Jussie Smollett’s Empire family is now speaking out about the actor’s recent attack.
Earlier this week, the actor was brutally beaten by men, who also hurled racist and homophobic slurs, in what Chicago police are calling a “possible hate crime.”
Taraji P. Henson, who plays his onscreen mother Cookie Lyon on the hit Fox TV show, recently took to Instagram to send love to her “baby.”
“I wish what happened to my baby was just one big bad joke but it wasn’t and we all feel his pain right now,” Henson wrote on the social network. “[Smollett] is pure love to the bone AND THAT IS WHY SO MANY ARE FEELING HIS PAIN BECAUSE IT IS OUR PAIN!!!
Henson also had a message for people who agree with the bigots who attacked Smollett.
“I tell you one thing HATE WILL NOT WIN!!!! My baby is resilient and love still lives in him,” she said. “The devil and his minions are very busy right now, but one thing is for sure and two things are for certain #GODIS and that is all I know. This song needs to be downloaded until it goes triple platinum because the message is NEEDED.”
Terrence Howard, who plays Smollett’s father on the show, also shared his thoughts about the horrific incident on Good Morning America.
“I heard he’s getting better. You know, he’s angry,” Howard said Wednesday.
“But I know Jussie. Jussie’s anger will dissipate and he will forgive these people for what they did. But he won’t, and we cannot, forget their actions. They have to be forgiven because it was done out of ignorance,” he added.
The Chicago Police Department, aided by the FBI, has launched an investigation into Smollett’s assault. They’re asking for the public’s help in finding and identifying his attackers by calling the tip line, at 312-747-8382, or visiting cpdtip.com.
