Actor/singer Jussie Smollett is speaking out following an alleged hate-fueled attack that sent him to a Chicago hospital earlier this week. In an exclusive statement to ESSENCE, the Empire star insists he’s been truthful about what occurred during the incident and expressed gratitude for all of the support.
“Let me start by saying that I’m OK,” Smollett wrote. “My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words. I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level. Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served. ”
“As my family stated, these types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily. I am not and should not be looked upon as an isolated incident. We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process. Most importantly, during times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love. It’s all I know. And that can’t be kicked out of me.”
Initial reports claimed two men attacked him in the early hours of Tuesday (January 29) and threw bleach on him, put a noose around his throat and yelled, “This is MAGA country.”
Smollett has been accused of lying about the incident on social media. But according to TMZ, Chicago police have confirmed Smollett was seen with a rope around his neck in surveillance footage of his apartment building
Smollett’s family also issued a statement of their own on Instagram, vowing to stay committed to spreading love no matter how dire things get.
Make no mistake, words matter. Hateful words lead to hateful actions. Radical love is the only solution, but passivity will be our downfall. We, as a family, will continue to work for love, equity and justice until it reigns supreme in our nation and all over the world.”
Read the family’s full statement below. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
This gonna be some straight after school special shit when surveilance comes out and it shows african americans not caucasians lol
Not in your case obviously lol. You sir, are Gay before you are anything else
This pussy is acting like he was in intensive care for weeks. Man, you got bitch slapped by some dude you met on a gay app. STFU already and man up. Get a gun if you’re so afraid. Oh and stop look for dik from shady ass strangers in the middle of the night.
get well soon.
I don’t believe a damn thing coming from this fruity queen.
Lol dude went out a 2 am drunk and high looking for some dick probably talked shit and got his ass beat …then his publicist told to call it a hate crime to get press and attention the libral media gets wet over this type of shit
Lying sissy
‘My body is strong but my soul is stronger.’
Comments here show that the hip-hop audience has never grown and is still childish and basically homophobic… you fucking deserve that coward, crooked, racist and dumb president.
Because we arent willing to side with someone without proof whos making such ridiculous accusations and look at it exactly how you do? Only one i see not grown up here is you
Let me clarify your post and translate your answer “you ain’t willing to side with a f*g”, that’s all.
Not grown up, probably, but enough to figure you’re certainly the kind of intolerant moron believing earth is flat… got no more time to waste, ciao
It’s so sad that people are calling out Jussie as a liar. So you’ve got access to more evidence than the police huh? Because they’re still investigating, you know that right? Do you think they’d be putting the resources in if they had evidence of a cover up or lie? The fact that this is the reaction of some people is a symptom of the same malaise that causes such attacks in the first place.
And jesus christ every person on that show looks like they crawled outa childish gambinos lame asshole buncha lame ass hipsters glad i never got into that show watching acid fly in the air towards me would be more interesting
Lol the media cannot be trusted these days and the people have realized it – This article is a prime example.
This whole story is bogus. Dozens upon dozens of cameras and hours of footage have been reviewed and no sign of an attack. In fact, Jussie walks to his friend’s apt building, walks past security, goes upstairs, waits 45 minutes before the cops arrive and he still has the rope around his neck. Nope. This dude is lying.