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Empire star Jussie Smollett 'staged hoax attack over salary' | Empire star Jussie Smollett 'staged hoax attack over salary' |
(32 minutes later) | |
US actor Jussie Smollett staged a fake attack on himself because he was "dissatisfied with his salary", according to Chicago Police. | US actor Jussie Smollett staged a fake attack on himself because he was "dissatisfied with his salary", according to Chicago Police. |
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a news conference that he "took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career". | Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a news conference that he "took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career". |
Mr Smollett is charged with filing a false police report after he said he was the victim of a homophobic attack. | Mr Smollett is charged with filing a false police report after he said he was the victim of a homophobic attack. |
Police say he also had sent a racist letter to himself at a Fox studio. | Police say he also had sent a racist letter to himself at a Fox studio. |
The 36-year-old actor is suspected of paying two Nigerian brothers to stage the attack. They are both co-operating with the investigation, police say. | The 36-year-old actor is suspected of paying two Nigerian brothers to stage the attack. They are both co-operating with the investigation, police say. |
On Wednesday his lawyers said they would "mount an aggressive defence". | On Wednesday his lawyers said they would "mount an aggressive defence". |
What do police say? | What do police say? |
In a scathing news conference on Thursday, Supt Johnson said the actor committed a crime "to further his own profile". | In a scathing news conference on Thursday, Supt Johnson said the actor committed a crime "to further his own profile". |
He said Mr Smollett had betrayed the city of Chicago, and said "this publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve. | He said Mr Smollett had betrayed the city of Chicago, and said "this publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve. |
The "hoax", he said, "received national attention for weeks," and may deter future hate crime victims from coming forward for fear that their allegations may be met with skepticism. | The "hoax", he said, "received national attention for weeks," and may deter future hate crime victims from coming forward for fear that their allegations may be met with skepticism. |
He called upon the actor "to apologise to this city that he smeared". | He called upon the actor "to apologise to this city that he smeared". |
"Celebrities, news commentators, and even presidential candidates weighed in on something that was choreographed by an actor," he said, with palpable anger as he spoke. | |
"I'm left hanging my head and asking why," he said, describing Mr Smollett's actions as a "slap in the face" to Chicagoans. | "I'm left hanging my head and asking why," he said, describing Mr Smollett's actions as a "slap in the face" to Chicagoans. |
Suspicion over the actor's claim started to grow after police said they could not find any video footage of the alleged incident from surveillance cameras. There were also no witnesses. | Suspicion over the actor's claim started to grow after police said they could not find any video footage of the alleged incident from surveillance cameras. There were also no witnesses. |
But investigators managed to track and identify two men who appeared on video footage near where the actor said he had been attacked through a ride-sharing app. | |
The men - Ola and Abel Osundairo - had left the US following the alleged attack and were held for nearly 48 hours after they returned last week. | The men - Ola and Abel Osundairo - had left the US following the alleged attack and were held for nearly 48 hours after they returned last week. |
They were released without charges after providing information that "shifted the trajectory of the investigation", police said. | They were released without charges after providing information that "shifted the trajectory of the investigation", police said. |
One of the brothers is Mr Smollett's personal trainer and both have worked as extras on Empire. | One of the brothers is Mr Smollett's personal trainer and both have worked as extras on Empire. |
Police say they have a cheque that Mr Smollett signed and that he had agreed to pay $3,500 (£2,700) for their participation. | |
Supt Johnson said that he had told at least one of the brothers that he was "dissatisfied" with his salary from Fox. | |
He added that Mr Smollett first "attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language" to Fox studios. | |
One day earlier, Fox released a statement supporting Mr Smollett, calling him a "consummate professional on set," and insisting that he was not being "written out of" Empire. | |
On Wednesday, CBS Chicago obtained footage which appeared to show two people buying materials, including ski masks, that had allegedly been worn by the actor's attackers. | On Wednesday, CBS Chicago obtained footage which appeared to show two people buying materials, including ski masks, that had allegedly been worn by the actor's attackers. |
Mr Smollett turned himself in early on Thursday and is in custody of Chicago police. | |
He will appear before a judge for a bond hearing later on Thursday. | |
What does Smollett say happened? | What does Smollett say happened? |
The actor, who is gay, said he had gone out to buy food late at night in downtown Chicago when two white men hurled racial and homophobic insults at him. | The actor, who is gay, said he had gone out to buy food late at night in downtown Chicago when two white men hurled racial and homophobic insults at him. |
They allegedly punched the actor, poured a chemical substance over him and put a rope around his neck. | They allegedly punched the actor, poured a chemical substance over him and put a rope around his neck. |
Police said on Thursday that some minor scrapes on his face were probably self-inflicted. | |
"I'm left hanging my head and asking why. Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations?" said Supt Johnson. | |
"How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?" | |
Mr Smollett also claimed the men had told him "this is Maga country", apparently referring to President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. | Mr Smollett also claimed the men had told him "this is Maga country", apparently referring to President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. |
The president tweeted his condemnation after the police news conference, slamming Mr Smollett's "racist and dangerous comments". | |
In a tearful interview with ABC News during the investigation, he claimed to have fought back against his attackers. | |
The actor said he had been "forever changed" by the alleged incident. An outpouring of support followed, including from Oscar winner Viola Davis and supermodel Naomi Campbell. | The actor said he had been "forever changed" by the alleged incident. An outpouring of support followed, including from Oscar winner Viola Davis and supermodel Naomi Campbell. |