Actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty Thursday to 16 charges of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to investigators about an attack that police first examined as a hate crime.

Smollett, 36, claimed he was attacked in downtown Chicago by two masked white men who shouted racist and homophobic remarks at him on Jan. 29. He claimed they put a noose around his neck and threw what he believed was bleach on him.