'Empire' Actor Jussie Smollett Accused Of Staging Attack In 'Publicity Stunt' Over Salary
"Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career," Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said in a news conference Thursday morning.
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"Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career," Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said in a news conference Thursday morning.
The two brothers involved in the Jussie Smollett attack told police that Smollett was behind creating a racist letter that was sent to the set of his show "Empire," sources confirmed to CBS Chicago.
"Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, upset after a racist letter was allegedly sent to the show's studio didn't get a "bigger reaction," is suspected of paying two men to attack him a week later
Police said they have reached out to Smollett's attorney to request a follow-up interview, after detectives questioned two brothers last week. The two men went from persons of interest to potential suspects to being released without charges
Jussie Smollett paid two brothers to stage an attack against him, directed them to buy items used in the alleged assault and actually rehearsed it with them, sources told CBS Chicago.
Sources tell CBS Chicago at least one of the brothers bought the rope used in the incident at Smollett's request.
Since the Jan. 29 incident, Chicago police have not been able to identify any legitimate suspects in the case or find any surveillance video capturing the attack on film.
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The Chicago Police Department received a report of a possible racially-charged assault and battery against an "Empire" cast member. Sources told CBS Chicago the cast member is Jussie Smollett.
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Prosecutors have filed hate crime and aggravated kidnapping charges against four people accused of beating and taunting a man during an attack streamed live on Facebook.
Four people were in police custody in Chicago Wednesday after an assault was streamed live on Facebook.
