On Tuesday morning at 2a in Chicago, Jussie Smollett was attacked by 2 strangers who hit him, yelled homophobic and racist slurs at him, threw an unidentified chemical (he says bleach) at the actor and placed a noose around his neck. He was able to get away from them and call the police. After speaking with the cops, he took himself to the hospital and was hospitalized.
He has been on the mend ever since the horrific hate crime and today he finally broke his silence. The Empire star told Essence, “Let me start by saying that I’m OK. My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words.”
Then he addressed the misinformation that is being reported about the incident. He said, “I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level. Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served.”
Smollett knows that this is not an isolated attack and he has a takeaway from it. He wants people to know, “Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love. It’s all I know. And that can’t be kicked out of me.”
For now, he still needs time to process what happened to him. After he has done that, then he promises to talk more about the heinous crime that changed his life. For now, this is all he is saying.
He is not letting this stop him from doing what he loves. He is expected to go on with the show at the Troubadour tomorrow night in LA. We cannot late the haters win because that is what they want.
Photos of people of interest who were in area of the alleged assault & battery of Empire cast member. While video does not capture an encounter, detectives are taking this development seriously & wish to question individuals as more cameras are being reviewed pic.twitter.com/xJDDygtocr
Jussie Smollett was viciously attacked yesterday in a hate crime by 2 men in Chicago at 2a. Those men reportedly screamed racial and homophobic things at him as they beat him, poured a chemical, possibly bleach, on him and placed a noose around his neck.
Chicago police asked the public for any tips and they also sought any videos from the cameras in the area. At first, they came up with nothing and then they finally found video 2 men, who fit the Empire star’s description, in the area at that time. CPD’s PIO Anthony Guglielmi released two stills of the possible suspects and is asking for help in identifying who they are. They would like to question the two men about the incident.
If you know who they are, then contact the police via at CPDTip.com or 312-747-8382.
Let’s hope they find them soon because we need answers so disgusting things like this never ever happen again. They should not be happening in the first place, and we need to make sure this is the last time it happens. We are better than this.
Empire’s Jussie Smollett was reportedly attacked early this morning in Chicago by two white men who screamed racial and homophobic slurs at him. Then Chicago PD says, “The offenders began to batter the victim with their hands [around] the face and poured an unknown chemical substance on the victim. At some point during the incident, one of the offenders wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck.” The actor took himself to the hospital and he is in “good condition.”
According to TMZ, the substance thrown in his face was bleach, which is being tested now for confirmation. As the men were attacking him they shouted, “This is MAGA country.”
The suspects got away and Chicago PD is looking for any tips to capture them. If you know anything, then contact “Area Central Detectives at 312-747-8382 or report it anonymously to www.cpdtip.com.”
When it comes to why he was out so late. The flight he was on coming back from NYC was delayed several hours. A two-hour flight took seven and that got him around 1a. He posted the above photo around 1:30a CST detailing the events of the flight. When he finally got home, TMZ says he was hungry and went to get some Subway. That is when he was attacked.
TMZ says the cast and crew of Empire held a meeting this morning about the attack and were very upset over what happened. They also discussed getting extra security for the remaining few episodes they are filming this season. Which makes sense because ThatGrapeJuice.net reports that before the incident he got death threats sent to him where they film the Fox drama in Chicago.
Fox released this statement to The Hollywood Reporter, “We are deeply saddened and outraged to learn that a member of our Empire family, Jussie Smollett, was viciously attacked last night. 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.”
No word if and when Smollett will resume filming on Empire this season. Also, at this time it is unclear if he will still be performing in LA on February 2nd.
None of that matters at this time. All that matters he gets better and know we are here for him.
It saddens and infuriates me that this is still happening in 2019. No one should be that full of hate that they would attack a complete stranger for his skin color and whom he loves. We all bleed red, translation, we are all the same. I hope these men are caught quickly and serve the rest of their lives in jail. Disgusting attacks like this need to end, thus why the punishment should be so severe.
Smollett is all about love and hopefully this incident will not change him too much. They say what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger and he will come out much stronger and continue to help people be comfortable in their own skin.
UPDATE: Empire creator Lee Daniels tearfully sends out a message to his son Jussie. To see what he had to say, then click here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDe8AuSAHp4
Tonight’s Empire on Fox at 8p is a game changer. One that will bring the emotion like you never expected.
Lucious (Terrence Howard) invites Kingsley (A.Z. Kelsey) over for dinner, what is the worst that can happen? We also find out why he is so out to get the Lyons. He has a good reason.
Then something happens to Cookie (Taraji P Hensen) and she will never be the same. It is a powerful moment for her and I am not sure even Lucious can fix it. Something that Empire has never touched on before and they do it very responsibly. Which means you do not want to miss it.
After 5 seasons, Empire can still surprise us. Which is rare these days that a show can do that.
They said the third time is a charm, but not for the third day of the broadcast fall season. Of the screeners I saw for tonight, none of them made me go wow. They kept my interest but nothing groundbreaking.
As I have done for the last two days, I will review the shows from best to worst in my opinion. I have to say, it was a tie for best. When it comes to worst, there was no contest that that goes to A Million Little Things. I don’t know what ABC was thinking by putting the most depressing show on television after four comedies. Seriously?
I will start it off with Single Parents on ABC at 9:30p. It is a new comedy about 5 single parents trying to survive the day by raising their kids without a spouse.
Will Cooper (Taran Killam) and his daughter Sophie (Marlow Barkley) are new to the school and his whole life revolves around his kid. He acts more like a first grader than her dad. Thankfully, the other single parents are there to help him out. But they are only doing it so that he will leave him alone. He is like that lost puppy no one wants but will do anything to have you take him home. You know the type of dog.
Angie (Leighton Meester) used to be like Will, but not anymore. Now she will do anything to have alone time to drink. While Douglas (Brad Garrett) not Doug just want to hang with his dermatologist friends and not his twin daughters. Poppy (Kimrie Lewis) wants Douglas to help her with her son, who is a little eccentric and she accepts him for who he is. Finally, Miggy (Jake Choi) does not have a kid in the first grade like the others, they have adopted him and his baby boy into their group.
Even though they don’t want to hear that it takes a village to raise a family, it really does. Good thing they have each other in this endearing comedy that could become an ABC staple.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wbt1wXGccw
Then at 8p on Fox, Empire is back on Fox and the 2-year time jump helps to breath new life into the show as more people die.
As you just read, the drama starts the season off 2 years after the season finale. Lucious (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Hensen) are nearly broke without Empire and they are trying to start their own record label. Andre (Trai Byers) is in jail and Jamal (Jussie Smollett) is in London with a new love.
The Lyons are all over the place and something needs to get them back together. How about another death? Is that person the one in the coffin? Who is in that coffin?
I have seen the first two episodes of the season, and it feels as good as it during the first season. The restart is just what they needed and you do not want to miss it.
To read the reviews of the other shows, then click here!
