Jussie Smollett Insists Attack Was Not A Hate Crime Hoax As He Rips Chicago Police And Former Mayor As 'Villains'

Jussie Smollett maintains he was the victim of a real 2019 hate crime, blaming his attackers, the Chicago Police Department, and former Mayor Rahm Emanuel for a conspiracy against him.

Ahead of the Netflix documentary "The Truth About Jussie Smollett?," he insists his account has remained consistent and that his story was not a hoax.

Jussie Smollett is rebuilding his career with new music, acting, and directing projects, including "The Lost Holiday," while returning to Fox's "Special Forces."

In a new interview with Variety, disgraced actor Smollett blasted the Chicago Police, former Mayor Emanuel, and the two individuals who allegedly attacked him, deeming them "villains."

"The villains are the two people who assaulted me, the Chicago Police Department, and, if I may be so brave, the mayor," he said, referring to Rahm Emanuel, who served as the city's mayor from 2011 to 2019 and is the brother of Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel.

The former "Empire" star insists he was the victim of a genuine hate crime, one that many have come to believe was fabricated. He alleged that Chicago officials orchestrated a plot against him.

When asked why the Chicago Police Department and former Mayor Emanuel would target him, he responded with questions of his own.

"Could it be that they had just found out about the missing minutes and the missing tape from the murder of Laquan McDonald? Could it be that the mayor helped hide that?" he asked, referring to the 2014 killing of a Black teenager by a Chicago officer, which led a federal judge to mandate sweeping CPD reforms shortly after Smollett's reported attack.

Smollett added: "We're living in a world where the higher-ups, their main mission, in order to do all of the underhanded things that they're doing, is to distract us with the shiny object."

Smollett also spoke ahead of the August 22 release of the Netflix documentary "The Truth About Jussie Smollett?", insisting he has been truthful from the start.

"Every single other person's story has changed multiple times. Mine has never. I have nothing to gain from this," Smollett told the publication, rejecting claims that he orchestrated the attack.

He said he was assaulted by two masked men who hurled racist and homophobic slurs, placed a noose around his neck, and doused him with bleach.

These claims have since been described as a "hoax," with many believing that Smollett set up the alleged attack.

As reported by The Blast, the Osundairo brothers, who were directly involved in the alleged hoax, have since urged Smollett to admit guilt.

Smollett emphasized his innocence, stressing that he personally witnessed false stories being crafted about him regarding his hate crime claims.

"What did not happen is the story that's been out there for almost seven years, that somehow I would have even a reason to do something as egregious as this," he added.

"I saw firsthand how narratives are built. I saw firsthand the way that someone can take the exact opposite of who you are and literally sell it," Smollett stated, reiterating that the CPD and Emanuel were part of a conspiracy against him alongside his attackers.

Smollett is actively working to revive his career as an actor, director, and musician.

After six years away from the spotlight, he signed with Rowdy Records, releasing his lead single, also titled "Break Out," on August 12, with the full album slated for late September.

He's also returning to Fox as a cast member on the upcoming season of the reality endurance series "Special Forces," premiering September 25.

His film, "The Lost Holliday," which he directed, co-wrote, produced, and starred in launched on Tubi and amassed 800,000 views in its first 72 hours.

Although these milestones may seem modest compared to his peak on "Empire," where he earned $100,000 per episode, Smollett is steadily rebuilding.

Reflecting on public appearances, he said, "Every time I have to go do something now, I tell myself, 'Time to be Whitney Houston.'"

"It's like a role that you're playing when you go out there, where it's who you are, but it's not really who you are," Smollett added.

Off-screen, Smollett is focused on his personal life. He's engaged to fellow actor Jabari Redd, whom he met in 2015, and they plan to marry next June.

Smollett hopes for a wedding at the von Trapp mansion in Salzburg, a nod to "The Sound of Music." However, he jokingly told Variety, "We're not Bezos." Looking ahead, he also noted that he wants "a kid—or three."

The actor shared the engagement news on Instagram on Friday, June 20, just before his 43rd birthday.

"I'll be spending my birthday with my fiancé… He said YES," he wrote, posting a carousel of photos that captured the proposal.

The images showed him down on one knee on a quiet street, Redd's delighted reaction, the moment the ring was placed on his finger, and the couple embracing amid laughter and champagne, with a close-up of the sparkling ring to cap it off.