Jussie Smollett and Taraji P. Henson reunite for workout and lunch

Jussie Smollett reunites with Taraji P. Henson for workout and lunch date in LA as embattled actor awaits decision on his appeal

Taraji P. Henson continues to show her unwavering support for her former Expire co-star Jussie Smollett, as he awaits the result of his appeal in his criminal case in Chicago.

The actor has been out on bail since March 2022 after being being sentenced to five months in jail, fined $25,000, and ordered to pay restitution to the city of Chicago of just over $120,000, in connection to staging a hate crime against himself and then lying about it to police. 

Still awaiting his fate, Smollett has been spending a lot of time on the West Coast in recent times, hanging out with supporters like Henson, who reunited with her former colleague on Saturday for a workout that may included a hike, according to TMZ

After building up a sweat together, on a day that saw the temperature top 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the pair made their way to a pop-in restaurant for a quick bite to eat.

The two actors said their goodbyes, shared a hug on the sidewalk of a street, and then Smollett walked his friend to her parked SUV to make sure she got off safely.

Show of support: Jussie Smollett, 41, and Taraji P. Henson, 52, share a goodbye hug after spending part of their Saturday together working out together, which may have included a hike, and doing lunch at a pop-in restaurant in Los Angeles

Both of them were still in their workout clothes when they were spotted parking their respective vehicles and then putting change in the meters.

In fact, Smollett walked over to Henson to double check her meter to make sure she didn’t get a ticket by they time they wrapped up their lunch date.

Henson, 52, looked sporty in her all-black ensemble that included sweatpants and a matching sports bra.

The Washington, D.C. native also donned a pair of black sneakers, and had her raven locks pulled up into a bun with the help of a blue bandana.

After making sure Henson was legally parked, the man who played her son on Empire put his arm around her shoulder and the pair walked into the establishment.

Smollett also came workout ready dressed in black shorts, a gray tank top, white sneakers, and a brown newsboy cap over his short dark hair.

Like Henson, the Santa Rosa, California native also wore dark sunglasses to help shiled their eyes from the glaring sun.

Eventually, the duo were seen heading out of the restaurant and out on to the sidewalk, where they stood to chat for another couple minutes.  

It’s at this point that they shared a friendly hug, while saying goodbye to each other, and then did the short walk to Henson’s SUV.

Showing his gentlemanly side, Smollett opened her driver’s side door, said goodbye one more time, and both went their separate ways.

Helping hand: The Santa Rosa, California native took notice of Henson parking and walked over to her to check her parking meter

Meter check: Smollett double checked whether his friend was legally parked before they went inside to the restaurant for lunch following their workout

Friendly outing: The actor wrapped his arm around his former Empire co-star just before walking into the restaurant

All the drama surrounding Smollett started back in January 2019, when he reported to police that he had been physically attacked outside his apartment building in Chicago, that included the use of racial and homophobic slurs. 

The actor, who at the time was among the main cast for the hit Fox series Empire, was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and released ‘in good condition’ later that same morning. 

But after a subsequent police investigation into the alleged hate crime, officers ruled that the actor had paid two brothers who were his work acquaintances to stage the assault.

Sporty: The two former Empire stars eventually walked out of the restaurant still dressed in their sporty ensembles, which for Henson was black sweatpants and a matching sports bra

Workout ready: The sports bra helped the actress flaunt her fit figure, while her friend looked summer ready in shorts and a tank top

Hugging it out: It’s at this point that the two actors shared a goodbye hug

Ultimately, Smollett was charged by a grand jury with a class 4 felony for filing a false police report in February, about three weeks after the initial report.

But just over a month later, in late March, prosecutors decided to drop all charges filed against Smollett.

In the weeks after the charges were dropped, allegations of favoritism and leniency were made against the prosecutor, Kim Foxx, which would ended up resulting in a special prosecutor filing charged against Smollett again in February 2020.

True gentleman: In a show of chivalry, Smollett decided to walk Henson to her parked SUV

The Mighty Ducks alum opened the door for his friend and made sure she got off safely

Tense times: Smollett has been out on bail since March 2022 awaiting the decision on his appeal in his case in Chicago

Carrer moves: Since his release, Smollett has announced his directorial debut with the film B-Boy Blues, but has had no new acting credits

His trial began in November 2021, and by early the next month Smollett was found guilty of five of the six counts, and sentenced to 150 days at the Cook County Jail.

He spent six days behind bars before being released pending the appeal, according to ABC7 Chicago. 

Smollett has continued to insist his innocence, including immediately after he was sentenced. 

So far there’s no word on when a decision on his appeal will be rendered. 

Since the scandal began unfolding, Smollett announced his directorial debut with the film B-Boy Blues, but has had no new acting credits.

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