Empire actor Jussie Smollett assaulted in possible hate crime, police say

(Image credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

published 29 January 2019

Actor Jussie Smollett has been hospitalized after being brutally assaulted in what police are treating as a possible hate crime.

Chicago police say Smollett, who is openly gay and plays a gay character on the Fox drama Empire, was attacked while leaving a restaurant Tuesday by two suspects who yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The attackers also reportedly poured a chemical substance over him and wrapped a rope around his neck. NBC News reports the chemical substance is thought to have been bleach.

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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