Jussie Smollett, an American actor, was involved in an alleged hate crime because of the color of his skin and his sexuality. The alleged attack took place in Chicago very early in the morning on Jan 29, 2019. Smollett alleged that he was attacked by two men, they put a noose around his neck, poured bleach on him, beat him up, and yelled “this is MAGA (Make America Great Again) country. He was hospitalized with a bruise on his face.
Many people rallied to support Smollett as soon as the news broke out including Kamala Harris, 2020 Presidential candidate, Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, and Ellen Degeneres, popular American T.V show host. However, many others believe this story to be a hoax because there has been no video evidence.
The story has taken many turns since. The most recent update as Chicago police keep investigating is that two Nigerian brothers have now been linked to the case and identified as the two men in a video surveillance around the area the attack took place. The brothers, Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo, were picked up by Chicago police at O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, as they returned from Nigeria. Chicago police described them as “suspects” in the assault, questioned them and searched their apartment.
As of late Friday evening, the brothers were released without charges and are no longer suspects. Chicago police said they have new information from their interrogation of them. “We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation,” Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statrment. He also stated “we have reached out to [Smollet’s] attorney to request a follow-up interview.”
According to a few American news outlet, including CNN, CBS, and TMZ, Smollett allegedly paid the brothers to stage this attack. He allegedly paid them $3,500 each, with an unpaid additional $500 upon completion. Smollett also allegedly paid for the noose that was tied around his neck. Police have said they went through surveillance video downtown Chicago area but have been unable to find any footage of the attack. Although, there is footage of the two Nigerian brothers in the vicinity of the attack at about the time the attack took place.
Smollett is said to have turned over redacted phone records that police said were not sufficient for a criminal investigation. Smollett’s attorney released a statement stating that these new allegations are false, and “nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.”
