Jussie Smollett Accused of Staging Attack, Police Say This Report is Unconfirmed

Police are reportedly investigating the possibility that actor Jussie Smollett staged his attack with the two men who are currently being questioned as persons of interest. Despite reports accusing the actor of staging the attack, police say this is unconfirmed.

Two local media reporters in Chicago, where the incident happened in the early morning hours of January 29, say that police have concluded that the alleged attack was staged.

ABC7 in Chicago’s Rob Elgas reported that “multiple sources” say police are investigating if “Smollett and the two men staged the attack allegedly because Smollett was being written off of Empire.”

CBS Chicago’s Brad Edwards says a source told him that investigators “believe the non-cooperating 2 witnesses are co-conspirators in a potentially staged attack.” The source also says “indicators point to Smollett orchestrating the event.”

A spokesman for the Chicago police says, “Media reports about 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.”

This shocking update comes hours after Jussie gave his first on-camera interview about the alleged attack, in which he addressed those who think he’s lying about what happened.