^ It’s been variously reported that the “victim” knew them (one of whom worked on the set of Empire). It’s not hard to figure out what went on here.
This is obviously looking like a hoax (and I don’t like that word) since its filing a false report. If this is what it seems then he should be doing some time in prison as all people who file false reports should be.
Tell me more @SatchelSF
Why didn’t he order delivery?
How did the sandwich make it home unscathed? I imagine Jussie doing some old school OJ Simpson airport moves to get that sandwich home safely.
@Hanna. I don’t agree with what was said about roaming gangs but last year there were more then a few reports of a group of people stealing or beating up people. This was more then a common occourance.
There were groups of people doing this on mag mile also last year. Sad but true.
We live in Lakeview about 6 blocks west of Wrigley fyi.
Our kids take the “El” all the time and just have them be careful and not get off at Belmont stop at night anymore. That’s another story.
Here’s my theory, speculation based on a gossip site. Smollet set up a meeting on Tinder or Grinder or something. The perpetrators recognized and catfished him on there, planning (and carrying out) a homophobic hate crime. This would explain why Smollet was reluctant to turn over his phone, and why he was out so early in the morning, and why he was on his phone with his manager during the meeting that turned into an attack.
What does being on his phone with his manager indicate, besides having a conversation?
Hold it. They got their student loans dismissed? How stupid am I? I paid back my $150,000 student loans and my wife paid back her $200,000 student loans. (yes, true numbers, sad but true).
I might have to suggest to the kids to Rob a bank or something. 
@SatchelSF I haven’t seen a report that says that Smollett knew these two. Can you provide a link to a reputable site reporting that? One of them apparently was an extra on an episode or two. That doesn’t equate with knowing the cast.
Are you thinking people never attack others they know? Why not wait and see what comes of this?
@lookingforward If you’re asking me, of course not. My response was to SatchelSF’s post about them knowing each other, as one ‘worked on the set of Empire’. It’s not hard to figure out what went on here’. Most extras on tv shows/films have no contact with the main cast.
CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/15/entertainment/jussie-smollett-suspects/index.html
“The two men being questioned and Smollett had some kind of previous affiliation, a police source told CNN, without providing further detail.”
Knowing each other doesn’t prove a definitive narrative, but it certainly casts doubts on the story he describes if these two were the assailants. He specifically states that two white men attacked him and stated “this is MAGA country”. At a minimum half of that statement would be fabricated calling into question his voracity throughout. Then the issue becomes did he embellish the racial details (having unknowingly been attacked by former acquaintances) or staged the entire event.
No need to rush to a conclusion but in either case a very sad state of affairs as it will invariably cause people to be suspicious of some victim claims going forward.
They filed bankruptcy but the loans were not dismissed, but it is unlikely they will be repaid.
My guess is that this was a “domestic incident” gone bad. The scam was dreamed up in the 30-40 minutes between the alleged time of the attack (about 2:00am) and the calling of 911 (about 2:35am). The manager was in on it as well; he said he overheard the attackers yelling “this is MAGA country” and alleged racial and homophobic slurs because he was supposedly on the phone with Smollett at the time of the “attack.” When Smollett’s phone was requested, he refused, but no doubt the CPD already had the cell phone records.
The story will now pivot to throw all sorts of sand in people’s eyes in an attempt to help Smollett.
There were a few nice details. Walking to Subway in -10 degree weather and leaving the “noose” around one’s neck for 40 minutes until the CPD showed up were comedy gold. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how people keep falling for these stunts.
I bet the detectives want to pursue this, but I can’t see how they will be allowed to. Getting the cell phone records is trivial. I hope I am wrong and the real story comes out, but I am not holding my breath.
How did 2 Nigerians get US student loans?
“And the thugs aren’t generally MAGA people”
How do you know this? You’ve done some demographically/sociological study of folks who wear and do not wear these hats? SMH
@Hanna @Knowsstuff
You have to go back to when Little Richie Daley was Mayor. He had to cut out the July 3rd Fireworks and scale back Taste of Chicago. Then there were the incidents on North Ave. Beach and Oak Street Beach. Things then moved into the Mag mile. It’s been the trend for years. The city is out of control. But like I said, not every hour. But enough that you need to be a lot more cautious than you had to be back in the old days. Now it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see someone attached in Streeterville. What’s surprising is the hate crime, maga stuff. Don’t see that happening down there.
@yourmomma. I remember those incidents and most recently the beach/mag mile ones. I love raising my family in the city but do have to make my kids aware of what’s going on more often.
CHICAGO – Chicago police said Friday night two persons of interest in the alleged attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett are being released without charges.
Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi released a statement saying, “Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete.”
I am speculating, but it sounds like they have gotten the two former suspects to implicate Mr. Smollett. Keep in mind they would have arguably not committed a crime if this was a staged event. Mr. Smollett however would have filled a false police report which is a crime. In this case a particularly costly one as 12 officers have been investigating his claims.
I suspect this breaks tomorrow.
Didn’t the earlier article linked say there had been a threatening letter with white powder sent to the set of Empire and addressed to Smollett before this?
Could this be a publicity stunt by his manager? I guess we will see. Can’t imagine anyone would be dumb enough to do this, whether real or staged…this will be jail time for someone.