While the orange a-hole in the white House was talking with reporters about another possible government shutdown and trade issues among other things, recently attacked “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett‘s name came up.
“That I can tell you is horrible,” president Donald Trump said Thursday when asked about the violent and homophobic attack on Smollett that seemingly occurred early in AM on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t get worse,” the President weirdly added.
Trump’s comment comes in the wake of Chicago police released video surveillance images of what they call “people of interest” in the January 29 beating of Smollett from two as yet unidentified individuals.
As has been reported, Smollett had just returned to the city where the Fox drama is shot, and was on the street near his Chicago apartment at around 2 AM when two suspects began bellowing derogatory slurs towards him. The duo then attacked the actor, hitting him over and over and pouring an unknown chemical substance over him They also reportedly stringing a rope around Smollett’s neck before fleeing the scene.
After reporting the incident to police and conducting an initial interview with them, Smollett drove himself to Northwestern Hospital. He returned to his home under increased security later Tuesday and was said to be in good condition, police said.
The Chicago police announced on Tuesday that they are treating the matter as a “possible hate crime.”
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Here’s more via Deadline:
Smollett’s music manager Brandon Z. Moore is among those who say that the attackers were screaming “this MAGA country” against the actor who plays the openly gay Jamel Lyon on the Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard led Empire. “Make America Great Again” is, of course, Trump’s defining rally cry and remains his go to phrase on the stump or in the Oval Office. The President did not address the use of that term by the attackers, which was not been confirmed by the Chicago Police it should be added.
Though trauma counselors were on-hand for Empire cast, crew and producers on Tuesday when the assault on Smollett became known, the show went on hiatus soon afterwards. That break is not due to Smollett’s situation but due to the harsh cold of the polar vortex that has hit Chicago and much of the Midwest this week. The weather is still bone chillingly cold in the Windy City but Empire and fellow locally shot Fox series Proven Innocent are both back in production today, I hear.
Depending on his recovery and weather conditions, Smollett could be back filming Empire by early next week. The performer is still scheduled to play a gig in West Hollywood on Saturday.
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