The Jussie Smollett saga continues. Chicago police have reportedly released nearly 70 hours of video related to his case, including a clip of the disgraced Empire actor wearing the infamous noose around his neck.
According to ABC7 Chicago, police bodycam video shows officers arriving at Smollett’s apartment in January when the alleged hate-fueled attack took place.
After going with his manager up to his apartment, they were greeted by Smollett with a rope coiled around his neck. He claimed two attackers doused him with bleach and put the noose over his head.
Police asked him if he wanted to remove the supposed noose, which he does, and then when informed a body cam is recording the whole thing, Smollett asked for the camera to be turned off.
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“You’re filming this right?” Smollett’s manager asked. “Yes, this is all data,” an officer responded. “It’s his house.”
“They are filming,” Smollett’s manager told the actor. “Can we turn it off?” The officer replied, “Yeah. You are giving us permission to shut it off?”
Police blurred Smollett’s face in the video the I-Team obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request. At the time, he was still considered a victim.
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“He doesn’t want this to be a big deal, you understand what I’m saying,” Smollett’s manager says in the video. “The thing that makes me emotional is they put this makeshift loop, what do you call that thing, a noose around his (expletive) neck. I’m sorry, you know. And that is what bothers me, the cut thing doesn’t bother me at all. If that makes any sense.”
Following an investigation, police determined he’d staged the attack. He was indicted on 16 felonies related to the incident, but prosecutors ultimately dropped all charges in March.
Earlier this month, Empire co-creator Lee Daniels confirmed Smollett won’t be coming back for Season 6.
