Disgraced former actor Jussie Smollett is directing a new movie while pleading guilty to a hate crime fabrication, according to TMZ.

Smollett was reportedly spotted on the set of his new movie The Lost Holiday in Orange County, California. Exit. The film is expected to star veteran actress Vivica A. Fox, who is said to be a close friend of Smollett. (Related: Jussie Smollett, Osundairo brothers had ‘dry run’ for hate crime hoax, prosecutors say).

Foxx and Smollett co-starred on his previous show, Empire, around the same time Smollett staged a fake hate crime in 2019. Fox defended Smollett against the hoax allegations and told TMZ that he hopes to work with them again in 2021.

Jussie Smollett to direct new film starring Vivica A. Fox, pleads guilty https://t.co/AiMZUNwg25

—TMZ (@TMZ) June 23, 2023

“I’m definitely going to do something with him in the future,” Fox told TMZ in 2021. wait, he’s fine He is family and will always be family. ”

According to TMZ, Smollett has filed five successive lawsuits against racist hate crime hoaxes. The court has denied further continuation and plans to hear an appeal in December. If the appeal is dismissed, Smollett will reportedly face five months in prison. The former actor spent a week in prison in March 2022 but was released pending appeal, according to the media.

Smollett claimed he was assaulted by two Trump supporters in Chicago’s upscale Streeterville neighborhood in January 2019. Ms Smollett told police she was bombarded with racist and homophobic slurs by her attackers. They also claimed they put a noose around their necks and sprayed them with bleach while yelling, “This is MAGA country!” Under attack.

The two alleged Trump supporters turned out to be Nigerian brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who were extras on the set of Smollett’s previous show Empire. The brothers later claimed Smollett fabricated the hate crime. The Smollett character was removed from the show, after which Fox canceled the entire series.