Jussie Smollett Hired Brothers To "Attack" Him, Police Sources Say: Report

BYAron A.24.9K Views
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Jussie Smollett speaks at the Children's Defense Fund California's 28th Annual Beat The Odds Awards at Skirball Cultural Center on December 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Police believe Jussie Smollett orchestrated the attack on himself.

The information surrounding Jussie Smollett's attack is still scarce but the police are getting closer to figuring out who the culprit is. While they initially denied that the Empire actor staged the attack, authorities have found new evidence that may suggest otherwise.

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According to TMZ, police believe the two brothers from Nigeria who were taken into custody as "persons of interest" in Jussie Smollett's attack were actually hired by the actor himself to stage the incident. Police sources said the brothers, who worked on the Empire set in the past, were "completely cooperative" while being interrogated about the alleged attack. 

One of the brothers reportedly handed over his phone to police officers who discovered a phone call between him and Jussie in the area of the attack before it happened. 

CNN reports the two brothers purchased the rope that was tied to Smollett's neck at Ace Hardwood store in Chicago. They also report that Smollett actually paid the brothers for the alleged attack. 

Police reportedly have had a hunch since the beginning that the actor's story has been false despite the statements he and his team have released denying that narrative.

Despite being arrested for battery, the two Nigerian brothers never fit the description of Smollett's alleged attackers. For one, neither of them are white. Additionally, sources from Empire revealed the two guys are very close with Jussie and are both pro-LGBTQ+ and anti-Trump. 

The lawyer for the two brothers said they were released from police custody without charges based on the information they gave cops. She also said they will tell their story "when the time is right."


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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