   Attacking Jussie: The Osundairo Brothers Story is Lionsgate Sound’s companion podcast to the Pilgrim Media Group produced documentary Jussie Smollet: The Anatomy of a Hoax, streaming now on FOX Nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In media reports on the Jussie Smollet case, there’s often talk of two mysterious “Nigerian brothers” who assisted the ‘Empire’ actor in carrying out his hate crime hoax. Until now, these two individuals—Chicago-born brothers of Nigerian descent—have been unable to tell their side of the story.  We meet the brothers, Ola and Bola Osundairo and find out who they actually are. They go in-depth on their upbringing, how they met Jussie on the set of ‘Empire,’ and the relationship they formed with the actor. Listen to another Lionsgate Sound podcast hosted by Charlie Webster & Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson — Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord: https://link.chtbl.com/survivingelchapo?sid=aj Follow Charlie Webster: https://www.instagram.com/charliewebster/ https://twitter.com/CharlieCW Follow the Osundairo Brothers: https://www.instagram.com/team_abel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 29, 2019, Jussie Smollet reported to the Chicago Police Department that he was a victim of a hate crime carried out by two white supremecists who poured bleach on him, tied a noose around his neck, and yelled ‘MAGA country!’ A police investigation concluded that the two assailants were actually Ola and Bola Osundairo. The brothers claim that it was all a hoax: Jussie convinced them to carry out a staged attack.  Ola and Bola detail the series of events that led up to the attack and how things started to unfold with the press and Jussie’s version of the story. Listen to another Lionsgate Sound podcast hosted by Charlie Webster & Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson — Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord: https://link.chtbl.com/survivingelchapo?sid=aj Follow Charlie Webster: https://www.instagram.com/charliewebster/ https://twitter.com/CharlieCW Follow the Osundairo Brothers: https://www.instagram.com/team_abel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Ola and Bola Osundairo returned to Chicago after their trip to Nigeria to audition for Big Brother Naija, they were arrested and interrogated at the airport for their alleged role in the attack.  The brothers expand on the story of their arrest and open up about the way they were depicted in the press, and Jussie’s continued emotive version of the truth. Ola and Bola take us through what it was like when the initial case against Jussie was dropped. Listen to another Lionsgate Sound podcast hosted by Charlie Webster & Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson — Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord: https://link.chtbl.com/survivingelchapo?sid=aj Follow Charlie Webster: https://www.instagram.com/charliewebster/ https://twitter.com/CharlieCW Follow the Osundairo Brothers: https://www.instagram.com/team_abel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ola and Bola Osundairo talk about the moment the case against Jussie reopened and what it was like to take the stand.  Bola tells never-before-heard details about Jussie’s sexual advances toward him, and the relationship he developed with the actor.  Listen to another Lionsgate Sound podcast hosted by Charlie Webster & Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson — Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord: https://link.chtbl.com/survivingelchapo?sid=aj Follow Charlie Webster: https://www.instagram.com/charliewebster/ https://twitter.com/CharlieCW Follow the Osundairo Brothers: https://www.instagram.com/team_abel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the 10th March 2022, Jussie Smollett was sentenced to five months in jail. Ola and Bola take us through the wrap-up of the case: why they think Jussie continues to double down on his innocence, what kind of a person he is and what justice means to them. Listen to another Lionsgate Sound podcast hosted by Charlie Webster & Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson — Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord: https://link.chtbl.com/survivingelchapo?sid=aj Follow Charlie Webster: https://www.instagram.com/charliewebster/ https://twitter.com/CharlieCW Follow the Osundairo Brothers: https://www.instagram.com/team_abel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final episode of Attacking Jussie: The Osundairo Brothers Story, Ola and Bola Osundairo reflect on how their role in the hoax has impacted them. Do they have any regrets? If given the chance to go back in time, would they do it again?  The brothers discuss their feelings on the big issues surrounding the case: racism, classism, LGBTQ+ rights, and much more.  Nearly a year after Jussie Smollett first filed his appeal, after a rare fifth extension of the deadline, his final appeal was submitted on March 1st 2023. A ruling is expected some time later this year.  Listen to another Lionsgate Sound podcast hosted by Charlie Webster & Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson — Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord: https://link.chtbl.com/survivingelchapo?sid=aj Follow Charlie Webster: https://www.instagram.com/charliewebster/ https://twitter.com/CharlieCW Follow the Osundairo Brothers: https://www.instagram.com/team_abel/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices