'Empire' Star Jussie Smollett Attacked In Violent Hate Crime

Jussie Smollett of "Empire" (image via Instagram)

Entertainment website ThatGrapeJuice is reporting that Empire star Jussie Smollett has been the victim of what appears to be a violent hate crime early Tuesday morning.

The out actor first received a threat through the mail of cut-out letters which read, “You will die black fag.”

(Image via ThatGrapeJuice.net - click to enlarge)

Then, around 2 AM this morning, he was attacked on the street by two men wearing ski masks who approached him “yelling out racial and homophobic slurs towards him,” according to an official statement by Chicago Police Department.

During the assault, the assailants “began to batter the victim with their hands about the face and poured an unknown chemical substance on the victim.”

At some point during the assault, the attackers put a noose around Smollett’s neck.

TMZ is reporting that as the assailants ran off they yelled, "This is MAGA country."

The 35-year-old actor was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital following the attack, according to TMZ. He’s reported in good condition.

The Chicago Police are investigating the assault and battery as a possible hate crime.

Smollett came out in 2015 during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.

Anyone trying to ignore the fact that Jussie Smollett is BOTH Black & gay need to sit down.

This was a racially-motivated homophobic attack.

They called him racial slurs AND homophobic ones.

He carries BOTH identities and white supremacists made it a point to target both.

— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) 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

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

Sending my love and prayers to you @JussieSmollett . This is unacceptable and they will be brought to justice.

— Matt Bomer (@MattBomer) 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