US ACTOR STAGED ATTACK TO BOOST POPULARITY, CHICAGO POLICE SAY
CHICAGO— Actor Jussie Smollett, star of the television drama “Empire,” paid two brothers to stage a racist and homophobic attack on him and pose as supporters of President Donald Trump because he was unhappy with his pay, Chicago’s police chief said on Thursday.
Smollett, who is black and openly gay, was arrested on Thursday and charged with lying to police about the supposed attack on Jan. 29.
Taking advantage of anger
“Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,” Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a news conference.
Johnson said that the actor the 36-year-old actor paid the brothers $3,500 to stage the supposed hate crime.
“This stunt was orchestrated by Smollett because he was dissatisfied with this salary. He concocted a story about being attacked,” Johnson said. “We gave him the benefit of the doubt.”
Johnson told reporters that Smollett had first tried to gain attention by sending himself a threatening letter filled with “racial, homophobic and political language.”
“When that didn’t work, Smollett paid $3,500 to stage this attack and drag Chicago’s reputation through the mud,” the police chief said.
On Feb. 13, police arrested the two brothers, who were recognized from surveillance footage of the area where Smollett said the attack occurred.
Confession
One of the two men had appeared with Smollett on “Empire,” according to police and their lawyer.
Prosecutors said one of the brothers had supplied Smollett with “designer drugs” in the past.
But while in detention, the brothers “decided to confess to the entirety of what the plot was,” Johnson said, adding that the brothers are now cooperating witnesses and were not charged.