January 29 2019: Jussie Smollett, a black gay actor from “Empire,” claimed that he was assaulted by two white men in MAGA hats with a noose and a bleach-like liquid on him at 2 AM on the below-freezing, snowy streets of Chicago.
Smollett alleged th…
January 29 2019: Jussie Smollett, a black gay actor from “Empire,” claimed that he was assaulted by two white men in MAGA hats with a noose and a bleach-like liquid on him at 2 AM on the below-freezing, snowy streets of Chicago.
Smollett alleged that his attackers asked him, “Aren’t you that f*ggot Empire n*gger?”
TMZ reported on Smollett’s claims at the time:
The 2 men — both white and wearing ski masks — viciously attacked Jussie as he fought back, but they beat him badly and fractured a rib. They put a rope around his neck, poured bleach on him and as they left they yelled, “This is MAGA country.”
Somehow Smollett was able hang onto his Subway sandwich throughout the entire attack, because he was seen on surveillance still holding it when he returned to his apartment.
Chicago police claimed via statement:
Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime. Detectives are currently working to gather video, identify potential witnesses and establish an investigative timeline.
Empire creator and producer Lee Daniels described Smollett’s claims as “just another f*cking day in America.”
NAACP: The recent racist and homophobic attack on acclaimed actor and activist Jussie Smollett is troubling. The rise in hate crimes is directly linked to President Donald J. Trump’s racist and xenophobic rhetoric. It is dangerous for any society to allow a tone of divisiveness and hatred to dominate the political discourse. As this rhetoric continues to bleed into our everyday lives, dangerous behavior will continue to place many law-abiding individuals at risk. We pray for a full physical and mental recovery Jussie Smollett and many unnamed victims of this forum of hate based terrorism.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA): But we have to understand this is happening for a reason. Why all of a sudden do we have people unable to study while black, unable to mow a lawn while black, unable to have a picnic whil..
