Jussie Smollett says CNN’s Don Lemon tipped him off about Chicago police's doubts about his story

Actor Jussie Smollett took the stand Monday and testified that CNN host Don Lemon warned him via text that the Chicago Police Department was beginning to doubt his version of events.

Specifically, Lemon's tip was why Smollett said he decided against surrendering his phone over to police when asked.

Smollett is on trial on charges related to allegedly lying about an attack in 2019, in which he claimed he was beaten and called racist and homophobic slurs.

Lemon has been open about his friendship with the Empire actor, admitting to Entertainment Tonight in February 2019 he had texted daily to check on his well-being following the attack. Both Smollett and Lemon are gay African-Americans.

However, the CNN anchor admitted on his own show later that month that Smollett’s account raised a lot of questions as public opinion turned against his friend. He insisted Smollett was “innocent until proven guilty” but that he had “squandered the good will of a whole lot of people” if his story was "untrue.”

“He even lied to a lot of people… including me. And that’s not cool,” Lemon told his viewers in his opening monologue. “He squandered the good will of very high-profile people who one day may be running this country like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker and people like President Trump.”

Critics drew comparisons between Lemon and disgraced CNN host Chris Cuomo, both for reporting on or discussing cases involving someone they knew quite well while trying to help them behind the scenes.

Cuomo was criticized last year over the questionable ethics of hosting his brother, then-NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on his CNN program. He was suspended by CNN last week after court documents revealed he had used his media sources to track down a woman coming forward to accuse Andrew of sexual harassment. He was later fired from the network after additional information came out about his level of involvement in trying to help his brother escape the consequences of his alleged actions.  

Lemon was also blasted for covering the courtroom testimony on his Monday evening show, where he avoided mentioning his personal ties to Smollett.

The prosecution rested their case on Thursday after testimony from its star witnesses, the Osundairo brothers, who told a story how Smollett had recruited the two to pose as attackers and paid for the materials required, including disguises and the rope found tied around his neck after the attack.