Empire actor and singer Jussie Smollett made headlines earlier this year when he claimed he was attacked by a group of men who targeted him for being black and gay, with his manager claiming the men used racial slurs and referred to the area as “MAGA country.” In addition, the men reportedly tied a noose around his neck and sprayed him with a bleach-like liquid.
However, Smollett’s attack took place in a solidy liberal, pro-gay and racially diverse area- and his story doesn’t seem to make the mark for his neighbors.
“It’s a lie, because Chicago is the most liberal city around,” one resident told the New York Post. “They have cameras everywhere…Why can’t they find the attack?”
Verily, Chicago PD found plenty of surveillance video, but none that managed to record the attack.
Smollett has also complicated matters for law enforcement, particularly in regards to his hesitancy to turn over his mobile phone, which he was reportedly using to speak to his manager at the time of the incident.
“We have no reason to doubt the statements, but for a criminal investigation, we need to independently confirm the phone records,” Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. “We offered to take the phone to download the data and he expressed he couldn’t be without his phone for several hours.”
One of Smollett’s fellow high-rise tenants, Agin Muhammad, also has his doubts.
“I’ve been in this neighborhood five years,” he said. “I don’t believe it, not around here…Half the people are gay and the other half are black.”
The Post reportedly found a bottle partially filled with a bleach-like liquid along a route they suspect Smollett took, and turned it over to authorities.
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