The attack on Empire star Jussie Smollett was a sobering wake-up call for some… and “just another f—king day in America” for others.
According to The Chicago Tribune, Smollett was approached 2 a.m. on Tuesday, January 29, by two people around who yelled racial and homophobic slurs. He was hit and doused in an unknown chemical substance, reportedly bleach, and a rope was wrapped around his neck. The actor later told police his assailants said, “This is MAGA country.”
Related: Of course conservatives are calling Jussie Smollett a liar and his attempted lynching #fakenews
In the wake of the attack, friends and supporters of Smollett have joined activists and allies in condemning the racial and homophobic violence and pleading for the safety for queer people of color. Here are some of their words, starting with those of Empire co-creator Lee Daniels.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Lee Daniels
“It’s taken me a minute to come to social media about this because, Jussie, you are my son. You didn’t deserve nor anybody deserves to have a noose put around your neck, to have bleach thrown on you, to be called ‘die f—t n—r’ or whatever they said to you. You are better than that. We are better than that. America is better than that. It starts at home. It starts at home, yo. We have to love each other regardless of what sexual orientation we are because it shows that we are united on a united front and no racist f—k can come in and do the things that they did to you. Hold your head up, Jussie. I’m with you. I’ll be there in a minute. It’s just another f—king day in America.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtOrBBmH6GK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again
Phoebe Robinson
“To have the audacity to be young, black, and gay is a beautiful way of living and is a loving that bigots and racists and homophobes want to snuff out. I don’t know @jussiesmollett personally. I’ve never met him, but my heart breaks for him and his family. For it to be 2019 and still have to fear that one day a noose might be tied around your neck is horrifying. For it to be 2019 and you cannot be gay without wondering, ‘Will this be the day that I’m attacked’ is unacceptable and deplorable. For it to be 2019 and the hideous poison that is MAGA and all it represents to be wildly unchecked from the top of the government all the way down to your average everyday street should makes us all have the biggest pits in our stomachs. Black and queer people just went to live. They just want to occupy the space on the planet that was made for them. They want to flourish and be happy and not worry and laugh about dumb s—t. And until they can do that, we have failed as a country. I don’t know that we’re better than this, but gahtdamn it, we ought to be.”
Related: Twitter responds to the attempted lynching of Jussie Smollett
Lester Fabian Brathwaite
“What happened to him shouldn’t happen to anyone; that it happened to him, a famous person with means and a platform, is important to continue this discussion on a national level, but what of the black men whose lives become a footnote in the seemingly endless collection of police shootings, or the black trans women forced into victimhood by the sole merit of their existence?
“It’s 2019 and we deserve better. We all need to do better and be better or what’s left of this country’s soul will shrivel up and die like the promise of 40 acres and a mule made to freed slaves by their once and future oppressors.”
Naveen Kumar
“It’s easy to take courage for granted when the person who demonstrates it is the star of a hit show, or has sold any number of records. It takes great risk for many queer people and POC to simply live as they are. Smollett took on more risk than many may have imagined, a recognition that deserves to be held.”
Preston Mitchum
“The Chicago Police Department and FBI are now conducting an investigation into whether this incident was a hate crime, however we as Black queer people know the truth: It was.
“We know this because everyday our multiple marginalized identities increase our chances of facing racist, homophobic vitriol — and this fact has only intensified under the Trump administration with their dog whistle politics. So as we wait to see if justice is served for Smollett, we as Black queer people wait to see if America will finally see our lives as worth protecting.
“Because history has rarely been on the side of Black queer folk.”
Ernest Owens
“It’s important to acknowledge that the hate Smollett faced as a black gay man was a bi-product of society’s tolerance of racism and homophobia. There is racial bias in how LGBTQ people are protected in mainstream society, as there is homophobia in how black people are protected within their own community.
“Why isn’t there more support for murdered black trans women within the Black community as for slain cisgender black men? Why aren’t there more efforts to eradicate the HIV/AIDS crisis still impacting black gay men as there were for white gay men decades ago? These are the questions I ask myself daily when people try to suggest that I choose between an LGBTQ community or a black one.
“If we are to truly be a society that is serious about combating white supremacy, we have to recognize that racism and homophobia are byproducts that prolong such hate.”
Chrisk
The only person that can corroborate the story is the manager who says he was on the phone with jussie at the time of the attack.
Yeah if I was the police I’d want to see that phone or at least look at the records which he’s also now refusing to do. I’m sure now that the FBI is involved they’ll look anyways.
iamru2
If I were attached in such s horrific way as he is claiming I’d give up my phone immediately to help catch the mother uckers. There are also ways to share the info with the cops from ones phone without handing it over. If he is making this story up which is looking more and more to be the case imagine what kind of sick and ignorant mind he must have to do something so despicable, desperate not to mention ignorant.
Polaro
They don’t need his phone, they only need him to show them the evidence without relinquishing possession. Once they have your phone they can look at everything. Think about that. They can solve this crime without the phone.
Chrisk
Yes and as I’ve already said they’ve also asked for just the phone records and he’s refused that too. They need something to corroborate the witness statement is all.
Brian
Ultimately the phone records are pretty meaningless anyway, at least for Jussie. Even if they show that they were on the phone when they claimed, all that proves is that they were on the phone, not that he was actually attacked or that the manager is telling the truth. They’re not going to help solve the crime. All they can really do is disprove the manager’s story, if they show that he wasn’t on the phone with Jussie as he claimed.
PinkoOfTheGange
Like a dog with a bone over the phone.
It seems that issue was solved. CPD went on the TeeVee machine and said they have no reason to doubt his account
iamru2
Biggest takeaway is how many people are doubting this incident happened. It’s pretty scary that some people base their opinions on this based on their political persuasions and not rational thinking. If you believe him that’s fine but don’t call those who are waiting for more evidence racist that just makes you look ignorant.
curiobi
Every post about this story has been beset by russian trolls. If a white actor said this happened would there be so much hate. The victim is being treated like a crliminal because of his skin colour. The stupid MAGA thing is not this issue. The issue is gay bashing and racism. Both happen all the time and are not doubted but involve MAGA and it is not true. That idiot troll @Brian is actually advocating that the victim will be charged with a crime. Would he be saying that if the victim was white. No.
Chrisk
If it turns out that jussie is lying then yes I would totally advocate him being charged with a crime just like anyone else.
Oh and name-calling doesn’t help your argument. People have the right to be critical a stories that have obvious holes in them. I think this is more about your politics then caring about the truth.
iamru2
Serious question are you 12?
Brian
The famous Queerty commenter go-to, when they can’t logically disprove something other commenters are saying. Just blame it on Russian trolls!
Seriously, it’s scary how many people have bought into that.
And the real issue is the complete lack of evidence that this crime happened dear. Sorry you’re too dense to have figured that out.
curiobi
Are the both of you? A man is attacked, but because he is not white he has to be lying. Shame in you both for having no compassion,
curiobi
Also I am not American I do not care about MAGA. I care that gay bashing and lynching are being excused by trolls desperate to defend political ideology. Shame on everyone doing this!
PoetDaddy
The same people who are attacking Jussie here on Queerty are peddling their racism and homophobia in exactly the same way in other places. I sometimes think gay people are our own worst enemy. Why on earth would gay people assume that a gay man attacked for his race and his sexuality is lying. It’s disgusting. It’s sad and pathetic. And it shows how much more work there is to be done. They have elsewhere suggested Jussie might have previously arranged to meet these attackers for sex, something that tells you more about them then the victim. Because what if he had? It doesn’t’ in the least excuse the attack or the attackers. And if that can happen in Chicago, imagine what gay and/or black folk have to put up deep in MAGA country.
MISTERJETT
i live in Chicago, and almost immediately it was speculated that it was either “a sexual hook-up or a drug deal gone bad”. typical homophobic and racist remarks!!!!!
eddie
TBH That is what I thought. Who’s man caught him? lol. hookup gone wrong. It seems like a personal thing.
Polaro
I hate people. More today than yesterday. Thanks.
piriblue
Just let the police do their work. Give them all the proof that they want. Why are we fighting among one another. Let us promote peace instead of bashing one another. As a gay person I tell you one thing. I am aware of where I go and when I go. Even if I wasn’t gay I would still do the same. There is a certain kind of element in the street late at night in the streets. It is a whole different world out there after dark.
Onecaddy13
I so agree with piriblue. Many people have rushed to blame both sides without a proper investigation… I have similar questions regarding the late hour, phone, caps, cameras, interviews. I’ll wait to make judgement once the CPD has concluded their investigation. I have been to Chicago many times and I think it’s a great & beautiful city. This city is of a Democratic majority, If this act of violence is true, (wait for investigators) those involved should be tossed in jail for a very long time for this abhorrent act. You cannot blame others for such stupidity on so many levels. These are young men/women that have minds of their own and I believe this kind of behavior starts at home and upbringing.
Terrycloth
Story is like swiss cheese..full of holes..way too many unanswered questions…theres so much of this “story ” that dosent add up.
Brian
But racism and he’s famous and homophobia! That’s all the proof we need that it absolutely happened, physics and logic be damned.
Vince
@Brian. It’s the OJ effect. No matter how much evidence came out that he was guilty you had people sticking their heads in the sand and wouldn’t believe it.
VaJohn
News about Jussie’s phone and phone records is old. Latest reports (today) are that CPD asked for his phone, but NOT his records, at first. Jussie responded he felt uncomfortable handing over his phone, but when asked later for his records, he agreed, and is in the process of collecting them and doing so. Trolls move on!
curiobi
And here comes @Brian blaming the victim again. Russian troll or racist. You decide. The only way Brian can be so 100 percent sure nothing happened is if Brian was personally involved in the situation. If Brian has evidence to prove this man was not attacked and is lying as Brian keeps insisting on every post, then Brian should share it with the police. Of course it might be difficult for a troll shooting their mouth off to make an official complaint. Should be amusing to watch the person screaming a victim should be arrested for wasting police time, being the one arrested for wasting police time with unfounded conspiracy theories. Mike drop.
Bob LaBlah
Queerty, censor these comments all you so desire it is obvious that a nbr of your readers do NOT believe his version of events.
eddie
Why would you feel uncomfortable handing over your phone if you just been involved in a horrible attack and you want the best chances at them getting caught? What is he hiding? IDC about no phone records let the damn CPD do their job and give them hour phone. This story is fishy just my opinion don’t hang me. Goodnight.