Jussie Smollett, pictured in the hospital hours after the attack on Tuesday, has spoken out for the first time to say he is 'OK'
Jussie Smollett has broken his silence to thank fans for the outpouring of support he has received since he was attacked on Tuesday by two racist, homophobic men as he walked home.
The Empire star told Essence in a statement: 'Let me start by saying that I’m OK.
'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.'
He added that while he was 'frustrated' with 'certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations' about the case, he believes 'justice will be served.'
'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.'
'Photos (pictured) of people of interest who were in area of the alleged assault & battery of Empire cast member,' police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Wednesday evening
'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.
'With Love, respect & honor…Jussie,' he said.
It is the first time he has spoken since being targeted in downtown Chicago by two men who he said shouted 'this is MAGA country!' and attacked him as he walked home.
The attack was not captured on surveillance footage but Smollett was seen entering his apartment building moments after it happened with a rope around his neck.
He was on the phone to his manager, Brandon Z. Moore, when he was jumped and Moore corroborated his story earlier this week.
A week before the attack, Smollett reportedly received a homophobic and racist death threat in the mail.
It was sent to the studio where he films Empire and is said to have terrified staff.
Police are working to find two men they believe may be responsible and are appealing to the public for information.
Smollett's neighbor has also described seeing two suspicious 'redneck' types standing outside their luxury apartment building 90 minutes before the attack took place.
One had a rope hanging out of his sweatshirt, she said, and they looked out of place.
Smollett had not long arrived back in Chicago from New York City when he was attacked.
His flight was delayed by several hours leaving and he documented his frustration about the late arrival on Instagram before he got home.
He was filmed on surveillance cameras leaving the Subway at around 2am and walking towards the apartment.
Police on Thursday confirmed that he was filmed on the same street as the two persons of interest whose images have been released at one point during his journey home.
The 36-year-old actor was walking down the street and the two men were sitting on a bench facing opposite him.
Smollett and his manager Brandon Z. Moore both told police they were on the phone when the attack happened. Moore said he heard the attackers yell 'this is MAGA country'. It is not clear if he is the person who called 911 or if it was someone else but Smollett refused to hand over his phone when police asked for it to verify that they had been on the phone
They got up and walked away and all three walked out of the cameras' view.
The attacks are believed to be premeditated as Smollett received a cut out letter, that appears to be dated from January 18, stating that 'You will die black f*g'. Fox Studio received the letter on the 22nd and cops said it was laced with powder Tylenol
The photos show two men walking on North New Street (depicted above) near East Illinois Street around 1.45am on Tuesday. Smollett told police that he was walking alone down East North Water Street in the 300-block around 2am when the two men approached him
Smollett was picked back up by a different camera 60 seconds later as he entered his apartment building.
He had the rope around his neck and there was salt on the front of his sweatshirt from the ground.
At 2.35am, an associate of the actor's called 911 and officers arrived at an apartment where he was at 2.42am.
It is not clear if it was his apartment that they went to or his friend's.
After giving his statement, Smollett took himself to hospital where he was treated for lacerations to the face.
The attack took place here, in the street, outside the apartment building where Smollett stays while he is in Chicago filming. It is in between two luxury apartment buildings and two hotels but police say they have not yet recovered surveillance footage of it
Smollett, 36, who is also a singer, is due to perform on Saturday night in Los Angeles
Police had asked him to turn over his phone for them to verify that he had been on a call with his manager, as both claimed, when the incident happened but he refused, saying he was uncomfortable doing so.
Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Gugliemi told DailyMail.com on Thursday that it was not suspicious for him to have refused doing so and that he may have been concerned with privacy.
He has been entirely cooperative otherwise, he said.
The attack has enraged the country and caught the attention of the president who deemed it 'horrible' on Thursday.
'That's horrible....there is nothing worse, as far as I am concerned,' Trump said on when asked about the incident.
Smollett's famous family released a statement abhorring the attack and countless celebrities, including his Empire co-stars, have also spoken out to support him.
He is due to perform a show in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/01/jussie-smollett-breaks-silence-over-racist-and-homophobic-attack/
Main photo article
Jussie Smollett, pictured in the hospital hours after the attack on Tuesday, has spoken out for the first time to say he is ‘OK’
Jussie Smollett has broken his silence to thank fans for the outpouring of support he has received since he was attacked on Tuesday by two racist, h...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/31/12/9180100-6653123-Chicago_police_investigating_the_alleged_attack_on_Empire_star_J-a-7_1548939570449.jpg
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