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class="article-le-byle" data-activy-map="le-byle-article-top">By <span class="byle-name"><a href=">Elisha Fieldstadt</a></span> and <span class="byle-name"><a href=">Janelle Griffh</a></span></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">Ls than three weeks after <a href=" target="_blank">beg dicted on 16 felony unts</a>, Chigo prosecutors on Tuday <a href=" target="_blank">dropped all charg</a> agast "Empire" actor Jsie Smollett, who had been acced of filg a false police report claimg he was the victim of a hate crime attack rried out by two men on a cy street January.</p><p class="">Here is what else we know the twistg timele of events:</p><h2 class=""><strong>Inial report </strong></h2><p class="">On Jan. 29, Smollett filed a report wh the Chigo Police Department statg that he had gone out for food at around 2 a.m. after returng om New York, when masked men hurled racist and homophobic slurs before beatg him. The 36-year-old actor, who is black and gay also said his attackers poured what he believed was bleach over him and put a noose around his neck the upsle neighborhood of Streeterville. Many celebri, cludg "Empire" st members and gay rights advot showed their support for Smollett on social media.</p><h2 class=""><strong>Possible hate crime </strong></h2><p class="">From the onset, the police partment said was vtigatg the alleged attack as a <a href=" target="_blank">possible hate crime</a>.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Persons of tert'</strong></h2><p class="">Chigo police said on Jan. 30 that a thorough review of secury vio the alleged asslt and battery on Smollett revealed "potential persons of tert" that vtigators would like to qutn. Officials released pictur om a surveillance mera loted near where Smollett says he was attacked. Before that break, the se seemed to stall as tectiv reviewed hundreds of hours of secury and other typ of vio and me up wh no leads.</p><h2 class=""><strong>Decle to share phone rerds </strong></h2><p class="">On Jan. 31, Chigo police said Smollett cled to provi telephone rerds that uld show he was speakg wh his manager jt as the alleged asslt happened, which he had claimed. The manager had told police he heard the attackers say, "This is MAGA untry," durg the asslt, officials said.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">Print Donald Tmp weighed that day om the Oval Office sayg that the attack was "horrible" and that "don’t get worse."</p><h2 class=""><strong>Smollett fay speaks out </strong></h2><p class="">On the same day, thori said Smollett refed to turn over his cellphone to vtigators, his fay released a statement sayg: "We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime. Jsie has told the police everythg om the very begng. His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will fd the men and brg them to jtice."</p><h2 class=""><strong>Treatg him like a victim</strong></h2><p class="">Chigo Police Supertennt Eddie T. Johnson told <a href=" target="_blank">NBC Chigo</a> on Feb. 1 that tectiv <a href=" target="_blank">would not mand</a> Smollett hand over his cellphone or phone rerds. Johnson said the allegatns as scribed to police "are horrendo, horrible, and que ankly wardly."</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">"He is a victim, and we treat him like a victim. He's been very operative," Johnson said.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'100% factual' </strong></h2><p class="">Smollett released his <a href=" target="_blank">first official statement</a> on Feb. 1, thankg fay, iends and fans for their support the wake of the alleged attack.</p><p class="">"I am workg wh thori and have been 100% factual and nsistent on every level," he said. "Dpe my tratns and ep ncern wh certa accuraci and misreprentatns that have been spread, I still believe that jtice will be served."</p><h2 class=""><strong>Partial rerds turned over</strong></h2><p class="">Smollett on Feb. 11 <a href=" target="_blank">gave tectiv partial rerds</a> of his cellphone age, markg 13 days sce the alleged asslt. The actor gave vtigators a PDF file ntag a redacted list of his lls, a police spokman told NBC News.</p><h2 class=""><strong>Anger at those who doubted his story</strong></h2><p class="">In his first terview about the cint, the actor <a href=" target="_blank">told ABC's "Good Morng Ameri"</a> that he was angry about the alleged attack and at those who doubted his story.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">Social media ers began to st doubt over his claims after police said they were not able to fd vio of the alleged attack.</p><p class="">Smollett said he didn't want to hand over his phone bee he has "private pictur and vios and numbers," and he was already wary bee of the way some reacted to his acunt of the attack.</p><p class="">He also said that he believed if he had <a href=" target="_blank">claimed his attacker was a mory</a>, no one would have doubted him.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Persons of tert' intified</strong></h2><p class="">On Feb. 14, hours after the airg of Smollett's ABC News terview, Chigo police announced that "through meticulo vtigatn" they had intified two persons of tert.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">The men beg qutned by police were two Nigerian brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo, that vtigators said were the same two men seen the surveillance vio pictur they had released.</p><p class="">Police later said they <a href=" target="_blank">searched at least one property</a> nnectn wh their vtigatn but still had no motive for the attack.</p><p class="">Guglielimi said Feb. 15 that the Osundairo brothers had been arrted on spicn that they may have been volved a crime, but they hadn't been charged the attack. Guglielimi add that at least one of the men worked on "Empire."</p><h2 class=""><strong>Reports of a hoax emed unnfirmed</strong></h2><p class="">Guglielmi tweeted Feb. 14 that lol reports surfacg that the attack was a hoax were unnfirmed.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">He said Johnson had ntacted one Chigo news outlet to rm them that "their supposed CPD sourc are unrmed and accurate."</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Pleased there is progrs'</strong></h2><p class="">In a statement to NBC News earlier on Feb. 14, a reprentative for Smollett weled the intifitn of two persons of tert.</p><p class="">"We are pleased there is progrs the se and are wag to hear further tails," his reprentative said.</p><h2 class=""><strong>Released due to new evince</strong></h2><p class="">On the night of Feb. 15, police said they <a href=" target="_blank">released the two men</a> who had been qutned the se whout charge, and that they are no longer nsired spects.</p><h2 class=""><strong>Probe shifts to whether actor staged cint</strong></h2><p class="">On Feb. 16, a police source faiar wh the vtigatn <a href=" target="_blank">told NBC News that the probe has shifted</a> to whether the actor paid two men who were qutned the se to stage an asslt.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">A Chigo police spokman said Saturday night that "the trajectory of the vtigatn" changed.</p><p class="">"We've reached out to the Empire st member's attorney to requt a follow-up terview," the spokman said.</p><p class="">Smollett’s attorneys nied any suggtn that the actor was plic. They said Smollett is the victim of a hate crime and that he has been operative wh police.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Follow-ups to plete' </strong></h2><p class="">The Chigo Police partment on Feb. 17 said vtigators need to speak wh Smollett after a police source had nfirmed to NBC News and other media outlets that the probe had shifted to whether the actor paid two men who were qutned the se to stage an asslt.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">"While we are not a posn to nfirm, ny or ment on the validy of what's been unofficially released, there are some velopments this vtigatn and tectiv have some follow-ups to plete which clu speakg to the dividual who reported the cint," Chigo police spokman Guglielmi <a href=" target="_blank">said a tweet</a>.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'No plans to meet wh police'</strong></h2><p class="">Attorneys for Smollett said that he would not be meetg wh Chigo police on Feb. 18, after the partment said need to nduct follow-up terviews wh him regardg the alleged attack he reported last month.</p><p class="">"There are no plans for Jsie Smollett to meet wh Chigo police today. Any news reports suggtg otherwise are accurate. Smollett's attorneys will keep an active dialogue gog wh Chigo police on his behalf," said Smollett's attorneys, Todd S. Pugh and Victor P. Henrson.</p><h2 class=""><strong>Top prosecutor rec herself</strong></h2><p class="">The top prosecutor the Chigo area, Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx, on Feb. 19 reced herself om the se.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">The state's attorney <a href=" target="_blank">stepped away om the matter</a> bee she had had "nversatns wh a fay member of Jsie Smollett about the cint and their ncerns, and facilated a nnectn to the Chigo Police Department," a spokperson for the office said.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Consummate profsnal' </strong></h2><p class="">On Feb. 20, Fox stud nied a report that Smollett's scen on "Empire" <a href=" target="_blank">had been signifintly rced</a> the wake of suggtns that he may have <a href=" target="_blank">staged the attack</a> on himself.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Consired a spect'</strong></h2><p class="">Smollett <a href=" target="_blank">was charged </a>Feb. 20 wh felony disorrly nduct for the allegedly false report he ma wh Chigo police. He turned himself the next day.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">"Jsie Smollett is now officially classified as a spect a crimal vtigatn by <a href=">#ChigoPolice</a> for filg a false police report (Class 4 felony)," police spokman Guglielmi <a href=" target="_blank">announced a tweet</a>. "Detectiv are currently prentg evince before a Cook County Grand Jury."</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Enjoys prumptn of nocence'</strong></h2><p class="">In a statement released after Smollett was charged, <a href=" target="_blank">his attorneys said</a> he "enjoys the prumptn of nocence, particularly when there has been an vtigatn like this one where rmatn, both te and false, has been repeatedly leaked."</p><p class="">"Given the circumstanc, we tend to nduct a thorough vtigatn and to mount an aggrsive fense," attorneys Pugh and Henrson said.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Took advantage of pa and anger of racism' </strong></h2><p class="">Johnson acced Smollett of <a href=" target="_blank">stagg the attack on himself</a> bee he was unhappy wh his salary on "Empire."</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">"This announcement today regniz that 'Empire' actor Jsie Smollett took advantage of the pa and anger of racism to promote his reer," Johnson said at a news nference.</p><p class="">Police also said Smollett sent himself a letter ntag racist language, and when that did not work, he paid the Osundairo brothers $3,500 to orchtrate the attack.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'What about MAGA'</strong></h2><p class="">Tmp, who said earlier the vtigatn that the alleged attack was "horrible," addrsed Smollett directly a tweet on Thursday sayg: ".<a href=">@JsieSmollett</a> - what about MAGA and the tens of lns of people you sulted wh your racist and dangero ments!? <a href=">#MAGA</a>"</p><h2 class="">Cut om 'Empire'</h2><p class="">As a rult of the allegatns agast Smollett, his role on "Empire," where he played Jamal Lyon, was cut om the fal episos of the fifth season "to avoid further disptn on set," the show's executive producers said a jot statement on Feb. 22.</p><h2 class=""><strong>Free on Bond</strong></h2><p class="">Smollett posted $10,000 of his $100,000 bond on Feb. 21, and a Chigo judge later led he would be allowed to travel.</p><h2 class=""><strong>'Tremendo regret'</strong></h2><p class="">A lawyer reprentg Ola and Abel Osundairo released a statement on Feb. 28 sayg her clients "have tremendo regret over their volvement this suatn, and they unrstand how has impacted people across the natn, particularly mory muni and pecially those who have been victims of hate crim themselv."</p><h2 class=""><strong>'More evince'</strong></h2><p class="">Johnson said on March 1 that there was addnal evince the se that hadn't been ma public.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">"As far as the evince go, we laid everythg out the bond proffer, the highlights of , but there’s addnal evince out there that we haven’t released yet, but ’ll help support that the alleged cint didn’t occur the way that he claimed," Johnson said.</p><h2 class=""><strong>16 unts</strong></h2><p class="">Smollett was <a href=" target="_blank">dicted</a> on 16 felony unts of disorrly nduct for makg a false report by a grand jury Chigo on March 8.</p><h2 class=""><strong>All charg dropped</strong></h2><p class="">Chigo prosecutors <a href=" target="_blank">abptly dropped all of the charg</a> agast Smollett on March 26.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">Durg a brief news nference after the announcement, Smollett said he has been "tthful" om the begng. "This has been an credibly difficult time. Hontly, one of the worst of my life," he said.</p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><p class="">Chigo Police Department manr Ed Wodnicki told <a href=" target="_blank">NBC Chigo</a> that the reversal of charg was a "punch the gut" and prosecutn did not discs their cisn wh the police partment prr to Tuday's announcement.</p><p class="">Chigo Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Johnson<a href=" target="_blank"> railed agast the cisn to drop the charg</a>.</p><p class="">"This is whout a doubt, a whewash of jtice and sends a clear msage that if you are a posn of fluence and power you'll get treated one way, other people will be treated another way," Emanuel said.</p><h2 class="">Qutng the top prosecutor</h2><p class="">Chigo police unn, the Fraternal Orr of Police, asked the Department of Jtice to vtigate Foxx’s role the cisn to not prosecute Smollett.</p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100"></div></div><p class="">The <a href=" target="_blank">unn had acced Foxx on March 19</a> of terferg the Smollett se before recg herself after the Chigo Sun-Tim that <a href=" target="_blank">Ta Tchen, a Chigo lawyer and former chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama, had put Foxx touch wh members of Jsie Smollet's fay</a> days after he told police he was the victim of a homophobic, racist attack.</p><p class="">There was no direct rponse om Foxx. Her spokwoman, Tandra Simonton, sisted that the Smollett se was treated no differently om the more than 5,700 other “s for alternative prosecutn” that the office has handled the past two years.</p><p class="endmark">“We did not exonerate Mr. Smollett,” Simonton add. “The charg were dropped return for Mr. Smollett’s agreement to do muny service and forfe his $10,000 bond to the Cy of Chigo. Whout the pletn of the terms, the charg would not have been dropped. This oute was met unr the same creria that would occur for and is available to any fendant wh siar circumstanc.”</p><div class="expand-byle-ntributors articleByleContaer"><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><a href="><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></a></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name"><a href=">Elisha Fieldstadt</a></span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Elisha Fieldstadt is a breakg news reporter for NBC News.</p></div></div><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><a href="><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></a></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name"><a href=">Janelle Griffh</a></span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-twter"></span></a><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Janelle Griffh is a natnal reporter for NBC News focg on issu of race and policg.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div id="hfs-footer" class="dn-prt" data-activy-map="hfs-footer"><footer class="hfsf" ><div class="ner"><div class="logo"><a href="><svg class="peack" viewBox="578 62 67 39" xmlns=" fill="currentColor"><g fill-le="evenodd"><path d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M597.563 75.863l9.442 21.613-19.478-13.35c-4.887-3.24-3.896-8.79-1.19-11.237 3.83-3.24 9.245-2.12 11.226 2.97"></path><path class="feather" d="M610.57 70.93l-3.433 24.19-9.772-23c-2.113-5.75 2.64-9.516 5.81-9.583 3.632-.396 8.188 2.38 7.396 8.394"></path><path class="feather" d="M625.494 72.103l-9.707 23.067-3.102-20.82c-.265-3.17 1.716-3.237 2.443-3.832-.133-.463-1.124-.463-1.124-.463h-1.848c-.198-5.42 4.028-7.8 7.462-7.535 3.697.132 7.856 4.428 5.876 9.583"></path><path class="feather" d="M635.338 84.167L615.86 97.584l9.177-21.348c2.775-6.742 9.245-5.42 11.556-2.842 2.51 2.51 3.235 7.6-1.255 10.773"></path><path class="feather" d="M637.448 99.9h-22.515l18.29-12.756c4.49-2.975 9.244-.266 10.498 3.635 1.327 4.36-1.65 9.12-6.27 9.12"></path></g></svg></a></div><nav class="lks"><ul class="lks__wrap" data-l-2="14" data-l-3=15><li><a href=" target="_self">About</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Contact</a></li><li><a href=">Help</a></li><li><a href=">Careers</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ad Choic</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Do Not Sell My Personal Informatn</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CA Notice</a></li><li><a href=">New Terms of Service (Updated JULY 7, 2023)</a></li><li><a href=">NBC News Semap</a></li><li><a href=">Advertise</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Shoppg</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Personal Fance</a></li></ul></nav><div class="py"><p>© 2023 NBC UNIVERSAL</p><div class="brands"><a href="><svg viewBox="0 0 120 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-labelledby="nbc_news_logo"><tle class="nbc_news_logo">NBC News Logo

empire gay actor

Terrell Carter is an Amerin actor, sger, and songwrer who buted the fourth season of Empire as a regular. In the film, he plays a gay character, jt as he is real life.

Contents:

'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY

* empire gay actor *

The actor Jsie Smollett claimed he was attacked and beaten by two masked men shoutg racist and homophobic slurs bee he was “dissatisfied wh his salary” on the TV show Empire, Chigo police have said. He said the actor also sent a racist and homophobic threateng letter to himself at the Fox stud lot Chigo, where Empire is actor, who is gay, hand himself to police on Thursday morng after he was charged wh felony disorrly nduct on Wednday for makg a false police report.

”Smollett, who plays a gay character the h Fox show, had said he was attacked as he was walkg home at 2am om a downtown Subway sandwich shop. Actor and sger Jsie Smollett is one of the breakout stars of Fox's h drama Empire, and while much of the buzz surroundg him has foced on his talents, there's also been plenty said about his the show, he plays Jamal Lyon, a gay sger and the middle son of Luc (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P.

Henson) battlg his father's real life, Smollett's sexualy has been a topic of nversatn, and now he's settg the rerd an terview wh Ellen DeGener nducted backstage at Ellen, he nfirmed that he is gay and explaed why he's never felt the need to discs his personal life.

‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’

Y, Terrell Carter is gay.  The amazg actor and sger was seen the "Toil and Trouble Part 2" episo of Empire.  Scroll to the vio at the end of this article to hear Terrell's versn of "Born To Love U." He sgs the song to Jsie Smollett aka Jamal Lyon.  In 2009, Carter's ex-boyiend… * empire gay actor *

"Until his nversatn wh DeGener, Smollett nsistently refed to discs his sexualy terviews, tellg Sway on his rad show a few weeks ago that fans shouldn't assume that he's gay. "The 31-year-old "Empire" star me out on "The Ellen DeGener Show" after his character om the h Fox seri revealed he's gay. "WITH A JUICY BLEND OF MUSIC, DRAMA AND OUTRAGEOUSNESS, 'EMPIRE' HAS BECOME THE BREAKOUT HIT OF 2015Jsie Smollett discs his role on ‘Empire’ and how he had to dn seven tim before landg the role of Jamal Lyon, who me out as gay a recent episo.

Smollett also revealed he's gay real life. "Followg the episo when his character me out, Smollett received hate onle, but didn't ter him om movg forward wh the storyle or revealg he's also gay real life. Rather than jt flailg agast his father's homophobia and retreatg to the fort of his keyboard, Jamal summoned his anger to a missn statement: He pledged to take over his father's pany.

EMPIRE'S GAY SON IS THE SHOW'S GREATT ASSET

Fox's new hip-hop seri tak a stand by troducg a gay character wh a notorly homophobic genre * empire gay actor *

First, and I fear we've unrsold this our last two reps, how spectacular is that a work TV show picts not only a gay man of lor, but a gay man of lor the hetero-domated world of hip-hop? Lee Daniels and his team may have unrled Luc's homophobia too hard so far, havg him nsistently refer to Jamal as female and sist homosexualy is a choice egregly bluntly, but 's probably (and sadly) realistic—and mak Jamal's assertn that he is a gay man, emphasis on both of those scriptors, all the more valuable. In the film, he plays a gay character, jt as he is real life.

SOMEONE HE WAS WH OUTED TERREL CARTER AS GAY!

34 years old, Calha "Bre-Z" Murray is an Amerin actrs and rapper. Fd out if she is gay. Is she datg a boyiend? Know every fact about her. * empire gay actor *

In 2009, however, the actor was outed as gay by someone he was datg. Carter’s homosexualy was nfirmed by the imag, nfirmg that the mors about his beg gay were ’s fily revenge was exposed by an ex-loverTerrell Carter Depicts A Gay Man’s Role EmpireCarter is currently sgle and pletely foced on his reerCarter’s fily revenge was exposed by an ex-loverAfter his sexualy was revealed, the actor was photographed wh mol Kton Karter at a party Ccnati.

Terrell Carter Depicts A Gay Man’s Role EmpireTerrell Carter appeared as a gut star the season 3 fale of the popular seri “Empire” before beg st as a regular season 4. Y, Terrell Carter is gay. Is Terrell Carter Gay?

Empire has always been the kd of show that gets people talkg, but last night's episo sparked an tertg backlash on Twter by those who're mad at the h seri' gay story chatter started after a sexy scene which Jamal (Jsie Smollett) and D-Major (Tobias Tvilln) hooked Empire fans were not at all happy about the man-on-man actn, and didn't hate to say so on social media:Jsie himself uldn't rist jumpg on Twter to ment on the hate, seemg both amed and annoyed by the backlash:It's unfortunate that 2016, many people's tolerance for sex on TV still don't extend to those outsi the straight muny. But rpect to Lee Daniels's h seri for ntug to ph the envelope for the sake of both entertament and our pellg terview wh Smollett, who aims to make "a homophobe a hypocre" wh his art, above.

IS TERRELL CARTER GAY?

Today when Empire star Jsie Smollett nfimed that he is gay on The Ellen Show, he joed a long list of gay Black celebri who are out of the closet and lovg . * empire gay actor *

Image source, Getty ImagUS actor Jsie Smollett lied to police when he claimed to have been the victim of a racist, homophobic asslt, a Chigo jury has trial this week, Smollett, 39, stood by nials that he staged the hoax attack agast himself.

IS EMPIRE 'TOO GAY'? HERE IS HOW ONE CAST MEMBER REACTEDSEE WHY TWTER IS MAD AT THIS WEEK'S {FONT:NORMAL 600 1.4REM/1.2 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#0A0A0A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 600 1.4REM/1.2 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#0A0A0A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRYBY EVELYN DIAZMAY 6, 2016/9:31 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1246PX;WIDTH:1800PX;}(PHOTO: JAM DIMMOCK/FOX)BY EVELYN DIAZMAY 6, 2016 / 9:31 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"IS EMPIRE 'TOO GAY'? HERE IS HOW ONE CAST MEMBER REACTED","SCRIPTN":"SEE WHY TWTER IS MAD AT THIS WEEK'S EPISO.","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-05-06T13:31:00.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-05-06T13:31:00.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"BET"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"BET","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"EVELYN DIAZ","KEYWORDS":"EMPIRE, JSIE SMOLLETT, CELEBRY NEWS, HOMOPHOBIA, BLACK LGBT CELEBS","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRY"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#0A0A0A;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EMPIRE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE KD OF SHOW THAT GETS PEOPLE TALKG, BUT LAST NIGHT'S EPISO SPARKED AN TERTG BACKLASH ON TWTER BY THOSE WHO'RE MAD AT THE H SERI' GAY STORY L.THE CHATTER STARTED AFTER A SEXY SCENE WHICH JAMAL (JSIE SMOLLETT) AND D-MAJOR (TOBIAS TVILLN) HOOKED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#0A0A0A;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SOME EMPIRE FANS WERE NOT AT ALL HAPPY ABOUT THE MAN-ON-MAN ACTN, AND DIDN'T HATE TO SAY SO ON SOCIAL MEDIA:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#0A0A0A;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JSIE HIMSELF ULDN'T RIST JUMPG ON TWTER TO MENT ON THE HATE, SEEMG BOTH AMED AND ANNOYED BY THE BACKLASH:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#0A0A0A;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT 2016, MANY PEOPLE'S TOLERANCE FOR SEX ON TV STILL DON'T EXTEND TO THOSE OUTSI THE STRAIGHT MUNY. BUT RPECT TO LEE DANIELS'S H SERI FOR NTUG TO PH THE ENVELOPE FOR THE SAKE OF BOTH ENTERTAMENT AND NVERSATN.WATCH OUR PELLG TERVIEW WH SMOLLETT, WHO AIMS TO MAKE "A HOMOPHOBE A HYPOCRE" WH HIS ART, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}EMPIREJSIE SMOLLETTCELEBRY NEWSHOMOPHOBIABLACK LGBT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG-TOP:24PX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:12PX;}{FONT:NORMAL 600 1.4REM/1.2 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;MARG-BOTTOM:12PX;}TRENDG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;}@MEDIA (M-WIDTH:660PX){{DISPLAY:GRID;GRID-TEMPLATE-LUMNS:50% 50%;GRID-LUMN-GAP:12PX;}}@MEDIA (M-WIDTH:980PX){{DISPLAY:BLOCK;}} > DIV{HEIGHT:133PX;BOX-SHADOW:0 4PX 8PX 0 RGBA(0,0,0,0.18);MARG-BOTTOM:12PX;-WEBK-TRANSFORM:PERSPECTIVE(1PX) TRANSLATEZ(0);-MS-TRANSFORM:PERSPECTIVE(1PX) TRANSLATEZ(0);TRANSFORM:PERSPECTIVE(1PX) TRANSLATEZ(0);-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S;}@MEDIA (M-WIDTH:980PX){ > DIV{WIDTH:100%;}} > DIV A{-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:ROW;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:ROW;FLEX-DIRECTN:ROW;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} > DIV A > DIV:NTH-CHILD(1) > DIV{BORR-TOP-RIGHT-RADI:0PX;BORR-BOTTOM-LEFT-RADI:VAR(--BORR-RADI);HEIGHT:133PX;WIDTH:133PX;PADDG-TOP:100%;} > DIV A > DIV:NTH-CHILD(1) > DIV > DIV:NTH-CHILD(1){BORR-TOP-RIGHT-RADI:0PX;BORR-BOTTOM-LEFT-RADI:VAR(--BORR-RADI);} > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1){OVERFLOW:HIDN;} > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1) > *{-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;} > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1) DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(2){MARG-BOTTOM:LC(VAR(--SPACER) * 2);} > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1) DIV:NTH-CHILD(2){DISPLAY:NONE;} > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1) DIV:NTH-CHILD(3){MARG:6PX 0 0 0;PADDG:0;POSN:RELATIVE;} > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1) DIV:NTH-CHILD(3) SPAN{-WEBK-LE-CLAMP:1;} > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1) SPAN{-WEBK-BOX-ORIENT:VERTIL;-WEBK-LE-CLAMP:4;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;FONT:NORMAL 600 1.2REM/1.25 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;OVERFLOW:HIDN;}@MEDIA (M-WIDTH:660PX){ > DIV A DIV:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(1) SPAN{FONT-SIZE:1.4REM;}}{-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S;-WEBK-TRANSFORM:SLE(1) TRANSLATEZ(0) PERSPECTIVE(1PX);-MS-TRANSFORM:SLE(1) TRANSLATEZ(0) PERSPECTIVE(1PX);TRANSFORM:SLE(1) TRANSLATEZ(0) PERSPECTIVE(1PX);}{BOX-SHADOW:0 8PX 22PX -6PX RGBA(0,0,0,0.3);-WEBK-TRANSFORM:SLE(1.01) TRANSLATEZ(0) PERSPECTIVE(1PX);-MS-TRANSFORM:SLE(1.01) TRANSLATEZ(0) PERSPECTIVE(1PX);TRANSFORM:SLE(1.01) TRANSLATEZ(0) PERSPECTIVE(1PX);} > *:NTH-LAST-OF-TYPE(2){MARG-BOTTOM:LC(VAR(--SPACER) * 6);}NENE LEAK SAYS SHE AND BOYIEND NYONISELA SH ARE 'TAKG A BREAK'THE FORMER REAL HOEWIV OF ATLANTA STAR NFIRMED SHE IS SGLE AGA.KHLOé KARDASHIAN REVEALS THAT TRISTAN THOMPSON AND HIS BROTHER LIVED WH HER AFTER THEIR MOTHER PASSEDTHE NBA PLAYER LOST HIS MOTHER JANUARY OF 2023KEKE PALMER GETS CANDID ABOUT HER SEXUALY: 'I WANT MY LIFE TO BE MY OWN LIFE'THE 29-YEAR-OLD ACTRS NTU TO OPEN UP ABOUT HER PERSONAL LIFE.BREAKING NEWS: CARLEE RSELL ADMS SHE WAS NEVER KIDNAPPEDHOOVER, ALA., POLICE READ A STATEMENT ON MONDAY WHICH RSELL SAID SHE MA UP THE WHOLE STORY AROUND HER ABDUCTN. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;HEIGHT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;TOP:306PX;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Smollett, who is black and gay, told police he was set upon by two assailants who shouted slurs, yelled a Tmp slogan, dumped a "chemil substance" on him, and tied a noose around his neck while he was walkg late at night Chigo.

After returng om New York, when masked men hurled racist and homophobic slurs before beatg him. The 36-year-old actor, who is black and gay also said his attackers poured what he believed was bleach over him and put a noose around his neck the upsle neighborhood of Streeterville. Many celebri, cludg "Empire" st members and gay rights advot showed their support for Smollett on social media.

BRE-Z NET WORTH, AGE, BOYIEND, DATG, GAY

"Smollett fay speaks out On the same day, thori said Smollett refed to turn over his cellphone to vtigators, his fay released a statement sayg: "We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime. Qutng the top prosecutorChigo police unn, the Fraternal Orr of Police, asked the Department of Jtice to vtigate Foxx’s role the cisn to not prosecute unn had acced Foxx on March 19 of terferg the Smollett se before recg herself after the Chigo Sun-Tim that Ta Tchen, a Chigo lawyer and former chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama, had put Foxx touch wh members of Jsie Smollet's fay days after he told police he was the victim of a homophobic, racist was no direct rponse om Foxx. But the seri, which premier Wednday, mak s bolst statement wh a sgle character — a gay one.

------------LGBT story l and characters on work prime time aren’t new, but for a show steeped a genre that has a history of homophobia, “Empire” feels groundbreakg. Those scen are jarrg and paful to watch — but also black culture, masculy often begs and ends wh heterosexualy, and homosexualy is often seen as a sful aberratn. For a show like “Empire” — whose st is black and will likely attract a predomantly black dience — to feature a gay man who isn’t a stereotype or ic relief is bold enough s own right.

IS HAKEEM FROM EMPIRE GAY?

But seeg on a hip-hop show mak the show feel like a game ’s unlikely that there’s a sgle black gay man who won’t be able to intify wh Jamal, who’s portrayed by Jsie Smollett. Are some of those makg roads pop and rock mic, hip-hop particular lags behd acts breakg to the this time last year I wrote about FX’s “Chozen, ” an animated edy about a gay whe rapper that uld have been a provotive skewerg of the genre’s misogynist and homophobic ways.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* EMPIRE GAY ACTOR

'Empire' Rep: Jamal's Story Is the Show's Greatt Asset - The Atlantic</tle><meta name="scriptn" ntent="Audienc were promised <em>Kg Lear</em> and Def Jam, not Suge Knight&#39;s <i>Mystic River</i>. So why are we gettg more of the latter?"/><meta property="kx:tle" ntent="'Empire' Rep: Jamal's Story Is the Show's Greatt Asset - The Atlantic"/><meta property="kx:scriptn" ntent="Audienc were promised <em>Kg Lear</em> and Def Jam, not Suge Knight&#39;s <i>Mystic River</i>. 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