Empire Star Jussie Smollett Recovering After Homophobic Attack in Chicago
Actor Jussie Smollett claims he was assaulted in a homophobic and racially fueled attack overnight in Chicago.
Now, police say there is surveillance video placing Smollett near the scene of the alleged crime, but there is no video of the attackers.
“You didn’t deserve this. Nobody deserves to have a noose put around their neck,” Lee Daniels, creator of the TV show Empire
, said in an Instagram post.
The photo along with the post appears to show Smollet with a cut under his eye.
According to ABC News, federal authorities will assist the Chicago Police Department into the case, which is currently being investigated as a “possible” hate crime.
The 35-year-old actor transported himself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital Tuesday (Jan. 29) morning, after being beaten by two white men in ski-masks who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him,
Smollett attempted to fight back but the attackers doused him with bleach and wrapped a noose around his neck, before fleeing the scene.
Smollett was leaving a Subway restaurant when the men began yelling to get his attention. He told police that the men also yelled, “This is MAGA country,” during the attack.
Though Smollett did not suffer life-threatening injuries, he was left shaken by the assault. The vicious incident comes about a week after he received a letter threatening his life.
TMZ has an extensive timeline of how everything went down.
The Empire cast was informed about the horrific assault on Jussie Smollett during a meeting Tuesday morning. The cast will now receive armed security as an added precaution.
Numerous celebrities rushed to social media to offer their support.
OMG!! THIS is why the LGBTQ community continue to fight to be seen and PROTECTED against hate!
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) January 29, 2019
We ALL have to take this racist and homophobic act of violence very personally! My arms are around you @jussiesmollett. You are loved! https://t.co/bprDZ3Luah
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central Detectives at 312-747-8382.
