Jussie Sollett's legal counsel has claimed that the actor is at serious risk of being harmed behind bars and asked for his immediate release from jail, per The Independent.
Just last week, the former Empire star was sentenced to 150 days in prison for staging a hate crime against himself and lying to police about the incident, which he still insists he had no hand in orchestrating.
Alongside jail time, Smollett was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago and fined $25,000 by Judge James Linn of Cook County circuit court.
The 39-year-old was convicted after two brothers - who he knew from working on Empire - testified that he paid them to carry out a racist and homophobic attack on him in January 2019. According to the brothers, Smollet not only gave them money to buy rope and ski masks but also issued detailed instructions that they were to tie a noose around his neck and shout specific slurs at him.
Now, The Independent reports that Smollett's lawyers have claimed that the actor is at high risk if he remains behind bars, and pointed to a threatening phone call received by his sibling in which an anonymous man speaks about hurting the actor.
In a video of the call shared by Smollet's legal team on Monday, a voice can be heard saying: "I hope what they do to that guy in jail – here’s what they’re going to do, right. They’re going to take a broom handle and take that little [expletive], shove it in there, and he’s gonna go, '[shrieking sound].'"
The actor's team further argued that he has been receiving alarming threats on social media which "no doubt reflects the hatred and wish for physical harm toward Smollett which he may experience during incarceration."
Meanwhile, Smollett's family claimed earlier this week that he has been placed in a psychiatric ward and is considered a suicide risk.
In a statement, Cook County Sherriff's Office said that the actor was under direct observation - but did not clarify whether he was under mental health watch.