Following public pressure from fans of Jussie Smollett, Cook County Jail has moved the former Empire actor from the psychiatric ward after only one weekend.

Jussie’s brother, Jacquoi Smollett, took to social media on Monday (March 14) to thank fans for their support in the #FreeJussie movement.

After the weekend, Smollett’s lawyers wasted no time in demanding his release.

The former actor’s legal team, who have claimed that he stands at a high risk of being harmed, yesterday filed an emergency motion asking the judge to release him while his appeal is pending.

The lawyers argued that the potential cons of his imprisonment far outweigh the benefits, noting that the star’s family has received a barrage of harassing messages and phone calls, laced with racist and homophobic slurs aimed at Smollett. The family believes these messages are indicative of the harm he could potentially face.

In addition to this, Smollett’s lawyers attached a sworn affidavit from a doctor who states that he is at a higher risk of catching COVID due to a compromised immune system, citing the positive case rates in prisons across the country.

Prior to his release from the psych ward, the lawyers had also claimed that his mental health would deteriorate, given his hold in protective custody, something similar to solitary confinement.

Although their hope is to get the former actor out of jail, Smollett’s brother believes his transfer from the psychiatric ward is a big step forward.

Jacquoi shared that, if fans continued to press, it is possible that his brother could be a free man.

“Cook County doesn’t really move until they get bad publicity … keep continuing to call Cook County Jail checking in on him and keep saying that you believe he should be free,” Jacquoi said.

Smollett, who is serving five months of jail time, was also given 30 months of felony probation, ordered to pay US$120,000 in restitution, and US$25,000 in fines.