Empire star Jussie Smollett was brutally beaten and hospitalized in a case being investigated as a possible hate crime by the local Chicago police department.
But just hours after it happened the attack has already been turned into a “fake news” controversy due to the allegation that the attackers yelled “MAGA country” during the attack.
MAGA is the abbreviation for President Trump’s campaign slogan Make American Great Again. The alleged hate crime attack has been politicized due to the reported reference to President Trump’s campaign slogan and has divided commenters on Twitter.
A TMZ report states that the attackers put a noose around Smollett’s neck and fractured his ribs in the attack. An update reveals that Chicago police also confirmed to them that Jussie had told them the attackers yelled “MAGA country”.
The investigation into the attack, which reportedly occurred around 2am on Tuesday morning, is ongoing with the police obtaining nearby surveillance footage in a bid to identify the attackers.
Jussie Smollett stars as Jamal Lyon in the Fox hit series Empire and had reportedly received death threats prior to the attack.
Along with being an actor and singer, Smollett is a social activist recently spearheading a movement to fund Bennet College — a historically black liberal arts college for women in Greensboro, North Carolina
The 35-year-old actor and singer was reportedly called racial and homophobic slurs.
Empire is currently in its fifth season and has garnered critical praise and strong ratings for the Fox network.