Jussie Smollett maintained his innocence on his way into court in Chicago on Wednesday where he faces renewed charges over his alleged 2019 hate-crime incident. 

Smollett told Fox News that he is innocent while entering the court, referring to the proceedings he was about to participate in as a “dog and pony show.” 

The disgraced former “Empire” actor was re-charged with six counts of felony misconduct for allegedly lying to police about a racist, homophobic attack he claims was perpetrated against him by two men who he claimed shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him. 

The charges over the January 2019 incident were dropped by the Cook Country State’s Attorney’s office only to be renewed after a Cook County grand jury returned a six-count indictment accusing him of lying.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges in the new indictment.