Jussie Smollett’s family has a message for all the skeptics questioning the actor’s story about being brutally attacked — as well as the man partially responsible for it.
As we reported, the Empire star was ambushed in Chicago by two white men who fractured one of his ribs, put a noose around his neck, poured a substance on him, and yelled, “This is MAGA country.”
Because the story is so unbelievably terrifying (or maybe because people are just awful), some began to doubt the 36-year-old’s narrative. To those skeptics, the actor’s family told TMZ his account has never changed — and he’s just one of a growing number of hate crime victims!
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The Smollett family went on to call the attack an act of “domestic terrorism,” telling the outlet:
“This was a racial, homophobic hate crime … We want people to understand these targeted hate crimes are happening to our sisters, brothers and our gender non-conforming siblings. These are inhumane acts of domestic terrorism and they should be treated as such. We, as a family, will continue to work for love, equity and justice until it reigns supreme.”
The family also seemingly put some of the blame on Donald Trump for inspiring such violence with his rhetoric, adding:
“Hateful words lead to hateful actions.”
Sounds about right, seeing as Smollett claimed his attackers proudly referenced Trump’s campaign slogan as they left.
It seems like an extreme allegation, but it would not be the first time Trump’s rhetoric inspired violent criminal acts.
Last year a man sent mail bombs to a dozen people, including Michelle Obama and Robert De Niro, every one of whom the POTUS had specifically called out by name.
And hate crimes rose a shocking 17% in the United States in the year after Trump took office, per the FBI.
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Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., the president did condemn the “horrible” assault on the openly gay and black actor… but he didn’t comment on the alleged MAGA shout out.
Watch the clip (below) to see how fast Trump pivoted from talking about the attack to protecting the border.
As if it was immigrants who did this. SMH.
President Trump on the alleged brutal racist and homophobic attack against "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett: "That I can tell you, is horrible. I've seen it last night. I think that's horrible. It doesn't get worse, as far as I'm concerned" https://t.co/1LFSHtmBRH pic.twitter.com/7VAPCdwAlk
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 31, 2019
[Image via Adriana M. Barraza/WENN]
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