More Security On 'Empire' Set As Jussie Smollett Returns To Work

CHICAGO, IL — It's been just over one week since reports of "Empire" star Jussie Smollett's Chicago attack broke, which has led to security changes on the hit Fox drama's downtown set, according to several media reports. According to E! News, the show's executive producer Danny Strong and EP Brett Mahoney said Smollett is now back at work. Strong added that they've increased security, and there will be new measures carried out to protect the show's actors, according to the news report.

Strong told E! News that he cried when he found out about Smollett's reported attack, and immediately called the actor.

Chicago police said Smollett was walking in the 300 block of E. North Water Street at about 2 a.m. Jan. 29, when two men wearing ski masks yelled homophobic and racial slurs and began beating the actor. They doused him with a chemical, believed to be bleach, and wrapped a rope around his neck, police said.

Smollett said the men called out "This is MAGA country" while attacking him. Police said the actor's initial statement didn't report a mention of MAGA — he recalled it later on. Smollett's music manager confirmed that he was on the phone with the actor at the time of the reported attack and heard the men yelling the phrase.

"I mean that's the number one priority is increasing security for everyone, for our cast, our crew, for Jussie," Strong told the news outlet. "We want everyone to feel safe as they should."

More Patch coverage:

• CPD Won't Demand Jussie Smollett Turn Over Cellphone
• Photos Show Persons Of Interest In Jussie Smollett Chicago Attack
• Stars React After 'Empire' Actor Attacked In Possible Hate Crime

Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson called the reported attack "horrendous," and said Smollett has been "very cooperative" with police.

Police released surveillance photos of people of interest. A video has also been recovered that shows Smollett walking with a rope around his neck after the reported attack, police said.

Smollett has also called out those who questioned whether he was attacked, saying in a statement that he's working with authorities and has been "100 percent factual and consistent on every level."

In a statement, Smollett's family said "he told police everything" and his "story has never changed."

"Our beloved son and brother, Jussie, was the victim of a violent and unprovoked attack," the family's statement read. "We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime."
Smollett, who came out as gay in 2015, plays the character Jamal Lyon in Fox's "Empire."

The Chicago Police Department said it's "taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime."

Chicago police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact Area Central Detectives at 312-747-8382 or report it anonymously to www.cpdtip.com.

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 22: Jussie Smollett attends the 'Empire' Season 5 world premiere during the 2018 Tribeca TV Festival at Spring Studios on September 22, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for Tribeca TV)