Jussie Smollett Speaks On TV About His Attack, Gives Detailed Account

The world was heartbroken to hear that Jussie Smollett was a victim of a hate crime in Chicago a couple weeks ago, and now the actor gave a detailed account into what happened in a recent appearance on Good Morning America. 

“I will never be the man that this did not happen to. I am forever changed,” he said during the interview. “And I don’t subscribe to the idea that everything happens for a reason. But I do subscribe to the reason that we have the right and responsibility to make something meaningful out of the things that happen to us, good and bad.”

“I think that what people need to hear is just the truth,” he added. “Everybody has their own idea. Some are healing and some are hurtful, but I just want young people — young members of the LGBT community, young black children — to know how strong they are. To know the power that they hold in their little pinky.”

The actor explained that he landed in Chicago, where Empire was filming, and was picked up at the airport by friend and creative director Frank Gatson. When they arrived at the apartment they were staying in, there was no food. So Jussie went in search of something to eat.

“I went out to Walgreens, thinking that they were 24-hours, and to have a smoke,” he said. “Walgreens was closed so I called [Frank] up and I said, ‘Hey, I’m going to walk over to Subway, which is across the street, and I’m going to get a salad. Do you want anything?’” While at Subway, Jussie texted his manager Brandon Moore, thinking he was still in Australia on tour with one of his clients. Instead, Brandon, called him “immediately.”

While on the phone, the actor left the Subway to return home. That’s when he claims he was approached by his alleged attackers.

“I heard, as I was crossing the intersection, I heard, ‘Empire,’” Smollett said. “I don’t answer to Empire. My name ain’t Empire and I didn’t answer. I kept walking. And then I heard, ‘F—ing Empire n—–.’ I turned around and I said, ‘What the f— did you just say to me?’ I see the attacker, masked, and he said, ‘This is MAGA country, n—–‘ [and] punches me right in the face. So I punched his ass back.””

“We started tussling, it was very icy. We ended up tussling by the stairs. Fighting, fighting, fighting,” the actor continued. “There was a second person involved who was kicking me in my back. Then it just stopped and they ran off. And I saw where they ran.”

Jussie grabbed his phone and told Brandon what happened. “I was like, ‘I was just jumped,’” he remembered saying. “And then I looked down and see that there was a rope around my neck, I hadn’t noticed it before. …  I noticed the rope around my neck and I started screaming, ‘There’s a rope around my neck.’” 

The entire attack lasted “probably, like, 30 seconds,” according to him. “It happened so fast.” Watch the interview below: 


Jussie Smollett