Jussie Smollett Case: Police Reportedly Believe He Paid Two Men to Orchestrate Attack

The Jussie Smollett case just took another bizarre turn as police reportedly believe that the actor paid two men to orchestrate the attack.

The 36-year-old Empire actor says he was attacked by two men on early January 29 and that the men were “yelling out racial and homophobic slurs.” He told police that one of the attackers put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown substance on him.

Two brothers were arrested earlier this week and were later released without being charged due to “new evidence” that was discovered. CNN reports that there is evidence that the brothers purchased the rope which was found around Smollett‘s neck.

“The new direction of the investigation is now based on the premise that Mr. Smollett was an active participant in the incident,” a law enforcement source told Deadline.

This new report is similar to the rumors that swirled a couple days ago, and were debunked by police, saying that authorities were investigating the possibility that Jussie staged his attack.

The brothers worked as extras on the set of Jussie‘s show Empire.