On the eve of Black History Month, Jussie Smollett survived what can only be described as an attempted lynching at the hands of two white men.
The attack happened in Chicago at around 2AM on Tuesday morning. According to sources, 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?”
Related: Jussie Smollet attacked by homophobes who tied a noose around his neck and doused him in bleach
The men pounced 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.
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Smollett was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and later released. The Chicago Police Department are now investigating.
Related: Evangelicals are quietly lobbying to make sure gay people aren’t protected from being lynched
According to the FBI, hate crimes against LGBTQ people increased by an alarming 17% in 2017.
The response to the Smollet’s attack has been a mix of shock, sadness, heartbreak, and outrage.
Here’s what people on Twitter are saying…
WE LOVE YOU, @JussieSmollett ! ! !
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) January 29, 2019
Sending my love and prayers to you @JussieSmollett . This is unacceptable and they will be brought to justice.
— Matt Bomer (@MattBomer) January 29, 2019
My God.
Just heard that Jussie Smollet was brutally assaulted in a racist, homophobic hate crime.
This is awful. https://t.co/rSw9G5zIHH
— Shaun King (@shaunking) January 29, 2019
The hate crime on Jussie Smollett is not an isolated event. Hate crimes against LGBTQ people increased 17% in 2017 according to the FBI’s recent report. 2018’s stats will be worse.
This is what the Trump-Pence White House has enabled through their hateful rhetoric and actions.
— Charlotte Clymer???? (@cmclymer) January 29, 2019
Horrific. Reflective of the surge in racist & homophobic hate crimes since the election of Donald Trump, & emboldening of supremacists.
‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Assaulted in Chicago in Suspected Hate Crime https://t.co/tJpbUIV90m
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) January 29, 2019
.@JussieSmollett is one of the fiercest people I know. This hatred won’t stop his championing for a better world. If anything, it will probably motivate him more. It has me.
— Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) January 29, 2019
Oh hell no. Folks, this must stop.
Praying for my friend and brother.
‘Empire’ star hospitalized after possible hate crime in Chicago https://t.co/fTonOTHURo
.@JussieSmollett we love you.
— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) January 29, 2019
They tried to lynch Jussie Smollett.
These 2 men reportedly hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him before beating him, yelling “This is MAGA country” as they left.
Will we hear the president condemn this hate crime committed by his supporters?
No.
This is America in 2019. https://t.co/DgAnWWsOzC
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) January 29, 2019
This is so awful. Sending love to @JussieSmollett. ?? https://t.co/U3wKFBAXi2
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 29, 2019
I am sick to my stomach over the news of a violent attack on @JussieSmollett. I’m so glad you are safe, my friend. All of us at @HRC wish you a quick recovery. Law enforcement MUST act quickly & thoroughly given the horrific racist/homophobic details described in news reports.
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) January 29, 2019
I saw Jussie Smollett in Miami last week. I can’t believe this happened. It is sad and disgusting and and deplorable. “Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Beaten in Homophobic Attack By MAGA Supporters | https://t.co/zeQp9uV2ix https://t.co/o2QFUug5it
— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) January 29, 2019
No words. Love to you @JussieSmollett ???????? https://t.co/bdVahUfi04
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) January 29, 2019
I can’t believe someone really attacked Jussie SMOLLETT
I’m so fucking angry I could cry
And I only get like this when I wanna fight.— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) January 29, 2019
This is horrific. What kind of country do we live in. https://t.co/unvzWmo6XD
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 29, 2019
The attack on Jussie Smollett was allegedly by MAGA white supremacists. This is exactly why we need to be defending ALL Black people.
These people don’t care if you’re a woman, LGBTQ, or heterosexual. They want us dead. We can’t let anyone force us against ourselves.
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) January 29, 2019
Sending love to Jussie and his loved ones. ??
The hate that fuels white supremacy is the same hate that fuels homophobia. A conscientious society realizes it’s at war with both. https://t.co/hXo56SRDYj
— Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) January 29, 2019
Scout
I’d be curious as to what part of Chicago this sandwich shop was in.
Scout
East North Water St. Is not far from the Loop which is scary.
Trekbike
I just moved out of the loop. I always felt safe there and the surrounding areas! I’ve had enough of Trump and Pence shit!! He’s a certified piece of crap!!! Don’t forget that predator justice Thomas and his tramp wife are fighting the gay community with every thing they’ve got!!
sean_denoyer
Streeterville which includes the Magnificent Mile-Michigan Avenue. This shouldn’t happen there.
QueerTruth
It’s beyond words. I am so angry and sad. It’s beyond…
It’s hard to believe. He must have been targeted and this was well planned. I don’t understand how this could have happened otherwise. 2AM Chicago at a fast food place? I can’t imagine that lynch mobs hang around Chicago with bleach, ski masks, and a noose just in case. This is either a fake story (I don’t believe that) or this poor man was targeted.
sean_denoyer
He received a death threat letter at the FOX Studios in Chicago (where Empire is filmed).
Brian
Yes, it’s hard to believe, especially coming a week after that letter showed up at the studio. It’s not really plausible that he just happened to have 2 random hate crimes, both of which referenced MAGA, committed against him in the span of a week. So we would have to believe that he was targeted. And that the assailants knew that he was going to be at a Subway at 2 am because he was hungry after flying in from New York. Which they obviously wouldn’t know, which would mean they would have had to been staking out his home at 2 am, and followed him from there (I can’t tell from what I’ve read if he went home between the airport and Subway). And that they wouldn’t assault him at his home, but would wait until he was in a very public place to attack him.
It doesn’t make sense at all. I think by the end of the week we’ll find out it was a hoax, and by the end of next week he’ll be in rehab.
Kangol
I hope it wasn’t a hoax, but I will say this: Jussie Smollett does post on social media about his travels, where he’s heading, etc. I don’t know if that factors in here, but I have read about how some stars have had their homes robbed after posting that they were away, some have been stalked by fans based on posts about their itineraries, etc. So it’s not inconceivable.
Brian
Well unless he posted “just flew in from New York, now I’m heading to Subway at XXX address”, I’d say it’s pretty inconceivable. Plus, that wouldn’t leave a whole lot of time for the assailants to get their masks, noose and bleach together and drive over there to meet him.
Officiant
Wow. That is so sad and horrible. This kind of thing is not what America is about.
Daggerman
..there is something so strange about this–the whole scene appears to me like something out from ‘Gotham’…what unspeakable horrible bad luck/timing, if it is really true….I think I can understand it though because I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of injustice…
paul dorian lord fredine
while putting a rope around his neck is disgusting and disturbing i’d hardly say it qualifies as ‘an attempted lynching’.
Rock-N-RollHS
Thought same thing. clearly symbolic. more like an attempted attempt at a lynching.
stevenlburch
This makes me physically ill. We have a “president” that has created this platform of hate, allowing people to feel empowered by their bigotry and ignorance. This is a hate crime regardless of its premise – race or sexuality.
Scout
Interesting remark. But, do you think Trump has created this empowerment of hatred, or has the media taken this opportunity to report hate crimes they would not have reported under Obama so Trump would take the blame?
Kangol
@Scout, I think it has always existed (let’s not forget the extreme violence, by the KKK and other groups, after the fall of Reconstruction in 1873, or the outright backlash Civil Rights protesters faced in the 1950s and 1960s, including violent attacks, being attacked by police dogs and water hoses, murders and assassinations, etc.), but in recent years, for example during the Obama years, most people, except for cops, felt they had to keep it somewhat under wraps. Under Trump it’s out of the closet, and he’s fomenting new waves of hate through his rhetoric and comments. I abhorred George W. Bush as a leader, but he did not attack immigrants, our neighboring countries, our allies, etc., the way Trump does. Trump even tells outrageous lies (women being bound by duct tape, etc.) to stir people up, and he does it constantly. He’s clearly having a very negative effect on public discourse and this society, just as Russia wanted.
BustnMyNut
You were right to think it is a fake story, It absolutely is!
Bob LaBlah
Ok. I as well as you are well aware Queerty is not know for its detailed reporting but there is something that stuck out immediately that raised an eyebrow. I know 2am is early but in that area SURELY some business, especially an eatery would have some sort of digital surveillance camera running. I saw no mention of a camera surveillance nor witnesses (and yes, I know it was Chicago and it was late and it VERY cold) and I find that a bit odd.
Brian
This is from TMZ:
We’re told cops recently visited a Target Department Store close to where the incident happened and obtained surveillance footage. Our source says the video shows one person — presumably Jussie — walking down the street. Officers also visited a nearby apartment building to ask for video.
iminheatlikeacat
There’s a lot that doesn’t make sense with this story. I don’t know if it’s because it’s the way it’s written on here or if it’s because it’s not true.
strix1
So many people pick apart every little thing on here…who cares what part of town it was in, does it matter? And it “hardly qualifies as an attempted lynching.” Were you there? Maybe they thankfully got interrupted. So glad Jussie was not killed and hope he will recover quickly and those responsible are caught and charged at what appears to clearly be a hate crime.
Bob LaBlah
“Maybe they thankfully got interrupted.” That’s what I’m getting at. This is Chicago we’re talking about here as in millions of people in the area and even late at night it seems hard to believe he was the only one out in the Loop or its immediate area. No store or bank surveillance cameras were working?
Kangol
@BobLaBlah, not all areas. This wasn’t in Boystown, say, or Wicker Park, but in a part of the city that can be busy during the day, but I think fairly quiet at night. That’s one of its attractions. There are a lot of condos in that area, hotels, etc., and the high end businesses all close well before 2 am. I’m not saying no one’s on the street but the area where he was attacked is quiet and full of residential condo buildings near the river.
Bob LaBlah
Kangol, CBS Morning News not only reports that the Chicago police and FBI have looked at numerous video footage and the only one showing up is Smollet but they said again that Smollet said his assailants yelled MAGA. Now I am wondering if this was an online hookup that went horribly wrong but I am not going to give that as a FINAL conclusion until all the facts are in (but seriously, I’m ALMOST willing to bet thats the case). The noose is………..as I said, I’m waiting. I wonder if he made it to the restaurant and if he did were the people in the eatery questioned and so forth. At least you and I feel something doesn’t sound quiet right with this. I do believe he was attacked, no question, but the circumstances…..
Kangol
@BobLaBlah, I hear you. I too wonder what happened. If it was rough trade situation gone badly, why wouldn’t Smollett, an out gay man, just admit it? There’d be no shame in it; it happens, and, whatever one may say about the Chicago police, they’d take it seriously since he is a TV star. so I do wonder what happened. I sincerely hope and pray it’s not a hoax, especially given the serious issues it entails.
Brian
It can’t be a hookup or drug deal gone wrong because that doesn’t explain the death threat that showed up at his work a week earlier. They are obviously connected.
Plus, we saw the picture of his face with the tiny little boo boo. There would be no reason to call the cops and make up a cover story for something that minor.
jcoberkrom
Interesting. The reporting of the incident is different then what I just heard on tv.
Queerity needs to do a lot more leg work on this.
Sass-zilla
This is horrible, if it is true. I can believe he may have been attacked and that the rope they found around his neck was real, but “MAGA Country”? That sounds like an embellishment. Chicago – the most Democrat held city for decades, Adopted Home of Barack Obama, almost as progressive as Los Angeles, not really a hot bed for Trump Supporters. Let’s wait for some more details before WE grab our lynching ropes.
Kangol
Um, there are a lot of conservatives in Chicago. You’d be surprised.
esb1971
This is absolutely horrifying. Is this what this country is devolving to?
bobnla
I don’t believe the story