Sending support. Zendaya, Andy Cohen and more celebrities took to Twitter after Empire star Jussie Smollett was hospitalized following a suspected homophobic and racial attack.
“This is heartbreaking and terrifying…please pay attention to what’s happening here,” the Greatest Showman actress tweeted on Tuesday. “Sending all my love to @JussieSmollett.”
The Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host added, “This. Is. Vile.”
“This is so awful,” comedian Billy Eichner tweeted. “Sending love to @JussieSmollett.”
Actor Matt Bomer wrote, “Sending my love and prayers to you @JussieSmollett . This is unacceptable and they will be brought to justice.”
“It’s taken me a minute to come to social media about this because Jussie, you are my son,” Empire creator Lee Daniels began in an Instagram video. “You didn’t deserve, nor did anybody deserve, to have a noose put around your neck, to have bleach thrown you on. … You are better than that. We are better than that. America is better than that. It starts a home. We have to love each other.”
Ariana Grande added: “what happened to jussie makes me really f—king sick to my stomach. i can’t believe shit like this is really still happening everyday. what kind of world ? sending all of the healing energy / love i possibly can and hoping for change. what can we do ? tell me & i’m there.”
Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed to Us Weekly on Tuesday that Smollett, 36, was attacked in a “possible hate crime.”
According to Guglielmi, two people approached the actor, who came out publicly as gay in 2015, in Chicago and began “yelling out racial and homophobic slurs toward him.”
“The offenders began to batter the victim with their hands about the face and poured an unknown chemical substance on the victim,” Guglielmi explained. “At some point during the incident, one of the offenders wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck.”
Guglielmi added that Smollett is in “good condition” and has since been released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Detectives are investigating the incident.
Scroll through to see more reactions:
No matter what's happening around us, @JussieSmollett is ALWAYS quick w/ a massive smile & hug. Thats the kind of man he is. The homophobic, racist hate crime against him & hate crimes against countless others cannot stand. Rebuke hatred any & every time it rears its ugly head.
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 29, 2019
Sending love to Jussie and the Smollett family after this horrific attack. We support you and pray that you find peace and justice.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) January 29, 2019
I am disgusted and horrified to hear of the homophobic and racial attack on Jussie Smollett last night. Unfortunately, these hateful attacks happen way too often. We must call out and hold those accountable. Sending love to you, Jussie.
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) January 29, 2019
Standing with and sending love to @JussieSmollett today… this is a racist hate crime and is disgusting and shameful to our country 😔#WeLoveJussie
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) January 29, 2019
DEAR GOD! Prayers and justice for Jussie Smollett.
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) January 29, 2019
I hope @JussieSmollett is okay and I hope the @Chicago_Police find the animals who did this to him https://t.co/sQtEJQy2l5
— Ike Barinholtz (@ikebarinholtz) January 29, 2019
.@JussieSmollett is one of the fiercest people I know. This hatred won’t stop his championing for a better world. If anything, it will probably motivate him more. It has me.
— Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) January 29, 2019
This is insane! What’s happening to this world https://t.co/VSIOks8N09
— Garcelle Beauvais (@GarcelleB) January 29, 2019
The @JussieSmollett news is horrific. This is America. I hope he is recovering and surrounded with support and love. He has mine.
— Andy Mientus (@andymientus) January 29, 2019
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