“Empire” star Jussie Smollett was hospitalized Tuesday after he was allegedly attacked in what Chicago police are investigating as a possible hate crime.
The Chicago Police Department said a member of the hit Fox series was the victim of a “possible racially-charged assault and battery,” though they did not name Mr. Smollett, People magazine reported.
Police said the victim reported being attacked about 2 a.m. Tuesday in Chicago by “two unknown offenders” who yelled “racial and homophobic slurs towards him.”
“The offenders began to batter the victim with their hands about the face and poured an unknown chemical substance on the victim,” the police statement said. “At some point during the incident, one of the offenders wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck. The offenders fled the scene.”
The statement added that the victim was in “good condition” and that police were taking the investigation “very seriously.”
TMZ, which first reported the story, interviewed “sources directly connected to Jussie,” who alleged that the attackers, both “white and wearing ski masks,” put a rope around Mr. Smollett’s neck, poured bleach on him and yelled, “This is MAGA country.”
Mr. Smollett, a gay black man, was treated at Northwestern Memorial where he was discharged later Tuesday morning, TMZ reported.
Mr. Smollett received an outpouring of support on social media. Some commentators expressed outrage over the alleged motivations of the attack, while others cast doubt on TMZ’s sources.
Regardless of who you voted for or what party you support, this should sicken and enrage you. https://t.co/vLo76YdqIy
— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) January 29, 2019
Sending love to my brother @JussieSmollett . These trash ass individuals will not go unpunished. pic.twitter.com/IK0kId3tcZ
— Amanda Seales 🇬🇩 (@amandaseales) January 29, 2019
If the details of this are in fact true it would be absolutely disgusting. Send your prayers up to Jussie Smollett for a quick recovery. If this happened it has no place in our wonderful nation. If true the men responsible should be jailed for life. https://t.co/rxtRT2iT76
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 29, 2019
Either TMZ got hoaxed or ’Empire’ star Jussie Smollett straight up fabricated details, but there is no way the hate crime described in the TMZ story occurred as described. I’m sorry, this is terrible fiction. pic.twitter.com/sWEswRg8bw
— my tweet portal is whack (@HashtagGriswold) January 29, 2019
Chicago police couldn’t confirm parts of TMZ’s report. A spokesperson told The Daily Beast that the attackers’ genders are unknown and that shouts of “This is MAGA country” were never reported.
Fox issued a statement Tuesday expressing outrage over the attack.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged to learn that a member of our Empire family, Jussie Smollett, was viciously attacked last night,” a statement from 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment read. “We send our love to Jussie, who is resilient and strong, and we will work with law enforcement to bring these perpetrators to justice. The entire studio, network and production stand united in the face of any despicable act of violence and hate — and especially against one of our own.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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