This is absolutely horrifying.
Jussie Smollett was attacked by two men who beat him up, put his head in a noose, and shouted, “This is MAGA country”, TMZ reports.
The assault happened at around 2AM on Tuesday morning, shortly after Smollett arrived in Chicago from New York.
According to sources, 36-year-old Smollett went into a sandwich shop for a bite to eat when one of the two men, who are being described as white and wearing ski masks, shouted, “Aren’t you that f*ggot ‘Empire’ n*gger?”
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The men then jumped on Smollett, beating him so badly that they fractured one of his ribs. After pinning him down, they put a noose around his neck, poured bleach on him, and shouted “This is MAGA country!” before fleeing the scene.
Smollett was rushed to Northwestern Memorial, where he was treated and discharged a few hours later.
ThatGrapeJuice.Net published a letter which was purportedly addressed to Smollett and sent to Fox Studios in Chicago with cut out letters spelling, “You will die black f*g.”
The letter was sent a few days before the attack.
The Chicago Police Department are investigating.
“Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime,” police said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter.
Related: Twitter responds to the attempted lynching of Jussie Smollett
Blackceo
I am so angry and heartbroken for Jussie that this happened to him. Like….I’m ready to fight. I hope they catch those sick, racist, homophobic bastards.
Tony1129
I’m with you, hearing this has made me very angry and ruined my morning. I can’t believe this type of bullshit still happens in 2019.
Wearing ski masks makes you a coward just like those that hide behind a white rob and stupid pointed hat. KKK.
This is insanely.
TobyTaz744
Yes!
QueerTruth
“Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime,”
POSSIBLE??? Are they insane. What more do they need to do?
My heart breaks reading this. I’m sending Jussie any love and strength I can.
Trekbike
The FBI refuses to follow up on nearly every hate crime. The FBI hates gay men and always will. What good is a hates crime law if the law enforcement community won’t enforce it! It’s exactly what the radical christians want to happen with marriage equality, allow it, but dilute it with genuine discrimination so it’s worthless.
Brian
That’s just how they phrase it. Everything is an allegation until there are charges and trials. It’s legalese.
screwtop
The FBI hates gay men and always will.
Is that because Jedgar Hoover was a closet queen?
alby1303
“….as a possible hate crime”. Wtf, it WAS a hate crime!!!
ptb2016
Disgusting and unacceptable behaviour. My heart goes out to the gorgeous Mr. Smollett and my best wishes for as fast a recovery as possible.
The guys who attacked him need throwing in gaol ASAP.
CanadianGuy62
@ptb2016…Why was it necessary to describe him as “gorgeous?” Would your heart not go out to him if he were ugly?!
Do us gays always have to reduce things to looks?!
This is a terrible thing to read. Hopefully they catch the b@st@rds and they are prosecuted and thrown in jail for a long, long time.
Tony1129
KARMA will find the cowardly punks who did this and serve them a taste of medicine they never knew existed.
Trekbike
To hell with KARMA. It’s time for us men to take action. If we keep waiting for KARMA we’ll all be dead.
Rock-N-RollHS
Grow up. There is no karma. Bad people get away with bad shit and good people are screwed over all the time. Let’s hope these folks are quickly arrested. Of course, this type of thing happens all the time to gays and trans folks with little to no “justice.” But good that a famous face is bringing attention to it, nonetheless.
niles
For his sake and ours, this had better not be a fake.
Donston
This story has been out for a couple of hours and has been widely reported. If it were fake it would have been shut down by now.
There are still people getting their asses beat everyday for their skin color and particularly for being trans or being openly gay identifying. The fact that it happened to someone who’s at least semi famous will hopefully bring greater attention to it. But damn, it’s fvcked up. Heart goes out to Jussie.
iamru2
It takes more than a couple of hours to investigate a crime like this. Just because it’s been widely reported doesn’t make it true. There have been far too many fake “crimes” recently to drum up outrage so I will wait till after the investigation.
MISTERJETT
question: why would he fake this?
Charlie in Charge
FOX has already responded to the incident. It’s legit.
Curtispsf
IAmRU2 Has enough time gone by for you to remove any doubt over this “fake crime”? I hope so; otherwise you are a trollish arsehole.
Donston
iamru2. I highly doubt Jussie would risk his credibility and career by throwing out a BS story. But no, we don’t have the details. My point was that it’s clearly not a tabloid or social media work of fiction.
niles
I do not know why anyone would go to the trouble of faking an incident like this, but yes, it has happened many times before. All I am saying is tread cautiously while still giving him all the support we can.
CanadianGuy62
I am wondering if this actually happened. If it did, I hope they catch the perpetrators and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
However, it seems to be a bit suspicious. These people just happened to have a rope and some unknown liquid (initially described as bleach), were looking for someone to attack and just happened upon a gay, black guy whom they knew from TV?
What about the ransom-style note that had been sent earlier? Seems pretty coincidental Also, police say they’ve combed hundreds of hours of video from surveillance cameras in the area and have come up with nada. Did they happen to do it outside of the various cameras’ views?
I am not saying that there are not people out there who hate us – especially in the trump era, where they’ve been emboldened; however, something just doesn’t seem to add up.
If it is a hoax, his career is toast, but it will also bolster the cry of “fake news.”
Tigertail60
To Canadian Guy, it was just a description! Of course he would feel the same if he was ugly. To Trekbike and RockNRollHS, I completely agree. No time, tired of waiting for KARMA! I hope some gay thug in prison will teach them a painful lesson. THE Time is UP!!
bowlingbutch
This should not happen to anyone in 2019 but Trump condones hatred and bigotry. It is times like this I wish the haters would be treated the same. It is amazing his supporters can not see the hate he has brought to America and that is how other countries see us now. My good thoughts go out to Jussie and others being attacked.
MISTERJETT
SKI MASKS???? THEY MAY AS WELL HAVE WORN WHITE ROBES AND POINTED HOODS.
Hillers
Horrifying and sad. But my question is, what is going on in that illustration? Are those rabid pubic hairs sprouting from the glans of a giant penis? Someone’s got more issues than “Sports Illustrated.”
HereIAm
What a savage and cowardly attack on an innocent man! Arrest the criminals and lock them up in jail for a long time.
Franco
Something is definitely not right with this story. I worked in law enforcement for thirty years in NY. My first thought was how were two guys in a sandwich shop with ski masks not noticed or reported by anyone prior to him walking in? Second, doesn’t it seem odd that the two guys wearing the ski masks (obviously low lifes) would immediately notice that Jussie was on Empire? I have been watching the show and have a huge crush on this guy but if he walked into a sandwich shop at 2 a.m. I doubt I would recognize him. And who carries a noose around with them or rope to make a noose? I am truly sorry for him but I would love to know what part of the story we are missing. My first thought is that he was being tailed but that doesn’t explain how they were in the shop before him. I certainly wish him well and hope that he recovers physically from this quickly. It will take a much longer time to heal emotionally.
GorgeousNotGeorge
Facts still need to come out. But with regards to ski masks, if you live in Chicago right now, you know the weather is really cold so ski masks are obviously not going to get you noticed. Details could be hearsay (TMZ) but I think the only sure thing is there was an obvious crime. The Police will probably release more later as well as from the actor’s reps.
And if you also have lived in Chicago, depends on where this was and if there was any threats already made and he was already in their target (like his itinerary on the visit to Chicago). Nowadays, you just follow someone on Twitter or IG and find out their whereabouts at a particular time.
SnakeyJ
Franco: I agree. I thought the story was a bit fishy. If they’re trying to tie the note to the attack, it seems unlikely that the person would know Jussie was at the sandwich shop at that time… especially since he just got back to Chicago. And the noose seems suspect to me as well, like you said, who walks around with a noose? Screaming out MAGA nonsense doesn’t make sense either if they’re targeting him. Very odd.
Kangol
Yes, the ski masks detail at first sounded strange, but Chicago’s temperatures right now are ranging from 6 to -23, without the wind chill, so it’s not inconceivable. The noose bit also was surprising, but if it was just a rope or some other thing to try to hurt or strangle him, I don’t think it would be that surprising.
Franco
Ski masks in a cold city is not unusual. The article however said the men were in the sandwich shop. Ski masks on men in a sandwich shop or store would certainly raise my suspicions that something was up. Now the thing we all have to remember is that we are reading a story by someone who wasn’t there at the time. Many stories are exaggerated and many are changed from what really happened to what people would like to believe occurred. Hoping that the investigation will shed more light on this. Also, if it was a bad section of town it is unlikely that someone as well to do and as intelligent would just turn up there by accident to get a sandwich. I am confidant he was most likely staying somewhere else. No way is he to blame but the whole story is suspect.
JenLadam
Yeah, I don’t know, I am quite buying the description of this whole attack. I hope it’s not some sort of cry for attention. Guess we’ll see.
Brian
The details of this story definitely don’t make sense, and they are really, really, really over the top. I would put money on this being a hoax. I’d normally guess that he got injured in a drug deal gone wrong and made up a cover story, but that doesn’t work with the letter that was sent to the studio a week earlier. It’s definitely not two isolated, unrelated incidents that both just happen to be centered around MAGA people. But he couldn’t be targeted either, nobody looking for him is gonna find him at a Subway at 2 am right after flying into Chicago.
There’s gonna be video footage from the surrounding stores. TMZ is already implying that it looks like a hoax, saying that he was the only person seen on Target’s video footage and that he still had the rope around his neck when he was talking to the police 45 minutes after the attack.
michaelmt1009
did I read that correctly? they are treating it as a “possible hate crime” It all sounds pretty possible to me. Once again the influence from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in DC spreads its evil being. I am sickened by this horrific thing and send my good thoughts to Jussie to heal the physical as well as emotional pain that this event has placed on him. American can NEVER be great again as long as hate continues to show its ugly face.
Daggerman
..I just cannot understand, wasn’t anyone around to help him??? Even at 2am in the morning…!?!?!…
Curtispsf
Hate like this has roots deep deep within the camp of President Agent Orange.
iamru2
Actually it goes back just a bit further try doing some research or better yet educate yourself mmmkay dumb arse?
Felecia
I was horrified and pissed off too…until I got to the part of the story where a hate-letter was sent to him via Chicago; days before he actually GOT there from New York. Either somebody in his circle passed along his travel plans, or this is another bullsh*t tale to sell to the public. And who carries a rope and bottle of bleach around with them anyway, except maybe a very careful heroin addict with cleaned needles and suicidal tendencies when the dope wears off, lol…not to mention I find it incredible that two white homophobic ‘Bubba Joe’ -types even KNEW of Smollet OR his TV show. I doubt that the music on ‘Empire’ finds it’s way to the playlist of KKK members, so as far as this news goes; I’m going to have to say that I’m not buying what Queerty is selling today, lol….
Kangol
This report is so strange and disturbing I don’t know what to say. I hope Jussie Smollett is recovering. I also hope that the alleged video from the nearby store captured what happened and that the authorities can find the culprits quickly.
I do want to note that the most recent Chicago police report that’s circulating is a bit more restrained than TMZ’s account; it mentions an attack on Smollett, assailants yelling out racist and homophobic comments, an attack with a chemical agent, and then their attempt to place a “rope” around his neck. Nothing about them mentioning his name, the race of the attackers, MAGA or a noose. This is not to say those elements were not a part of it, but even if they’re amplifications, it sounds like he suffered a horrible, racist, homophobic attack, a hate crime and let’s hope they catch the assailants, who ever they were, as soon as possible.
fur_hunter
THIS event is a TOTAL DISGRACE. Worse than that. No words can describe how incredibly hateful and outrageous this really is. It is 2109…..NOT 1950. EXCUSE ME!!!! I hope these morons are caught and punished with the worst possible punishment possible to the fullest extent of the law. And you just know that when they get to jail, a nice big Quartavious will take good care of them. I pray for it.
BlairF27
Does this even make sense in Chicago? How much more northerly do we have to go to escape the under educated, racist, homophobic, anti-Christian, poor excuses for Americans?
Bob LaBlah
There HAD to be security surveillance somewhere or so you would think. Its hard to believe he was the only one awake at that hour but no article on this story online says anything about witnesses.
Morrisson
Something about this allegation doesnt ring quite true. Too many perceived symbols of hate and racism in one attack.
Brian
Right? Did you see the letter that was sent to the studio? MAGA was misspelled and the writing and drawing looked like they were done by a 3 year old. This seems much more like an attempt to make Trump supporters look evil and stupid than an actual crime. All that’s missing is Snidely Whiplash twirling his mustache.
jpcolter
This seems like a fake story. No legitimate news sources are reporting this. Fake fake fake!
Bob LaBlah
Wrong. CBS Evening News reported it. I do think the letter, two white guys with ski masks, a noose and bleach were a bit much. The thought Jussie may be a ferocious fighter and fought them off did go thru my mind but hey, lets just wait till the investigators give their report. Or at least I am and I am going to give him the benefit of the serious doubt.
MISTERJETT
what does Jussie have to look like for you to believe him?
Archie
“According to the victim, the offenders’ faces were concealed,” a police spokesperson told Reason. “We have no record indicating that [they shouted ‘MAGA’], we only have record of them shouting racial and homophobic slurs at him.”
Chicago police have also released a statement contradicting claims that Smollett identified his attackers’ race and heard them shout “MAGA.”
“We have no record of The MAGA Country comment,” said the police in a statement. “We have racial and homophobic comments documented.”
truthseeker
I’m calling fake on a lot of this as well. There have been numerous fake hate crimes reported over the past 2 years for whatever reason.
Most of the alleged “facts” of this incident aren’t adding up. How would Trump supporters even know who this guy is? Chicago is mostly African American. How would 2 white men walking around carrying Bleach and a noose go unnoticed? And why would they be in sub zero temperatures?
I think when the surveillance footage comes forward, we will see a different story with many people backtracking on this
Bob LaBlah
I wonder if he has a Grindr or jack’d account and……..hey, like I said I’m going to wait till the investigation is over before I pass judgement.
Kangol
@truthseeker, you are clearly uninformed.
Chicago is not “mostly African American.” Where did you get that nonsense, from FauxNews?
Chicago Demographics. The racial composition of Chicago (based on the results of the 2010 census) is 45% White (31.7% non-Hispanic White), 32.9% Black, 5.5% Asian, 2.7% from two or more races, 0.5% American Indian. In addition, 13.4% are from another race. Dec 27, 2018
Google it if you don’t believe me. Also, the area in Chicago where this occurred is predominantly white. It’s right near the Chicago River, and full of upscale condos, businesses, etc. Ignorance is not bliss.
Franklin
For a lot of these white queens 5 black people in one place is too many. And to all the people calling it fake, why? Because there was so much hate involved. Wake up. Stuff like this happens more then you know. It’s just this particular man happened to be famous.
Brian
There have been numerous fake hate crimes reported over the past 2 years for whatever reason.”
You know damn well the reason. The only acceptable narrative in this country is that all Trump voters are vile, racist, violent people. Since that is obviously not true, stories like this have to me made up to keep the media fires burning and non Trump supporters foaming at the mouth.
Doug
The article reads like it happened in a sandwich shop; if that’s correct, there must be at least one or two people who can verify what happened. True or not, glad to know he wasn’t hurt any badly than what’s reported here. And aside from all that… he’s a total babe.
Bob LaBlah
I wish I could get rid of the thought of an online hookup that went wrong (such as the guy recognized who he was and wanted money or decided to just rob him). But for some reason I just can’t get rid of that thought. Now, that is MY thought and I am well aware that a final conclusion has not been reached.