Jussie Smollett Opens Up to Essence Mag About Attack: ‘I’m OK’

Actor Jussie Smollett broke his silence about the homophobic attack that allegedly occurred early Tuesday in Chicago. In an exclusive statement to ESSENCE magazine Smollett thanked his fans for their outpouring of support.

The Empire star claims he was beaten by two masked men who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him after leaving a Subway restaurant.

Chicago police pored over hundreds of hours of video footage in the Streeterville neighborhood but they were unable to find any signs of the alleged attack.

In an exclusive statement to ESSENCE, Smollett, 36, said, "Let me start by saying that I'm OK. My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words."

Smollett also addressed the misinformation that has been circulating on social media, including Chicago investigators saying the actor and his manager refused to turn over their phones to confirm their statements that they spoke by phone during the alleged attack.

"I'm working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level," he said. "Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served"

He continued: "As my family stated, these types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily. I am not and should not be looked upon as an isolated incident. We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process."

Smollett concluded his statement by signing, "With Love, respect & honor... Jussie."

Photos by Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com

  • Ajavee

    I'm glad he's okay.

  • Michelle

    Racial attack percentages are so low, they barely register on the percentage charts. Gay attacks unfortunately exist

  • NewNew

    I'm officially done with this story. The horse isn't quite dead but it might as well be.

  • Applebootay

    Unless this was a planned deliberate attack on him or someone else..however...the statement."he was beaten by two masked men" is TOTALLY BELIEVABLE... because.of the temperatures here in CHicago a lot of people are wearing winter ski masks....I have one as well....

  • Marlika

    Alright now Jussie enough ?? If he wasn’t gay this story would Not be still trending. ?????

  • IAmLegend
  • jeniefrumdabloc™
  • wigmon68

    I don't get the statement he put out. He wanted to be clear that some information that has been put out isn't correct, but he doesn't want to make it clear exactly what statements are incorrect and what his version of events actually are yet.

    "We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process,"

    That to me sounds like he is waiting until police find more evidence to make sure his public statements aren't contradicted. Whats the statement for if you aren't ready to talk about it?

  • What???

    Who has the incentive to attack a hoemo at 2am in -23 degree weather?? This “guy” was out looking to get a mangina fix.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!

    "I'm working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level,"
    ______________________________

    but are you being "fully cooperative" Jussie? there Is a slight difference (not judging, just saying....) https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/68bc52b2a4f54f3dc0d4dea29ec0c12c203c19b65d4d18beb2fbbd13d0be6a55.gif

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!
  • Sweetness

    This gif is that RICH auntie that came from the hood and went to an Ivy League school. Got her Masters in Bullshhhology. She seent, it all, heard it all, and know it all. No flex all facts!

  • Mielle Downey

    But riddle me this how did he know they where white at 2am in a dark street? Areva Martin

  • Harley

    Omg why is this blog beating a dead horse ?

  • Ni Ni

    Him getting robbed is believable, but all that extra stuff: the rope, the bleach, the maga. Ain nobody got time for awla dat?.

  • Ryan

    LOL

  • free

    sooooo....what has EJ been wearing lately?

  • Mielle Downey

    Aint no one trying to attack that line backer.He should have taken EJ with him for protection.

  • free

    i'm trying to get onto a different topic cause this ain't it.

  • Mielle Downey

    lol

  • Karen Brady

    HAHAHAHAHAHA I love this one so much. Plus it's me leaving the office every day. Smh...

  • Karen Brady

    *chuckles*.. So true

  • T Willis

    So because it’s unfathomable to you, it couldn’t happen to anyone else? News flash: crime is committed in any and every climate or temperature. Stop trying to gaslight this brother and his experience. I don’t put sh*t passed these racist crakkkas. They will mug, Lynch, rape, and attack in -100 degree weather if it means putting a “f@gg!t nucca” in his place. Never underestimate the power and h@tred of yt supremacy. Never. They are the most consistent criminals you will ever meet. Trust.

  • Mr.LeBrickJames

    Yeah, that's the part that makes it difficult for me. Hard for me to think 2 dudes are going to be hanging out at 2 am in sub-zero weather, carrying bleach with them, looking for an opportunity to beat somebody up.

  • Karen Brady

    been done

  • LYRICS

    Just STOP with these light skin shenanigans......Yup even on the 1st day of blk history month!! LMAO! LIAR!!

  • supastar

    wellllll, he has spoken LOL

  • Mielle Downey

    i am convinced this was a big Subway product placement.

  • hi-liter

    Um Tied of this.

  • Coy little wink
  • NeverSurprised

    No, you aren't being 100% "consistent" because you never told police in that first interview that the perpetrators yelled "MAGA Country". They first read that on TMZ in a story fed to the site by your co-conspirator... uh .... I mean manager.

    So the cops came BACK to you for a SECOND interview and it was only then that you mentioned that part of the lie. And given your vehemently expressed hatred for Trump, that seems like an odd bit of evidence to leave out the first time. LIAR!!

  • Ni Ni

    It's pure entertainment at this point.

  • T Willis

    We won’t know until he’s ready to talk about it. Maybe the investigation is still ongoing and the release of too much information could hurt the progress of the case ?????. Why are ppl so quick to silence him? Where is all this speculative judgement coming from? Are we so far removed from the overt Jim Crow era that we are unable to identify blatant forms of r@c!$m when we hear it?

  • supastar

    good point.

  • T Willis

    Really? The noose and the bleach, on a well-known popular African American television show actor? Naw, it would receive double traction if he wasn’t gay. Especially the noose and bleach part.

  • Keyshia Ray

    ?

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!

    LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Coy little wink

    Lmao @ hoemo

  • T Willis

    Why is the rope and bleach considered extra? You do know that black ppl in the south experience these sort of scare tactics daily, right? This MAGA sh*t is getting out of hand and what happened to Jussie is not an isolated incident. We cannot forget what these racist lunatics are capable of. In the south black men are shot point blank in the chest while handcuffed and the cops are let off under “self-defense”. There are still lynchings happening in the U.S. only now they’re able to list the cause of death as suicide. You guys need to use this energy to educate yourself and your surroundings. They racists are trying to MAGA by doing the same scare tactics they’ve been doing since the Jim Crow era. What happened to Jussie is believable and continues to happen in this country DAILY. Don’t dismiss this attack.

  • Blue

    Its how we do things around here. lol

  • T Willis

    Dude, they sent letters to Fox saying they were going to kill him. This was not a random act, it was premeditated and I would not be surprised if they were monitoring his movement waiting for him to be alone.

  • Blue

    I don't watch Empire but is this one of those Mid-season finales?

  • Elevated Soul

    Jussie is a selfish piece of shyt. He talks about "he's okay" while maligning supporters of President Trump. He nor his manager, won't turn over the phone because both know there was no phone call between and his manager at the time of the so called attack.

    He won't be held accountable for the lies he told that also led to many hours put in by the police to find his phantom attackers,because he's a gay male.

  • Well$$Well$$?

    This. I'm already tired of this story. Moving on....

  • Renee26

    There's an obsession

  • Well$$Well$$?

    Me tooooooo....

  • Guest

    Something is going on right now in Venezuela. CNN is reporting it in other countries but I can't find. it online here. Tired of this bullshit distraction.

  • Well$$Well$$?

    Idk but I'm sure it's hideous....

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!

    as little as possible, i'm sure... LOL!

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!

    LOL!!!!!!!!!

  • MsPam

    I want to know if the bleach that was thrown him get on his clothes?! In his face?!

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!

    it froze and fluttered to the ground, DUH.
    Rofl!

  • What???

    I trust anyone who's consistent, even consistent criminals because at least you know how to deal with their consistencies. They tend to be white not white tra-sh because they value metrics not emotions. All white people aren't the same. The ones who I don't trust are niccas, because our race is majority emotional, unpredictable, dishonorable, homosexual-like, feminine, non-industrious, intersectional and for the most part, waiting on the next Martin Luther King messiah to come save our azzes. You're a low key renegade T Willis, running behind hoemos and promulgating the demasculinization of the BLACK MALE IMAGE. If and when you find out that this guy was out in -23 degree weather in Chicago playing musical dycks, you can take all that white supremacist shyt and shove it up your azz.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!
  • Rayne

    That and did they ever find the bottle for fingerprints ?

  • Blak

    Of course you're "ok" cause ain't nothing really happen to you and your name is all over the news

  • RICHIE_RICH

    Ms Jussie girl come clean and tell the truth. The truth will always set you free ?????

  • ALLMINE?

    Run honnnnnneeeeyyyyyyy

  • NeverSurprised

    It was -20° that night. Household bleach freezes at 19° Farenheit, so it is scientifically impossible for it to have still been liquid enough to have been thrown on him.

  • TriniHarlem

    I was tired of this story since day one. Mainly because this is an instant gratification society. So without getting facts media and the like jumps on a story spin it ten ways to Sunday and it does a disservice. It's downright childish so here we are. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e8833e48e1211efb3124e17c9842199bed924802792760b3d5e45e7e3ac8f597.gif

  • Seldomseen

    Tew merch!

  • MsPam

    Excuse me, I didn’t know that!

  • NewNew

    Made me think of Funky Dineva. Nessa girl . . .

  • RICHIE_RICH

    Nessa and Tessa girl. I can’t with the lies . Ms Jess is always hiring the boys. But word on the streets is he was out at the club tryin to holla at somebody man and got handle ?????

  • MsSapphire9800

    OMG...He's giving interviews....I'm done!!!

    https://media.giphy.com/media/l49K0qAmXqcs5O7zG/giphy.gif

  • MsSapphire9800

    OMG...He's giving interviews....I'm done!!!

    https://media.giphy.com/media/l49K0qAmXqcs5O7zG/giphy.gif

  • Kim’s Original Face

    We are gonna get at least 2-3 post on this a day until its over ??????????

    Who else tired ??

  • Mister Fantastic

    Them $25 tickets to his show, SHOOOOO went up to $200 since day before yesterday...
    If it don't make sense, it can not be logical. If it is not logical. HE LYING HE LYING HE WANTS ATTENTION!!!!!!

  • Marlika

    Please no it wouldn’t! Black people get mad for 10 mins and the move on. Gays make an issue out of everything and drag it on!!

    I said what I said!! And also he is. It a well known black actor. I’m sure most folks didn’t know who the hell he was until the story came out and celebs jumped on the bandwagon. Stop with the foolishness.

  • MSGREENMINUSTHEENVY

    I'm trying so hard to refrain from stating how poor this is being handled but you know what, i'm finna go back to my non-celebrity life and mind my business.

  • E-VannaRootsAllEvil

    I couldn’t imagine givin a statement this soon

  • Carla

    I hope not! I'm tired too.

  • Simone

    And I'd like to add he's selfishly using up excessive police man hours that should be used to serve and protect Black residents in Chicago who have to deal with real crimes.

  • Carla
  • Sweetness

    I'm snapping peas. But my friends said we see that you ok...but why lie?

    I left the room girl cuz O don't want no internet smoke???

  • NeverSurprised

    Thank goodness he has recovered so swiftly from his "brutal beating" that he can now give interviews, enjoy the glaring spotlight and perform tomorrow night at his SOLD OUT CONCERT, the same concert that still had plenty of tickets available BEFORE the "brutal beating".

    I give it a week before a new recording deal is announced.

  • garrisonville

    Phaedra's face in this gif got my crying! Lmao!

  • NeverSurprised

    Exactly!

  • wigmon68

    silence him? I want him to talk about everything. Given that the manager ran to tmz hours after talking to police, I don't buy the "waiting until I am ready" excuse.

    Now, its fair to suggest that maybe police have asked him to remain silent, but thats not what smollett has said. "We will talk soon and I will address all details of this horrific incident, but I need a moment to process." What do you need to process to tell the truth about what you experienced?

  • Coy little wink

    Phaedra is my fave!!!

  • Sweetness

    Allzzz EYE know is The R-rah somewhere cheezin' like a mug cuz THIS IS THE hot topic rat nigh!

    #itstheremix #toignition #itshotandfresh #outthekitchen

  • Sweetness

    ???

  • Sweetness

    I don't even wanna say this. But let's just say if a Tyrese, or little chocolate boy from around the way was attacked...do you think they would put in hundreds of man hours trying to find the assailants? Curious. Hmmmm

  • Sweetness

    Here's one for you. They say Mr. Cosby is in jail thinking that he really is Cliff Huxtable. And wheteing a bedsheet like an apron, taking appointments and given inmates medical advice. If they have more than a cold, he recommends the Infirmary.
    There ya go! Go for it.

  • Let them eat cake

    looooll!!!

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lo6u-UIbo Nancy Drew-Natural & Luv’n It!
  • NewNew

    I don't see why that isn't an acceptable story to go with. We all know he's gay and we all know he's single. Why lie about an encounter gone wrong?

  • MsPam

    I will!?

  • Applebootay

    In Chicago, they got time...trust...they make time...if what he saying is true and I believe him, they were either waiting for him or looking for someone else. I will agree, the story does leave room for speculation but because I live HERE IN IT....I so believe the part about the beating...nothing else matters...

  • Applebootay

    I keep trying to tell them. Chicago is RACIST AF!

  • Applebootay

    Ummmm, they talked and yelled and beat him....you think you wouldn't know if they were black or white...come on now...y'all really reaching...

  • R in NYC

    I believe him. Nothing but well wishes and good vibes from me.

  • Ghost

    ??

  • TwitterFingerz

    Lol!!!!!! Damn

  • Dun Dilly

    Looking for late night head from strangers will get your face scratched. I wonder how much CASH they took from him.

  • Ghost

    ???

  • smartchickfl

    One more question....how'd his attackers know that he was gonna get a hankering for a sub at 2am??

  • Reenaface

    Essence magazine! I stopped reading that propaganda rag years ago. I flipped through it recently out of boredom and it was 20 pages filled with ads and some blurb articles about activism and actors and actresses that are on the rise that I've never heard of. Rolling Stone magazine is the same way when back in the day I used to devour their human interest articles.

  • Reenaface

    Jussie has the complexion for the protection.

  • Reenaface

    It makes sense since Jared the spokesperson is behind bars and wasn't available for the performance.

  • abby500

    Ummm hmmm

  • abby500

    Hahaaa R-rah.... is somewhere like “lawd... keep this mess up!”

  • abby500

    He better be telling the truth because if not he will be found out and it will be OVER for him.

  • MSGREENMINUSTHEENVY

    LOL, chit you right though we ain't tryna fight!!
    Calling someone a liar is real hard for me to do but this Manboy.....bruh that interview betta had been via text or phone call. I ain't going to continue to sit here and pretend this ain't sound like a harry potter spin is coming... I ain't got time and I'm mofo tied of seeing his face all up n through my ig. I ain't logged back on since his death but alive situation been spreading like wildfire.

  • Sweetness

    Awh ok I thought I was by myself?

  • Aquanymous

    I was suspicious of this story when it first broke. My first thought was, “So, Jamal’s trying to upstage Cookie”, because Taraji just got the star on the Walk of Fame and her new movie’s going to be released soon and he may have wanted to deflect the attention from her to him. If this really did happen, it’s beyond horrific and my prayers go out to him. He needs prayer either way especially if he made it up. Just a thought.....

  • Taj

    GOOD QUESTION

  • JazzyBossyJen
  • Dee Mitchel

    When I was coming up I don't give a damn how hungry you were 'we all know after 2 am in the morning wasn't and still ain't much open but Liquor stores and legs! Subway at 2 am in 2 degree weather, ain't nooooobody that damn hungry...this smells like catfish to me....any body got some ketchup and bread...This story making he hungry as hell!

  • TheCatLady

    BULLSHIT! Just cause he's lying don't mean you have to.

  • Li-Wright

    It was - 30/-50 degrees in Chicago that night. Could it be that 2 hour flight scrambled his brains? And the police say there is no surveillance photos around the hotel or lower Wacker drive that shows an attack. I think he may have been hallucinating....unless, as some of yawl write, he was going for a hookup.

  • Li-Wright

    Wait for it -- CPD is going to close the case. Nothing there.

  • 2gr8ful

    Everytime I see this story I want a sandwich????

  • 2gr8ful

    Not Tyrese!!! ?

  • 2gr8ful

    Dying???

  • 2gr8ful

    Not my girl A.K. Lol

  • Sweetness

    You know what it is. Tyrese would have handed his phone over and said, "what more do you want from meeeeeee" ???

  • dontgetblocked

    He needs a moment to reformulate his lie! Got cracked over the head out there in the cold trying to get some warm meat.

  • dontgetblocked

    I think you mean the windchill factor was -30 to -50. If it was -50 degrees....I don't think he'd be alive.

  • dontgetblocked

    After they put Diddy and the late Kim Porter on the cover, I was done.

  • Reenaface

    It not by yourself, I peeped the agenda too.

  • Reenaface

    I wonder why Jussie didn't give an interview with TMZ since they broke the story first?

  • taneka simmons

    ???????

  • Michelle