“Empire”’s Jussie Smollett Hospitalized After Hate Crime Attack in Chicago: Report

Jussie Smollett—the actor and singer best known for his role as Jamal Lyon on the TV series “Empire”—was reportedly hospitalized in Chicago early this morning after two men attacked him in what was an apparent hate crime, according to TMZ and Entertainment Tonight. Smollett was allegedly walking outside when two masked men began to call him homophobic and racist slurs and attack him. TMZ reports that the attackers put a noose around Smollett’s neck, poured bleach on him, and yelled “This is MAGA country” before leaving the scene.

The Chicago Police Department originally issued a statement to the Daily Beast regarding the “MAGA country” comment: “There is no report of that being said.” Now, according to ABC7 Chicago reporter Rob Elgas and confirmed by TMZ, Chicago PD have revealed that detectives conducted a “a follow-up, supplemental interview” where Smollett told officials his attackers yelled “MAGA country.”

Smollett was released from the hospital this morning, according to TMZ. He reportedly suffered from a fractured rib. According to a police statement given to ET, the Chicago Police Department is “taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime.” Find a statement from CPD below. Pitchfork has reached out to the CPD for more information.

In the wake of the hate crime, “Empire” creator Lee Daniels took to Instagram to condemn the attackers and offer encouragement to Smollett. “You didn’t deserve, nor [does] anybody deserve, to have a noose put around your neck, to have bleach thrown on you... You are better than that. We are better than that, America is better than that,” he sad. “It starts at home. We have to love each other regardless of what sexual orientation we are. Because it shows that we are on an united front, and no racist fuck can come in and do the things that they did to you. Hold your head up, Jussie... It’s just another fucking day in America.”

This article was originally published on Tuesday, January 29 at 11:49 a.m. Eastern. It was last updated at 7:38 p.m. Eastern.