‘SNL’ Pans Jussie Smollett’s ‘Really Bad’ Acting During Staged Hate Crime

SNL Jussie Smollett Verdict Reaction (Credit: NBC)

Saturday Night Live comedian Colin Jost thinks Jussie Smollett’s awful acting contributed to his conviction for faking a hate crime.

The SNL comic took a swipe at the actor during the opening of Saturday’s “Weekend Update” segment.

“On Thursday, a Chicago jury declared Jussie Smollett really bad at acting,” Jost quipped. “Smollett was found guilty of charges related to staging a hate crime. It’s the worst staged hate crime since my all-Christian production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof.'”

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While Jost’s version of “Fiddler” may have been bad, the Chicago jury said Smollett’s performance was worse.

Jurors returned their verdict on Dec. 9, finding the former Empire actor guilty on five of six counts of felony disorderly conduct. The jury deliberated over nine hours, before deciding Smollett staged his homophobic, hate crime attack on Jan. 29, 2019.

The actor and singer claimed two masked men — who turned out to be his friends Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo — put a noose around his neck and doused him with a chemical, while using racial and homophobic slurs.

After investigating the incident — which Smollett claimed happened at 2 a.m. while he was walking home from a Subway sandwich shop — Chicago police said the whole thing was a hoax.

The Osundairo brothers testified that Smollett paid them $3,500 for the hoax and gave them lines to yell during the phony attack, including “MAGA country.”

Smollett maintained his innocence throughout the case, and his lawyer says they will appeal the verdict.