Fox and Chicago police reject reports Jussie Smollett may have staged attack to stay on Empire

USA Today

CBS Chicago and ABC 7 Chicago reported around the same time Thursday evening that police were investigating whether Smollett's attack was a hoax involving the Empire star and the two "persons of interest" the police have interviewed, who were reportedly extras on the show. ABC 7 Chicago's Rob Elgas tweeted: "Multiple soucres tell @ABC7Chicago Eyewitness News Jussie Smollet and the 2 men who are being questioned by police staged the attack - allegedly because his character was being written out of the show Empire." Elgas later tweeted that "Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson called @ABC7Chicago tonight to say Jussie Smollett is considered a victim and the police investigation is on-going." That came after Chicago police spokesperson Anthony Gulielmi tweeted "the Empire incident being a hoax are unconfirmed by case detectives." Meanwhile, the Fox network and 20th Century Fox Television released a joint statement rejecting the report that Smollett was being written out of the show. “The idea that Jussie Smollett has been, or would be, written off of Empire is patently ridiculous," the statement said. "He remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him."