Police probing if Smollett attack was staged

CHICAGO – Chicago police were pursuing “additional detective work” Sunday amid claims an attack on actor-singer Jussie Smollett may have been faked.

Two brothers told investigators they were paid by the “Empire” actor to stage the attack, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly.

The person asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

“We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation,” the Chicago Police Department said in a statement Saturday.

“We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.”

Smollett’s attorneys later issued a statement saying the actor would continue to cooperate with police but felt “victimized” by reports that he might have been involved in the attack.