Jussie Smollett mugshot was released, and Chicago PD has shed more light on the case.
Empire actor Jussie Smollet is currently behind bars awaiting his arraignment before a judge later today. The singer/actor staged his own attack over a salary dispute, Chicago police department said. Smollett, 36, who is an openly gay black man, told police officers on January 29 that he was attacked by two men hurling racial remarks against him and putting a rope around his neck.
“Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,” Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a press conference on Thursday morning (via Variety). “This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with this salary. He concocted a story about being attacked. We gave him the benefit of the doubt.”
The police chief told reporters that Smollet paid the two brothers $3,500 to take part in the attack. The actor also claimed that his two attackers were supporters of President Trump who hurled “MAGA country” at him.
Earlier this week, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office gave cops the go-ahead to arrest and charge Jussie Smollet for felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.
It’s unclear if Jussie Smollett will remain on Fox’s hit TV show Empire following this indictment. Cops say he was unhappy with his salary and that motivated him to create this hoax.
