Twitter reacts to prosecutor's decision to drop all charges against Jussie Smollett

In a stunning turn of events, news broke earlier on Tuesday (March 26) that the Illinois state attorney's office has decided to drop the charges against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett.

As previously reported, Smollett was indicted on 16 felony counts for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself and filing a false police report earlier this year. On Tuesday morning, he arrived at the Cook County courthouse for an emergency hearing, after which it was revealed that all of the charges he had been facing were dropped and his record wiped clean.

"Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him," a statement from lawyers Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes read. "Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29."

The "Empire" actor released a statement following his lawyer's announcement, touching on how difficult the past two months have been since the alleged attack at the end of January.

"This has been an incredibly difficult time. Honestly one of the worst of my entire life," he shared in a statement. "But I am a man of faith and I am a man that has knowledge of my history and I would not bring my family, our lives or the movement through a fire like this. I just wouldn't."

Outside of the courtroom, he reportedly added, "I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I've been accused of."

Thousands took to Twitter to react to the reversal, with many weighing in on how the situation cost both Smollett and the Chicago police department their reputations. Others voiced how the situation seems odd, while others stirred up a conversation regarding privilege and racial commentary.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office didn't offer an in-depth explanation as to why the 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct were dropped. Parts of the case will also be sealed.

Taking to Twitter, the official writer's room account for "Empire" celebrated the news, writing, "See y'all Wednesday."

Take a look at some reactions to the news Jussie Smollett's charges have been dropped in the posts below.