Actor Jussie Smollet appeared for the first time in public since the actor says two men shouting “This is MAGA country” jumped him, beat him up, put a noose around his neck, and poured bleach on him.
During an appearance at the Troubadour this Saturday, the actor admitted parts of his original story were not true.
His rib was not broken, as originally told to the press, nor was it cracked. He also never went to the hospital, as was likewise reported. He read the comments from a piece of paper he brought on stage.
“A couple of points I wanted to make really quick; just because — four points,” he said before performing an encore. “I was bruised but my ribs were not cracked, they were not broken. I went to the doctor immediately, my friend Gatson [sp?] drove me. I was not hospitalized. Both my doctors in LA and Chicago cleared me to perform but said to take care obviously. But above all, I fought the f*ck back.”
“I’m the gay Tupac!” he then said to cheers.
The supposed hate crime is drawing increased scrutiny after Smollett’s original story appears increasingly incompatible with the available evidence. Security footage reviewed by the Chicago Police Department — where he says the attack occurred — show a gap where the actor was walking, disappeared from camera, and returned one minute later with a noose around his neck. For an attack as brutal as Smollett described, this is a very small time window for so much to have occurred.
The Chicago Police Department say security footage show the actor returning to his apartment still clutching the Subway sandwich he had bought before the incident, which many found surprising since he had just apparently undergone a horrific ordeal fending off racist thugs. Smollett has also refused to turn over his cellphone to the Chicago Police Department, which they say could help the progress of their investigation.
Smollett is an openly gay black actor who has made a name for himself online as an outspoken Trump critic.