The Cast Of "Empire" Will Get Armed Security After Jussie Smollett Was Attacked
The current state of this country is set to “boiling diarrhea pot of violent hate” (“Um, when hasn’t it been?” – you), and we got another story that falls into that category yesterday when it came out that Jussie Smollett was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack on the streets in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago at around 2 in the morning. Jussie was reportedly walking back to his apartment after getting something to eat when two oozing butthole pimples in ski masks attacked him, poured bleach on him, wrapped rope around his neck, and verbally hit him with racist and homophobic shit. There was a little back and forth as to whether Jussie’s attackers screamed “This is MAGA country!” at him. But the Chicago PD confirmed that during a follow-up interview with Jussie, he told them that his attackers did scream that at him, and knew he who was.
The cast and crew of Empire was told about Jussie’s attack at a meeting yesterday morning (he wasn’t there for blatantly obvious reasons), and were also told that they’re getting armed security guards while filming in Chicago.
A week before Jussie’s attack, a homophobic death threat addressed to him from “MAGA” was sent to Fox Studios in Chicago. Police say there was also a “powdery substance” with the letter, but they think it was just crushed-up Tylenol. TMZ says that after Fox Studios got the death threat, they beefed up security on set, and offered to give Jussie his own 24-hour security, but he turned that offer down, because he didn’t want his life messed with. Entertainment Tonight says that Jussie will now have security following him around all day and night, as will the rest of the cast. Jussie’s TV father Baby Wipes Howard confirmed that on Good Morning America today. Production on the new season will go on as planned.
ABC News says that the FBI have been brought in to work with the Chicago PD on the case, because it’s now being investigated as a possible hate crime and the FBI is looking at the death threat letter. Officials say that they have video of Jussie in a Subway before the attack, but they haven’t been able to get video of his attackers yet. They’re looking at security camera footage from nearby buildings.
Just hours before he was attacked, Jussie posted on Instagram about how he just landed in Chicago, which makes regular Detective La Toyas (and non-Detective La Toyas too, honestly) think that his attackers knew he was going to be at his Chicago apartment.
The Chicago Sun-Times says that Jussie originally was “reluctant” to get the cops involved because he knew the media would find out, but his manager ended up calling them. When they got to his apartment, he still had the rope around his neck. Police described it as a “thin, light rope.” Jussie’s manager took him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for scratches and cuts to his face and neck. TMZ claims he also suffered a fractured rib.
Jussie has been showered with good wishes, including one from Kevin Hart, who Twitter grabbed by his OshKosh B’gosh polo and dragged him off for previously saying that he would beat his son if his son was gay.
The co-creator of Empire, Lee Daniels, sent out a video message to Jussie and also posted a FaceTime screen shot of Jussie in the hospital, which I’m guessing he didn’t have permission to post, because he later deleted it.
Since Jussie says his attackers declared their allegiance to MAGA, Reverend Al Sharpton called for Donald Trump to denounce the attackers. Trump hasn’t spit out a statement about this, but I have gotten a statement from Al Sharpton’s breath and it reads:
“Stop wasting me on some shit you know is never going to happen this century or next.“
And yes that’s an official statement.
Pic: Wenn.com
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