Jussie Smollett comes out strong after attack

Empire actor Jussie Smollett came out strong as he fought back tears on stage in South California where he had gone to perform. He could not let his attackers win.

“The most important thing I can say is ‘thank you so much, and I’m OK.”

This is the place he made his first public appearance after he reported in Chicago on Tuesday that two masked men had attacked him. They put a rope around his neck while using homophobic and racial slurs.

“I’m not fully healed yet, but I’m going to be, and I’m gonna stand strong with y’all.”

For Jussie, even though family and friends urged him to cancel the concert to allow him heal, he could not let the men win.

“I had to be here tonight, y’all. I couldn’t let those motherfuckers win. I’ll always stand for love. I will only stand for love.”

He gave a report of his injuries too. He was bruised but his ribs were not cracked. Then went straight to the doctor but was not hospitalized, and physicians in both Chicago and Los Angeles cleared him to play but told him to be careful.

No arrests have been made, and police have not found surveillance video of the attack, though they found footage of Jussie walking home with the rope around his neck.