"Empire" star Jussie Smollett was hospitalized Tuesday after an attack in Chicago that police are calling a possible hate crime, according to officials and entertainment news site TMZ.
In a statement released Tuesday, police declined to identify any of the people involved in the incident beyond saying it “involved a cast member of the television show ‘Empire.’” In a statement, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi described the incident as a “possible racially-charged assault.”
“Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime,” Guglielmi said. “Detectives are currently working to gather video, identify potential witnesses and establish an investigative timeline.”
Citing unidentified sources, TMZ reported Smollett was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released later Tuesday.
Smollett came out as gay in 2015 during an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," according to The Huffington Post. His sexuality might have played a role in the attack, according to TMZ, although police did not immediately confirm the report.
Officials continue to investigate.
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