Empire actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges that he falsely report to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago's downtown area on 29 January.
His attorney Tina Glandian entered the plea on his behalf during a court hearing in the morning.
Judge Steven Watkins has been assigned to oversee Smollett's case, including the trial.
The next court date has been scheduled for 17 April.
Prosecutors allege that the actor hired two friends to help stage an attack on him in downtown Chicago early on the morning of 29 January.
Police say Smollett told detectives that two masked men beat him while hurling racist and homophobic slurs, and that they poured an unknown substance on him and hung a noose around his neck before fleeing.
Smollett, 36, has denied staging the attack and maintains his innocence.
A grand jury in Chicago previously indicted him on 16 felony counts, which his attorneys have called “prosecutorial overkill”.
Hello and welcome to The Independent's coverage of the Jussie Smollett case, as the Empire actor attends a court hearing in Chicago.
Empire actor Jussie Smollett will appear before a court in Chicago today after being accused of lying to police over his claim he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in the city’s downtown area on 29 January.
He has so far maintained his innocence in the face of accusations he staged the incident in which two men allegedly attacked him, declaring, “This is MAGA country”, in order to further his career.
Mr Smollett allegedly hired two brothers - Abimbola "Abel" and Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo - to beat him because he was unhappy with his salary on the Fox hip-hop drama, paying the pair $35,000 (£26,000) for the job.
A grand jury in Chicago has since indicted him on 16 felony counts, which his attorneys have called “prosecutorial overkill”.
Jussie Smollett pleads innocence after being charged with 16 felony counts
The Independent‘This redundant and vindictive indictment is nothing more than a desperate attempt to make headlines’Jussie Smollett is due in court today at 10am EST (2pm GMT) over the hate crime "hoax".
A judge is expected to be assigned to the disorderly conduct case and Mr Smollet asked to enter a plea.
The case has twice caused uproar: when it was first reported and again when the Chicago Police Department accused Mr Smollett of completely inventing the incident.
The idea the actor might have cynically exploited racial tensions in Donald Trump's America for personal gain has enraged the president and his supporters and he duly took the actor to task on Twitter on 21 February:
Gloria Schmidt, the attorney representing the brothers concerned - Abimbola "Abel" and Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo - says the men regret their involvement and only agreed to participate in the incident because of their friendship with Jussie Smollett and the sense that he was helping them in their careers.
Ms Schmidt says the brothers have come to realise how much the incident has negatively affected minorities and particularly victims of actual hate crimes.
Here's our initial report on the moment the story turned.
Jussie Smollett 'faked attack' because he was 'dissatisfied with salary', police say
The actor is accused of orchestrating his own assault - paying two men thousands of dollarsAnd here's our piece on Jussie Smollett's suspension from Empire, after initially protesting his innocence to his fellow cast members.
Jussie Smollett's character dropped from rest of Empire season
Empire executive producers say they want to avoid 'disruption' on setThe text messages Jussie Smollett sent just prior to the "hoax attack" were revealed last month.
Texts Jussie Smollett sent before 'hoax attack' revealed
Texts mention Smollett's food preferences, meal plan, and workout habitsJussie Smollett has been charged with 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct alleging he gave false accounts of an attack on him to police investigators.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
(Reuters)
Sources told ABC7 that Jussie Smollett is expected to plead not guilty during his court appearance on Thursday morning.
Both the defense and the prosecution agreed during a hearing on Tuesday to allow cameras inside the court during Thursday's hearing.
Another judge will decide whether cameras are allowed during during future court dates as well as Jussie Smollett's trial.
Laywer Tina Glandian, who represents Jussie Smollett, told AP she welcomes the decision "so that the public and the media can see the actual evidence and what we believe is the lack of evidence against Mr Smollett".
Here's Matthew Jacobs Morgan for Indy Voices on why many people feel so let down by the actor.
Opinion: As a queer black man, I feel so let down by Jussie Smollett
I wanted to believe Jussie because the thought of him lying was too despicable to stomach. Using the symbolism of a noose would be dancing on the graves of ancestors who suffered and lost their lives. It just felt too horrifying to be fake
Empire executive producer Brett Mahoney has said it is "too early" to rule on Jussie Smollett's future on the show that made his name.
Empire producer says it's 'too early' to talk about Jussie Smollett's future on show
Smollett has been written out of the season’s final two episodes, although he will appear in the seven that were filmed before the incident occurred.
Jussie Smollett has arrived at Cook County Court for his arraignment.
Terrence Howard from Empire is expected to attend the hearing.
Trial judge Steven Watkins has been assigned to oversee Jussie Smollett's case.
Smollett is expected to enter a plea later Wednesday before Watkins.
Jussie Smollett appeared in court earlier this week when prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to allow cameras during Thursday's hearing.
Prosecutors allege that Smollett, who is black and gay, staged the attack because he was unhappy with his salary and wanted to promote his career.
A grand jury in Chicago indicted him on 16 felony counts, which his attorneys have called "prosecutorial overkill". Smollett, who is free on bond, maintains his innocence.
Prosecutors allege that Smollett, who is black and gay, staged the attack because he was unhappy with his salary and wanted to promote his career.
A grand jury in Chicago indicted him on 16 felony counts, which his attorneys have called "prosecutorial overkill". Smollett, who is free on bond, maintains his innocence.
(AP)
Here are images of Jussie Smollett arriving for his court hearing on Thursday:
There were several supporters outside the courthouse doors as Smollett arrived for the hearing, including some who waved signs. Activist Wisdom Cole led a few chants in support of the actor, the black community and the LGBT community.
"Jussie has been a person of high caliber and character. He comes from an activist family. He has a consistent track record and history of supporting marginalized people ... and so his track record is not on par with the idea of a hoax," she said.
"Jussie has been a person of high caliber and character. He comes from an activist family. He has a consistent track record and history of supporting marginalized people ... and so his track record is not on par with the idea of a hoax," she said.
(AP)
Sandra Gentry (right) is a supporter of Jussie Smollett. She and others are pictured outside the courthouse on Thursday morning.
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