CHICAGO – United States actor Jussie Smollett faked an attack on himself because he was “dissatisfied with his salary”, Chicago police say.
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a news conference that he “took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career”.
Smollett, 36, is charged with filing a false police report after he said he was the victim of a homophobic attack.
Police say he also sent a racist letter to himself at a Fox studio.
Yesterday, Smollett appeared in court and was ordered to submit a bond of $10 000 and surrender his passport.
Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke called the charges “utterly outrageous” and “despicable” if true.
The star of the TV series Empire is suspected of paying two brothers to stage the attack. They are both co-operating with the investigation, police say.
On Wednesday, his lawyers said they would “mount an aggressive defence”.
(BBC)
Jussie Smollett turned himself in to police yesterday.
