American actor Jussie Smollet, an empire star has been attacked in Chicago, by two men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs. Chicago police are investigating it as a hate crime.
Police say the 36-year-old Empire cast member was walking home from a 24-hour Subway restaurant in the 300 block of E. Lower North Water Street around 2 a.m. when two men allegedly began yelling homophobic and racial slurs at the actor on North Lower Water Street near Smollett’s apartment.
Chicago police say along with the verbal attack Smollett reported the men threw an unknown substance on him and placed a rope around his neck.
Sources say Smollett left the rope on his neck roughly 45 minutes until police arrived.
But the alleged attacked is not captured on the hundreds of surveillance videos the 12 detectives assigned to the case have poured through.
“I know the police department is working aggressively,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “The alleged statement of what happened her is horrific, and there’s no place for it in the City of Chicago.”
Smollett also told police the attackers allegedly yelled, “This is MAGA country,” referring to President Donald Trump’s slogan.
Police say there is video of Smollett inside the Subway, and they located video of the people wanted for questioning Wednesday.
Detectives are working the incident as a possible hate crime.
Smollett, who was not seriously hurt, talked to CNN’s Don Lemon who said “Smollett was shaken and angry” and “fought back at the attackers.” Chicago CBS reports.
“The racist, homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love,” House speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a tweet. “I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery and that justice is served. May we all commit to ending this hate once and for all”
The racist, homophobic attack on @JussieSmollett is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love. I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery & that justice is served. May we all commit to ending this hate once & for all.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 30, 2019