Who Is Jussie Smollett? 'Empire' Actor Faces Police Questions About Possible Staged Attack

The Chicago Police Department said Saturday that they reached out to "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett after "new evidence" emerged about his Jan. 29 assault. Two Nigerian brothers arrested Wednesday as potential suspects have cooperated with investigators, claiming they were paid by Smollett to orchestrate an attack against him, police sources told CNN and USA Today.

"Detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi posted on Twitter.

Smollett, who is black and gay, had told police in January that he was walking in the upscale neighborhood of Streeterville at 2 a.m when he was attacked by two masked men who had shouted racial and homophobic slurs, with one attacker putting a rope around his neck and pouring bleach over him.

Police on Friday released the brothers — identified as "Empire" extras Olabinjo and Abel Osundairo — without filing charges after they were picked up at O'Hare International Airport. Sources told CNN and USA Today that the brothers had bought rope at a local hardware store.

ABC7 Eyewitness News in Chicago reported Thursday that police were investigating whether Smollett and the two brothers had staged the attack because Smollett he had been written off of "Empire." The Chicago Tribune noted that Smollett follows their bodybuilding page on Instagram.

Smollett was interviewed on Thursday by Robin Roberts of ABC's "Good Morning, America," where he went into detail about the attack and how he was bothered by those who cast doubts that he was telling the truth.

Smollett, 36, joined the cast of the Fox TV drama "Empire" in 2015, playing the role of Jamal Lyon, and gaining critical acclaim for his performance.

His IMDb.com profile shows that he began his acting career in 1991, when he had a small role in the TV movie "A Little Piece of Heaven" and later had a role in the 1992 film, "The Mighty Ducks."

He has also appeared on the sitcom "The Mindy Project," as well as the 2017 film "Alien: Covenant."

Smollett released an album in March 2018 entitled "Sum of My Music."

Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, to a Jewish father and black mother. He graduated from Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey.

He came out as gay in 2015 in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.

Smollett has 1.38 million followers on Twitter and 5.3 million followers on Instagram.

On Jan. 27, two days before he reported the assault, Smollett posted a comment on Twitter that read: "Frauds are everywhere y’all. Protect the mind, heart and spirit of you and your people at all costs. Just remember... Salt, cocaine and anthrax can all appear to be sugar...(the “refined” kind of course) just be careful out here fam. Happy Sunday. Love you. Real talk. Love on."