Empire star Jussie Smollett has performed on stage for the first time since he was allegedly attacked earlier this week.
Smollett told police he was attacked by two men in the early hours of Tuesday morning after they shouted racist and homophobic slurs at him. The men reportedly beat Smollett, poured an unknown chemical substance on him, and wrapped a rope around his neck. His attackers fled on foot.
“I had to be here tonight, y’all,” he told the crowd at California‘s Troubadour on Saturday night, Variety reports. “I couldn’t let those motherfuckers win!”
Empire writer Lee Daniels, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Smollett’s family were in attendance.
“I’m not fully healed yet, but I’m going to and I’m going to stand strong with you all,” he continued.
“I will always stand for love, I will never stand for anything other than that. Regardless of what anyone else says, I will only stand for love and I hope you will all stand with me.”
The actor also took the opportunity to clear up some details in response to some sceptics on social media.
“Just because there has been a lot of stuff said about me that’s absolutely not true…” he explained. “I’m sure my lawyer’s sitting up there like. ‘No, Jussie, no! No! Shut the fuck up and sing.’”
“I was bruised but my ribs were not cracked. They were not broken,” he clarified. “I went to the doctor immediately… I was not hospitalised. Both my doctors in LA and Chicago cleared me to perform but said to ‘take care’ obviously. And above all, I fought the fuck back.”
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Smollett performed songs from his 2018 album Sum of My Music.
In a statement released on Friday, the actor thanked his supporters for all their love and support.
“My body is strong but my soul is stronger,” the statement read.
“I am working with authorities and have been 100 percent factual and consistent on every level. Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served.”
Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi has released photos of people of interest in the alleged assault.
