Empire Actor Jesse Smollett Fabricated Attack, Investigation Reveals

TLDRActor Jesse Smollett faked a hate crime against himself, according to Chicago police. The attack, which he publicly reported, was found to be orchestrated by Smollett himself.

Key insights

🔍Chicago police deem Jesse Smollett's attack as a possible hate crime.

💰Smollett allegedly paid individuals to stage the attack.

📷Surveillance footage captured two people of interest who were later identified as potential attackers.

😕Smollett's initial claims raised suspicions due to inconsistencies in his story.

🌐The incident garnered significant attention and sparked discussions about hate crimes and false reports.

Q&A

What did Jesse Smollett initially claim happened?

Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in which he was physically assaulted and verbally abused.

How did the police investigation unfold?

The police uncovered evidence suggesting that Smollett paid individuals to stage the attack, and surveillance footage captured people of interest who were later identified as potential attackers.

What were some inconsistencies in Smollett's story?

Suspicion arose due to conflicting statements, lack of cooperation with the police, and the discovery that Smollett had previously sent himself a threatening letter.

What impact did this incident have?

The incident sparked debates about the prevalence of hate crimes and the potential consequences of false reports, highlighting the need for thorough investigations.

Was Smollett charged for fabricating the attack?

Yes, Smollett faced charges for allegedly filing a false police report, but the charges were later dropped, causing controversy and further discussion.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Actor Jesse Smollett was hospitalized following a possible hate crime, which he publicly reported as a racially and homophobically motivated attack.

01:14Police skepticism arose due to inconsistencies in Smollett's initial story and suspicions that he may have orchestrated the attack.

02:45Investigations revealed evidence suggesting that Smollett paid individuals to stage the attack.

09:52Surveillance footage captured two people of interest who were later identified as potential attackers.

11:37Smollett's fabrications brought attention to the prevalence of hate crimes and sparked debates about the consequences of false reports.