New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Stars are showing their support for actor Jussie Smollett after he was the victim of a suspected hate crime in Chicago. The 35-year-old
Empire actor was attacked by two men "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs", police say.
He was hit in the face, had an "unknown chemical substance" poured on him and a rope was wrapped around his neck.
Jussie has told police his attackers also made reference to "MAGA" (Make
America Great Again). The slogan was used by Donald Trump during the 2016 US presidential campaign.
John Legend was among the first to speak out against the "horrific" crime. "Sending love to Jussie and the Smollett family after this horrific attack," he tweeted. "We support you and pray that you find peace and justice."
A heartbroken
Kehlani was left "speechless," while
50 Cent sent his prayers and called for Jussie's attackers to be "quickly brought to justice."
T.I. also demanded recourse and called for an uprising. "It's a Disgusting Fuckking shame we continue to allow this shit to happen to OUR PEOPLE with no recourse!!!!" he said. "THE HITS WONT STOP UNTIL WE HIT BACK!!!! Revolution is imminent… Laws of reciprocity say so… Prayers are great… But when I'm wronged… get up off your knees and RIDE for ME!!!!! Be strong & Stay solid We here for you Bro."
Janelle Monáe penned a heartfelt note to her friend and fellow member of the LGBTQ community. "THIS HATE CRIME against our brother @jussiesmollett is proof that no matter how famous you may be it still does not protect you from vicious racist homophobes !!" she wrote. "AND It is still a risk daily to be a BLACK , OUT , and PROUD human being . I am sending so much love to you Jussie . Praying for your healing . Thank you for being such an inspiration to me & soooooo mannnnny people."
Others including
Ariana Grande,
Janet Jackson, Halle Berry, and
Zendaya also expressed their disgust and offered their prayers.
Jussie's "
Empire" family, including the show's co-creators
Danny Strong and Lee Daniels, took to social media to express their sadness and outrage. "You didn't deserve to have a noose put around your neck, to have bleach thrown on you, to be called 'die f****t, n****r,' or whatever they said to you," said Daniels in an Instagram video. "You are better than that. We are better than that.
America is better than that. We have to love each other regardless of what sexual orientation we are, because it shows that we are united."
NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, has also issued a statement following Smollett's assault. "The recent racist and homophobic attack on acclaimed actor and activist Jussie Smollett is troubling," he said. "The rise in hate crimes is directly linked to President Donald J. Trump's racist and xenophobic rhetoric. It is dangerous for any society to allow a tone of divisiveness and hatred to dominate the political discourse."
