In the latest news regarding the Jussie Smollett attack, a “Hail Mary” phone call by the actor’s lawyers has postponed grand jury testimony by two suspects, possibly sparing Smollett an indictment, CBS News reports.
Police questioned Nigerian-born brothers Ola and Abel Osundario earlier this week in connection with the January 29 attack. Empire star Smollett claims he was beaten and doused in chemicals by masked men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs. Smollett also alleges his attackers tied a rope around his neck. Video footage of the attack has confirmed the presence of the Osundario brothers at the scene, though the siblings reportedly told police that Smollett paid them to fake the attack.
Related: Memers are coming for Jussie Smollett and it’s all getting very uncomfortable
Police searched the home of the Osundario brothers and discovered bleach, rope and masks believed to have been used in the attack. The two brothers, however, contend that Smollett paid them to organize the assault as a publicity stunt. They also claim to have sent threatening letters to Smollett via the Empire production offices. Ola Osundario also once appeared in an episode of Empire in a bit part.
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Police have also subpoenaed Smollett’s phone and financial records as part of the investigation. The 36-year-old actor has denied that the attack was faked, though he refused to consent to a second police interview. The Fox network and producers of Empire have repeatedly said they believe the actor’s account of the attack, though Fox refused to comment on rumors that Smollett’s role had been all but deleted from the remaining episodes of the Empire season.
Vince
The irony is that Jussie is now actually having to fight against a real bashing.
@DmitriyR
It is not the irony. it is fame.
jorgecruz
His lawyer will have him checked in to rehab within a week. This will turn in to some bullshit substance abuse issue as an excuse. His attorney will make a deal to not press charges as long as Jussie reimburses the city for the costs and checks in to a treatment program.
QueerTruth
None of that would matter. None. No one will accept any excuse. (Drugs, depression, mental health) And no one should. If he’s proven to have lied – he needs to be prosecuted. Plain and simple.
Chrisk
Although stupid this was too well orchestrated for people to just blame drugs/mental health. I agree that they’ll try though.
Bob LaBlah
Be it drugs or just plain crazy no one will come within ten feet of him and it will also be difficult to have him insured for any future projects including concerts (what guarantee do the concert promoters have that he won’t pull another fast one during an appearance). He was accused by his Empire costar (Hakeem) of pinching his cheeks. He denied doing it but now its too hard to believe he didnt. Not one costar has come to his rescue since this turn of events. He dug his own grave and must now lie in it.
Ronangelojr
I absolutely agree with what you are saying. This has me so sad and disappointed in Jussie.
MuslimSlutBox
I have just opened a counseling center right here in my bedroom and there’s plenty of room for him to work on his problems right here. Hahah. He’s my dream boy and, having investigated pretty well, he’s not just pretty, he’s packin’ too. He may not get away with the mail threats if it’s proven he orchestrated that. He’ll get some serious federal time if they prosecute him for that. Love ya Jussie even if you are a racist hater.
Kangol
He can get some “counseling” from you and then some real psychological help, which he clearly needs. I’ll have a private chat with those Nigerian-American brothers myself….
stanhope
Sorry to burst your bubble…yes he is packing alas, he is a power bottom. He is also now a documented idiot…..his career was on the rise, sun and blue sky everywhere. Now, as Nancy Wilson said in her famed song….,you’d better face it girl, it’s over. The plan was a stupid one if the theory is true. That said mark geragos makes a strong point in being skeptical about the ‘leaks’ from the chicago police department which has been proven racist and homophobic time and time and time again. Either way, he will be too hot for hollywood to handle. White gurls have little use for a Black bottom….ask anybody in the know LOL
Kangol
@stanhope, he has a man–or had one, a handsome black real estate exec. Not sure what’s going to happen now, but despite this mess I’m sure there’ll be guys out there looking to help him out.
Brian
If Mark Geragos is talking about the leaks from the PD, that just means he has no defense for Jussie so he’s trying to deflect blame somewhere else. Inside sources wouldn’t be leaking so many specific details if they didn’t have the means to back them up.
Bob LaBlah
The word postpone leave the impression that it was simply delayed for now. And why no mention of the ongoing FBI investigation into the letter? This is an open attempt to tile this in Jussie’s favor and it isn’t working. I doubt even his hard core support believe this article.
Brian
On the plus side, they didn’t include all of the “THIS IS STILL UNCONFIRMED BY THE POLICE” disclaimers that they were throwing all over the place yesterday.
You think that the next time they run an article about something that was leaked from the White House, that they’ll be as diligent in letting us know it’s unconfirmed?
ptb2016
One question I have is why would such a high profile successful actor/singer need to fake a publicity stunt like this? He doesn’t need to.
MISTERJETT
he doesn’t have to and i don’t think he did.
iamru2
Narcissism and ignorance make people do really bizarre things!
MarathonBoy
Did Brian Williams need to embellish his brushes with danger during his career?
Did Hillary Clinton need to make up a story about coming under fire in Croatia?
Did lesbian basketball player need to concoct an elaborate bashing hoax?
No, none of these high-profile, successful people needed to lie. They chose to because it conferred some social or reputational benefit on them. Smollett would benefit from being seen as a brave, stoic survivor of hate, someone who refused to be silenced in the face of danger.
Young Timer
He probably did need to call attention to himself if his TV show is failing in the ratings (which it is), and his character is about to get written out of the show (which, despite Fox and the production company’s denials) was indeed being considered.
MISTERJETT
there is still no proof that he’s done anything to be indicted for. i still believe and support him 100% until he confesses or they prove he’s done something wrong.
iamru2
I think your just trolling. The 100% thing gives you away!
Kangol
It’s not looking good for him, sorry to say. It was a bad stunt queen drama, and he made it worse by drawing the MAGA folks into it. Had he just said he was gay-bashed, I bet the Chicago police and media would have cursorily covered this and moved on; had he just said he was racially attacked, there’d have been more attention, but still, Black people are attacked every day and it gets a mention, especially if there’s video, and people just go on to the next thing. The combo of the two plus the noose (!) plus the bleach (!?) plus the Trump-supporter angle shot this into the stratosphere. I mean, Chicago police “sources” NEVER leak info like this.
Brian
So please tell us how you think he thought the two brothers were white.
justyouandi
Wow, MISTERJETT, and I knew he was lying when I first heard this story.
kcguy
He is a fraud! He should be off to jail. They authority spent way too much time investigating a fake case. There are too many other bad incidents in Chicago that were overlooked while they try to find the perpetrators of this fake crime.
He should not be casted in any films.
They need to make an example out of him as he would anybody else who committed egg crime like this. He tried to stir the pot to make a hate crime. He is a bad person.
Curtispsf
You’re right. He shouldn’t be “casted” in any films, especially since he committed “egg” crimes. Perhaps he was just a bit scrambled in the head; you can bet he won’t be looking at the world as if it’s all sunny side up. This whole thing makes my head hard boiled. Omma Lette’s give him the benefit of the doubt; after all these two Nigerian yokel’s could be pulling an egg’s Benedict. Cause if Souf’ lay down with dogs you’re gonna get some flees.
dean089
I’m waiting for the Jussie Smollett “I’m So Sorry!” tour. The only question is: will he launch into it right away, or delete all his social media accounts and spend a few months of self-reflection first?
Brian
I find it hard to believe that he won’t get jail time from this. Chicago may be lenient and cut him a deal, but I don’t think the feds will take him sending a white powder through the mail so lightly.
WindsorOntario
I’m fully expecting him to be cast the leading role in ‘Escape From Bellevue’ someday soon!
Itsonlythetruth
This self serving and cowardly act diminishes real acts of hate against the LGBTQ community because they will be met with doubt.
TMBisAOK
And the ironically sad thing is that he is probably suffering from PTSD from growing up gay and black in this country and we should ACTUALLY be having a discussion about THAT and not bashing him as most are doing. He needs help and compassion, but needs to stop this first if he really did orchestrate it too.
Doug
“In the latest news regarding the Jussie Smollett attack, a “Hail Mary” phone call by the actor’s lawyers has postponed grand jury testimony by two suspects, possibly sparing Smollett an indictment, CBS News reports.”
Huh?
Brian
I think it means that his lawyers realized that this was his last chance to confess and cut a deal that would get him more lenient sentencing.
Bob LaBlah
Doug, I laughed at that one too. A hail Mary simply will not do in this case. He went on GMA (tears and all) only to have the host (Robin Roberts) thru facial and body language show she didn’t believe a word he was saying. The amount of man hours from the CPD and the FBI has to be at least one thousand or better considering the nbr of people working on this hoax. He would have been better off moving to a lower end of town and hope for a break in his mediocre singing and acting career to come along. Now he will be incarcerated with those who will NEVER have the chances he has had in life. The grand jury was supposed to get the case next Monday but I am betting they will get it by Wednesday. I SERIOUSLY doubt the CPD isn’t going to insist on prosecution in this slam dunk hoax case.
PinkoOfTheGange
Show me the money, till then I am doing my best to stay objective.
UsedtobeEdgar
This seems strange. Now things have to be examined with a fine tooth comb. The fact that the lawyers postponed the testimony is perfectly reasonable. It is common for attackers to have previous knowledge of and about their victims. THE FACT THAT MR. SMOLLETT DECLINED ANOTHER POLICE INTERVIEW ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT POINT TO HIS GUILT IN THE LEAST.
But, if all this turned out to be true, Mr. Smollett is guilty of greater crimes than his attackers.
Still, motive (among other things) has to be proven, and not just in a general sense. (As in “declining ratings” and “suspicions of a publicity stunt”.) The ER report has to be thoroughly examined in order to find inconsistencies between what was said to be done to him and what was found. Phone records… You get he idea.
Still. It takes a very “special” kind of person to do what Mr. Smollett is being accused of. I really hope he is not one of those.
Still, in my regard: INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN CLEARLY GUILTY.
One last thing: If these counter-accusations turned out to be true; not only Mr. Smollett could be qualified to be be “pathologically dishonest and quite toxic” he could also be justly be declared to be “specially stupid”. Then, If I could have my wish, I would demand SEVERAL psych evaluations by teams of psychiatrists. And several IQ tests. With results (regardless of what they are) published as part of of his punishment.
Still, consider me to be (thus far) very underwhelmed by this article in terms of the potential veracity of what Mr. Smollett in now being accused of. Only when I read of some serious and unambiguous evidence(s) of his guilt will I change my opinion.
Brian
Well we know they did a test run of the assault, so I assume the police have the video by now of the three of them around the attack area on an earlier date. We also know that the police found the brothers by getting a unredacted version of Jussie’s phone records and focusing on the numbers that had been redacted. We also know that the brothers are most definitely not white as Jussie said they were. If they were covered up to the point that he couldn’t tell their race, why would he say they were white?
Sorry that all seems ambiguous to you, but it’s really not.
Bob LaBlah
@UsedtobeEdgar
I know. I know. The poor “girl” who walked into a RiteAide, stuffs her purse with hundreds of makeup and perfume and runs out the door knocking down an elderly customer who came to pick up her life sustaining monthly prescription was a “victim” too once she got caught. I can see the “what was the poor girl suppose to do” defense coming out of the mouths of your fellow “girls” over at the SRO building (their not called shelters anymore) you all live in.
Italicsmine
When someone claims what Jussie claimed, some people react with emotion before the facts are fully known. Does this man realize how close he came to starting some kind of race war to further his career as an actor?
rj_topher
Jussie has a beautiful body and well he has it all there – so sad for him
WayDifferent
And that’s all you people care about anymore (yes, “you people”). I can post just a face pic on Grindr and get no responses but post a shirtless pic and that app pings off the chain. And don’t go there….I get comments all the time from straight/gay alike “You’re a good looking guy, I can’t believe you’re single”. Because I want nothing to do with “you people” anymore.
jsmnyny24
Why sad for him? Because he has a beautiful body? Sad.
Brian
And we wonder why so many people think gay men are superficial and vapid.
iamru2
Nothing beautiful about this coward, not physically or mentally.
niles
I really do hope that he is indicted and serves jail time. This piece of human garbage needs to pay for the enormous damage that he has done to the very communities that he espouses to be a part of. His story had so many red flags, I actually posted a comment here that begged people not to fall for it until we had the facts. But no, you went right ahead and made your public proclamations based upon the statements of a lowlife liar.
swamp bubble
all these dudes feeling so sorry for Jussie are ridiculous, the dude is a stone-cold psycho and just a pathetic loser who deserves to rot in jail.
Curtispsf
WOW Swamp Thing. Compassion. Is Lacking. Jussie’s far from a stone-cold psycho. Maybe you’ve been spending too much time looking in the mirror.
Toofie
Sorry, if it’s false, he is a psycho. He lied to the police, at his concert, his coworkers, on television. He doubled down as more and more of the story leaked.
batesmotel
Yeah those people need their heads examined. The majority is against this guy and for good reason. He’s a sociopath.
beachcomberT
Was there ever any documentation of what his injuries were? Or is this another area that gets labeled “confidential,” like his phone records? I don’t recall any photos showing bruises, taped ribs, etc. Maybe I overlooked something the first day of the news cycle.
WayDifferent
His left cheek was pink from being slapped for using too much teeth while giving head in the alley before they threw the “noose” on him.
Brian
Medical records are highly confidential. The only way it would be documented is if Jussie released them himself.
jsmnyny24
Jessie will be unable to avoid punishment. Anyone who has any sympathy for this idiot should have there head examined.
Matt1961
This just makes me sad, if he did lie, I cannot find a good reason why he’d do it. I had a weird feeling when the story first broke, and now all this doubt has me so disappointed.
isxios
I don’t understand why everyone seems to believe the two Nigerian brothers who have masks and rope in their home. Attacks on gays are common enough, and attacks by people from less accepting cultures is even more likely, that we should at least be giving Smollet a fair shake rather than just assuming he lied on their say so.
We jump to a conclusion without all the facts. It’s sad.
I agree that if it turns out to actually be fake he should be punished, but right now all of the absolute belief that he’s guilty seems odd to me.
Brian
You do realize the police found the brothers because they were in Jussie’s phone records? They weren’t just some random guys.
Toofie
The police are calling Smollet a suspect. One of the “attackers” is his personal trainer!
Rock-N-RollHS
It’s like those mothers who see their murderous kids taken into custody with bloody hands. “My baby didn’t hurt nobody; he’s a good kid!”
DuMaurier
Well, this story didn’t have much of a shelf life. They’re presenting evidence to the grand jury as of this second.
Ashke113
Wow reading all these comments and noticing the ones talking about Jussie being so hot and having a hot body and so sexy blahblahblah. Is that all we think about these days, is that what’s on your minds you mind brainless useless homos? Sex before real world problems is what’s the flavor of any issue according to this damn gay community, and I don’t blame the straight for calling us sex freaks……most times I’m ashamed to be part of this community. ???
Bob LaBlah
Guess what? I’ve been trying to mention some pics that were posted online about him and my comment gets held for moderation.
Black Pegasus
This story is already stale and unfresh lol
Jussie Smollett is now a SUSPECT in a class 4 felony according to the Chicago Police Department. The brothers are testifying before the Grand Jury as we speak. Indictments are imminent.
Bob LaBlah
That can’t be. QUEERTY said that his lawyer negotiated a hail Mary deal (so you just KNOW that the word “may” means he isn’t going to be indicted no matter what the brothers are saying). QUEERTY HAS SPOKEN. lol
happy50132003
Smollett is an embarassment to both the blacks & gays It is obvious that Smollett is a racist & is trying to ruin race relations IT SUCKS that Smollett did this & he deserves to be sent to jail & fined thousands for all the taxpayers dollars he has used to solve this STUPID CRIME he has committed If this had been a Trump supporter the FBI would have been at his house with armed guns but because he is black & gay we are giving him & his lawyer all the time in the world to come in and admit he did all this SAD THAT THE MEDIA IS SO BIAS
Terrycloth
2 – 20 CNN. NBC..ABC..TMZ all have reported they are charging jussie with false reporting an arrest is soon and new charges will be added..also a store video has surfsced showing the 2 Nigerians buying ski masks and red hats..
Yidan
I would not be surprised, as a Canadian (lol), if Trump Orchestrated, and paid the two brothers extreme amount of money to twist this and place the blame on Jussie!!! Would not put it past him to get voters on his side! just sayin’
Brian
Idiot.
Curtispsf
Brian, the only idiot is YOU for not believing that such a thing is possible. As IF we could EVER trust a word coming out of the mouth of Trump and his deplorables.
gymmuscleboy
@Curtispsf With comments like yours, it is no wonder we have people going around hysterically scheming acts of fake racial hatred. Sorry but nothing about what has happened calls for criticism of Trump or his supporters – What Jussie Smollett has done is utterly shameful and deserves solemn reflection.
Edwin Baca
If this turns out to be true and he really paid the men to attack him. He needs to be punished because the next person that may be attacked may not be believed and he/she could be killed because the police may think it’s a joke.
He has so much going for him why would he want that kind of attention.
Jboo
Oh man, this made me laugh.
Jussie: Although I offer no credible evidence, it was trump supports who attacked me.
Democrats everywhere: F*ck republicans! Racism! Homophobia! (Insert unending ‘isms’ here)
Chicago police: Yeah, so we have actual verifiable evidence and we’re charging whats-his-nuts with filing a false report.
Democrats everywhere: Oh well, hold on there . . . presumption of innocence. . . probably just mentally ill . . . come on now.
#JussDesserts . The hypocrisy is palpable.
Brian
Right? The way Queerty’s last couple of stories have changed from hysterical, race baiting embarrassments to just presenting the facts as they are known is really funny. Who knew there was someone on staff all along who knew how to properly present this things in a journalistically ethical way?
Onecaddy13
I never rush to judgement until all sides have been heard. Unlike the Politicians, Trump haters, Gay haters, and person of color hater. But seen that he is now going to be indicted for a crime that was never committed is a shame to the American people. I had a hunch that this was possibly a hoax because nothing added up. He is a disgrace to the LGBTQ community, his own race and he needs to apologize to all those affected. I believe he should be punished to the full extent of the law, Do jail time,and reimburse the city, CPD, first responders, FBI, and the doctors and nurses that aided him. This is just a truly disturbing and disgusting act and he got that pretty face beat up for nothing. This offense is an excusable and he just ruined his career. Since he was seeking attention, he’s definitely going to get all the attention he is seeking in jail . Karms’s A bitch.
batesmotel
Anyone left actually defending this guy is no different than this guy. All rational human beings are unable to bring themselves to defend this guy unless they’re getting paid to like his lawyers. Anyone defending this guy needs to have their head examined under a microscope by professionals.
DCguy
It’s amazing how much the rest of media like CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS, take their cues from FOX News.
The fact that this story got 50 times the coverage about the Coast Guard member with multiple guns and a hit list of Democratic congressmen, Senators, and people in the media he saw as enemies of Trump shows that right wing, anti- #LGBT folks are still driving the narrative.