Two local media outlet are now reporting that the assault of Empire actor Jussie Smollet last month may have been a hoax: Smollet himself is suspected of organizing the attack, which was carried out by two brothers, at least one of whom had appeared as an extra on the show and knew Smollet socially.
"Multiple sources have told ABC7 Eyewitness News that police are investigating whether Smollet and the two men staged the attack allegedly because Smollett was being written off of 'Empire,'" wrote ABC 7.
"Investigators believe Jussie Smollet and the non-cooperating witnesses in the alleged attack of Smollett last month 'potentially staged the attack,' sources tell CBS 2 Investigator Brad Edwards," wrote CBS Chicago.
The two witnesses are brothers of Nigerian descent, and were picked up at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday night. A relative of the two men confirmed that they knew Smollet, as did their attorney.
"They do know Jussie," their attorney, Gloria Schmidt, told CBS Chicago. "They have worked with him on Empire. My preliminary investigations show that on set it's very tight. They're all very cordial with each other, so they're baffled why they are people of interest."
Police believe the two men were captured on surveillance video near the scene of the crime, according to to ABC and TMZ. Police raided their home Wednesday night, taking bleach, shoes, electronics, and other items.
A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department (CPD) described news reports as "unconfirmed, uninformed, and inaccurate."
In a statement to Reason, the CPD said, "We don't have any comment as the investigation is currently ongoing."
Smollet was attacked at 2:00 a.m. on January 29 on the streets of Chicago while he was coming back from a sandwich shop. His two assailants allegedly put a rope around his neck, poured bleach on him, and shouted "MAGA country."
According to the ABC and CBS reports, Smollet may have staged the attack because he was being written off Empire. Fox has denied that this was the case, however.
With the police and Fox both pushing back forcefully against the ABC and CBS reports, it's impossible to say with absolute certainty what the truth of the matter is yet. But the fact that the two men evidently knew Smollet—a detail confirmed by their attorney—certainly makes inside job a more plausible explanation than random hate crime. At the very least, it seems vanishingly unlikely that the perpetrators were white Trump voters.
#1: sneakypete To: Deckard (#0)
How do you know those two Nigerians weren't just wearing clever "white man disguises",huh? Huh? Huh?
sneakypete posted on 2019-02-16 08:35:27 Reply Private Reply
#2: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
Well, when they were white assailants they also shouted "nigger" and "faggot". Now that they're black Nigerian suspects that's left out.
misterwhite posted on 2019-02-16 10:19:52 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
PLUS, he had to make this a black/gay hate crime by Trump supporters, not simply a random mugging? He needs to do some jail time, hopefully in the same cell as some real racist, homophobic Trump supporters.
misterwhite posted on 2019-02-16 10:33:44 Reply Private Reply
#4: GrandIsland To: misterwhite (#3)
I call agitate propaganda bullshit... something Dicktard would do. Claim his property was stolen and he was beat up by the cops... when the property was a bail of weed and he resisted arrest.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-02-16 13:16:06 Reply Private Reply
#5: buckeroo To: GrandIsland (#4)
You got an earlier thread eliminated because of your death wishes. Now you have expanded your asinine comments.
buckeroo posted on 2019-02-16 13:30:42 Reply Private Reply
#6: GrandIsland To: buckeroo, A K A Stone (#5)
Prove that allegation. Prove a thread was pulled due to my post. Stone would know beyond a doubt, if your allegation is true.
If you are wrong, please chew on a gun barrel.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-02-16 14:05:45 Reply Private Reply
#7: misterwhite To: GrandIsland (#4)
Well, if Smollett wasn't leaving the show before, he is now. Maybe leaving Hollywood.
misterwhite posted on 2019-02-16 17:56:43 Reply Private Reply
#8: A K A Stone To: buckeroo (#5)
A K A Stone posted on 2019-02-16 18:38:31 Reply Private Reply
#9: A K A Stone To: buckeroo (#5)
A K A Stone posted on 2019-02-16 18:40:24 Reply Private Reply
#10: buckeroo To: A K A Stone, GrandIsland (#9)
You need to TELL that maniac, GI, about his continuous problem. The punk doesn't even remember what he posted and now he has no reference about his outright publick death threat to a USSC official.
buckeroo posted on 2019-02-16 18:45:14 Reply Private Reply
#11: Hondo68 To: buckeroo, RBG fanbois (#5)
From my browser cache.
Some people believe that RBG is in the pink of health and able to perform the full duties of a SCOTUS justice. I'm NOT one of those weirdos.
Hondo68 posted on 2019-02-16 19:36:56 Reply Private Reply
#12: GrandIsland To: buckeroo (#10)
Toughen up, snowflake. My freedoms out TRUMP your fucking feelings.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-02-16 20:01:46 Reply Private Reply
#13: buckeroo To: GrandIsland, A K A Stone (#12)
HEY Shithead! The reason Stone deleted the thread was because of YOU!
You fuckedupped again.
buckeroo posted on 2019-02-16 20:18:05 Reply Private Reply
#14: Deckard To: buckeroo, GrandIsland, A K A Stone (#13)
Stone doesn't realize it, but GrandIsland's sociopathic posts are the main reason his site is dying.
No one wants to be verbally abused by a juvenile psychopath who offers nothing but hate-filled screeds.
Deckard posted on 2019-02-16 20:22:16 Reply Private Reply
#15: buckeroo To: Deckard, GrandIsland, A K A Stone (#14)
If you understand the maniac, he claims to be a "law enforcement professional" with two pensions from the government.
Why is he sitting around a chit-chat channel, wishing death upon USSC leaders? Doesn't anyone see the loser's [GrandIsland] irresponsible posts?
I do.
buckeroo posted on 2019-02-16 20:35:08 Reply Private Reply
#16: GrandIsland To: Deckard (#14)
That’s some funny shit. lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-02-16 21:46:23 Reply Private Reply
#17: GrandIsland To: buckeroo, A K A Stone (#13)
You lie a second time, AFTER Stone told you who you could blame for the removal of the thread. Hondopes FAKE NEWS TITLE.
Have you had a problem lying your whole life? lol
GrandIsland posted on 2019-02-16 21:48:50 Reply Private Reply
#18: GrandIsland To: Deckard (#14)
GrandIsland posted on 2019-02-16 21:56:23 Reply Private Reply
#19: Hondo68 To: GrandIsland, *2020 The Likely Suspects* (#18)
Hondo68 posted on 2019-02-16 23:17:22 Reply Private Reply
#20: GrandIsland To: hondo68 (#19)
Haaaaaaa
If will take more than the banned FR posters to get enough votes for the geriatric kook to win just Mayor of some shithole city, let alone president.
GrandIsland posted on 2019-02-16 23:43:07 Reply Private Reply