If this is true, it is just AWFUL!
Chicago’s ABC7 has been digging into Jussie Smollett‘s attack and now they say sources are telling them the attack was STAGED!
BREAKING: Multiple soucres tell @ABC7Chicago Eyewitness News Jussie Smollet and the 2 men who are being questioned by police staged the attack – allegedly because his character was being written out of the show Empire.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 15, 2019
Meanwhile CBS Chicago reports they too have a source in law enforcement making the claim:
TOP SOURCE: “We [investigators] believe the non-cooperating 2 witnesses are co-conspirators in a potentially staged attack” vs. Jussie Smollett. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/sro7CDtJjP
— Brad Edwards (@tvbrad) February 15, 2019
According to reports the “persons of interest” questioned earlier were a pair of Nigerian brothers who had both appeared as extras on Empire.
So far this reporting has NOT been officially confirmed. A Chicago PD spokesperson took to Twitter ASAP to clarify their position:
Media reports anout the Empire incident being a hoax are unconfirmed by case detectives. Supt Eddie Johnson has contacted @ABC7Chicago to state on the record that we have no evidence to support their reporting and their supposed CPD sources are uninformed and inaccurate. pic.twitter.com/iSO5YFv452
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 15, 2019
Jussie’s spokesperson told Variety any reports the attack was staged were nothing more than “ridiculous rumors.” She pointed out Jussie has been “very cooperative and very consistent” in his story.
His reps also denied he was being written off Empire. This was seconded by 20th Century Fox Television, who released in a statement:
“The idea that Jussie Smollett has been, or would be, written off of EMPIRE is patently ridiculous. He remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him.”
So what is going on??
We’ll keep you up to date as this developing story progresses…
[Image via Joseph Marzullo/WENN.]
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