Jussie Smollett, Empire

Jussie Smollett (from hit show Empire)was attacked in Chicago by two white men wearing ski masks this morning. Before attack they yelled “aren’t you that fa*got Empire nigg*r?”

He was beaten in the face, choked by a rope made into a noose, and doused in bleach as the attackers shouted “This is MAGA country”. 

Jussie suffered a fractured rib and was released from hospital.  

Someone had it out for him because 6 days before incident he received a threatening letter that said 
“You will Die Black F*g” 

Later Tuesday, CNN’s Don Lemon spoke to Smollett and a mutual friend who was at the hospital with the actor. Smollett confirmed the incident took place. 
He was shaken and angry that an attack like this could happen. Smollett told CNN he fought back at the attackers.
“Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime,” the police statement said. 
Smollett has starred on Fox’s “Empire” since 2015. He plays Jamal, a successful singer in the musical Lyon family. Like his character, Smollett identifies as gay.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged to learn that a member of our ‘Empire’ family, Jussie Smollett, was viciously attacked last night,” a representative of 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment said in a statement to CNN. “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 stands united in the face of any despicable act of violence and hate — and especially against one of our own.”

#JussieSmollett

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