Actor Jussie Smollett of Fox’s television show Empire, was attacked by two masked men while walking to a Subway restaurant in Chicago.
This shocking act of violence comes after the actor received a threatening letter recently. Smollett is an openly gay actor and plays the gay son of hip hop music mogul on the show.
According to reports, the assailants shouted racist and homophobic slurs while claiming the area was “MAGA country.” The two men allegedly tied a noose around Smollett’s neck and poured bleach all over his body after brutally beating him.
The television studio and the show’s co-creator Lee Daniels both issued separate statements regarding the assault.
“We send our love to Jussie, who is resilient and strong, and we will work with law enforcement to bring these perpetrators to justice. The entire studio, network and production stands united in the face of any despicable act of violence and hate — and especially against one of our own.”
20th Century Fox
Daniels, who executive produces and directs Empire, is also openly gay., condemned the attack on his cast member in an Instagram video.
“It’s taken me a minute to come to social media about this because Jussie you are my son. You didn’t deserve, nor anybody deserves, to have a noose put around your neck,” he said. “To have bleach thrown on you. To be called, ‘Die f—-t, n—-r,’ or whatever they said to you. You are better than that. We are better than that, America is better than that…. We have to love each other, regardless of what sexual orientation we are. Because it shows that we are a united front and no racist f—k can come in and do the things that they did to you… It’s just another f—king day in America.”
Lee Daniels’ Instagram video
