UPDATED: Police Confirm Details of Jussie Smollett Attack, Investigating as Possible Hate Crime

UPDATED: A statement by Chicago Police Department Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi has confirmed that the department is investigating the assault as a possible hate crime. Authories also confirmed that reports of Smollett’s account are accurate.

Chicago PD told NPR that they received a report noting that Smollett was walking downtown in the neighborhood of Streeterville “when two unknown offenders approached him and gained his attention by yelling out racial and homophobic slurs towards him. The offenders began to batter the victim with their hands about the face and poured an unknown chemical substance on the victim…At some point during the incident, one of the offenders wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck.”

Police isay that they are now gathering video, identifying potential witnesses and trying to establish a timeline. They are asking anyone who was in the area at the time to provide information via their tipline.

Statement on #ChicagoPolice hate crime investigation. We are taking these allegations very seriously and encourage anyone with information to report anonymously to https://t.co/yYAqzcVIfu pic.twitter.com/DxipALHXaz

— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) January 29, 2019

ORIGINAL: Empire star Jussie Smollett was the victim of an assault in Chicago that appears to have been a hate crime. TMZ and TV Line reports that Smollett, who is gay and plays the (also gay) character of Jamal Lyons on the FOX series, was attacked in Chicago on late Monday by two men who beat him and put a noose around his head.

According to TMZ, Smollett had just arrived in Chicago from New York and went to a Subway to eat. As he was headed home, someone yelled at him “Aren’t you that f***ot Empire n****r?” Then the two men, described as white and wearing ski masks, attacked him. Smollett fought back but was beat down, suffering a fractured rib. The men put a rope around his next, poured bleach on him and eventually fled, yelling, “This is MAGA country.” Smollett headed to Northwestern Memorial where he was treated and discharged late Tuesday morning.

According to celebrity news site That Grape Juice, there is evidence to suggest that this was a premeditated attack. A letter was set to Fox Studios in Chicago with cut-out letters that spelled out, “You will die black f**” and contain a crude drawing of a man being shot. TMZ says the letter was sent eight days ago. The envelope says “MAGA” in the upper left-hand corner.

The attack is being investigated by Chicago police as a possible hate crime. Smollett and the rest of the main cast will have armed security while they shoot the final handful of scenes for the current season in Chicago.

Fox issued a statement which read, “We are deeply saddened and outraged to learn that a member of our EMPIRE family, Jussie Smollett, was viciously attacked last night. We send our love to Jussie, who is resilient and strong, and we will work with law enforcement to bring these perpetrators to justice. The entire studio, network and production stands united in the face of any despicable act of violence and hate — and especially against one of our own.”