The man who was reportedly paid by Jussie Smollett to help him fabricate a hate crime testified in the actor’s criminal trial on Wednesday, revealing how he took part in the hoax because he felt the “Empire” star might help him further his own acting career.

The bizarre request came after Mr. Smollett showed him a picture of a threatening letter he had received, according to Abimbola Osundairo, the younger of the two brothers. It showed a red stick figure hanging from a rope with a rifle pointing at him and the acronym MAGA written over it.

Mr. Smollett later set up a meeting with him, according to Mr. Osundairo, after sending him a text message in which he stated that he wanted help “on the low”. Mr. Osundairo told the court that they discussed how the television studio behind “Empire,” the show on which they both worked, was not taking the letter seriously.

The “Empire,” actor’s remark, according to Abimbola Osundairo, better known as “Bola” was perplexing.

“I was confused,” Osundairo testified further. “Then he explained he wanted me to fake beat him up.”

Webb was informed by Osundairo that he and Smollett shared a sibling relationship, and that he would get narcotics for the actor while Smollett would assist Osundairo with his fledgling acting career.

“We became good friends. I would say I would call him my brother,” Osundairo said of the friendship.

“I agreed to do it because I felt indebted to him, to Jussie,” Osundairo explained. “He also got me a stand-in role on ‘Empire,’ and I also believed he could help further my acting career.”

“He told me that we would need another person to fake beat him up. He mentioned could my brother do it. I said yes.”

Mr. Osundairo testified on the third day of Mr. Smollett’s trial on charges of filing a fake police report about the attack, a case that is mainly based on Mr. Osundairo’s and his brother, Olabinjo Osundairo’s statements that Mr. Smollett planned the attack.

The brothers were detained about two weeks after Smollett claimed police he was the victim of a brutal hate crime on a chilly night in January 2019, but admitted the actor paid them $3,500 to fake the assault.

Smollett, 39, faces six charges of felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a fake police complaint — one count for each time he filed a report to three separate officers, according to prosecutors. The class 4 felony has a maximum term of three years in jail, but experts say that if Smollett is convicted, he will most likely be sentenced to probation and community service.

Mr. Smollett has denied orchestrating the assault on Jan. 29, and his lawyers have indicated that the brothers made up the story to avoid being prosecuted.

Osundairo testified that he met Smollett through a common acquaintance in 2017 and that they grew extremely close over the following year and a half, spending time together using drugs, visiting strip clubs, and sleeping over at the actor’s Streeterville high-rise.

Mr. Smollett drove the brothers around the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago, where he lived, the day before the assault, showing them where he intended the attack to take place, according to the brothers. Mr. Smollett allegedly handed the brothers a $100 note to buy items for the assault, including ski masks, a rope, and a red hat to imply that the assailants were Trump fans, according to the brothers.

Smollett first inquired whether Osundairo’s brother might assist, before explaining his plan for the act. He began by telling the brothers the exact phrases he wanted them to say — “‘Empire,’ f—-t, n—-r, MAGA” — and then proceeded to give them step-by-step instructions.

“He wanted me to punch him but he wanted me to pull the punch so I didn’t hurt him and then he wanted me to tussle him and throw him to the ground and give him a bruise,” he said.

“Then he wanted it to look like he was fighting back, so I was supposed to give him a chance to fight back and then eventually throw him to the ground and my brother would tie the noose around his neck and pour bleach on him.”

As soon as word of the hate crime against Smollett surfaced the next morning, Osundairo claimed he sent a letter of condolence to Smollett, as ordered. “Bruh, say it ain’t true. I’m praying for speedy recovery.”

The defense, which had not yet begun questioning Mr. Osundairo on Wednesday, tried to discredit the brothers’ accounts in its opening statement and cross-examination. Nenye Uche, Mr. Smollett’s main lawyer, termed the brothers as “self-confessed attackers” who “did not like” Mr. Smollett.

Smollett gave the brothers with a $3,500 check, which Abimbola Osundairo believed was money for a food and exercise plan he provided the actor, as well as their assistance with the staged attack.

Smollett has entered a not guilty plea to six charges of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police about being the victim of a hate crime.

Neither of the brothers has been charged with any wrongdoing.