7 episodes
Attacking Jussie: The Osundairo Brothers Story Lionsgate Sound
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- News
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3.7 • 63 Ratings
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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.
Series artwork by Pat Leonard.
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Chapter 1: This Is Hollywood
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 -
Chapter 2: MAGA Country
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 -
Chapter 3: The Confession
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 -
Chapter 4: The Seduction
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 -
Chapter 5: I Am Innocent
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 -
Chapter 6: What is a Victim?
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
Customer Reviews
Imperfect subjects make a good podcast cringe adjacent
The host and producer balance the conversation. The podcast is well structured and edited. They do an excellent job of giving a clear timeline and providing the political context around the events. The issue is the brothers are painfully unlikeable. They are self centered and egotistical in a way that makes you want it all to stop. It’s a worthwhile listen because of the insanity of this story but prepare yourself to be annoyed.
Was conflicted on how to review this
I had hoped I would get to learn more about what actually happened and why. What i got was an hour’s worth of content spread over 6 hours of the empty ramblings of 2 arrogant narcissist as the explain that they are amazingly talented and nearly perfect individuals who are not responsible for a single thing they have done. What i did not get was any new or relevant information. I was also disappointed that the broader moral questions like the damage of perpetuating damaging negative stereotypes, the physical cost of investigating the hoax cost and if the perpetrators should be responsible for that cost. The reason I was conflicted about the review was the production value was very good and i wanted to acknowledge that only so much can be done with two subjects like this. In the end I would not recommend anyone waist there time on this season.
Funny story
I knew jussie was lying from the beginning lol… A great listen for a day of trucking