WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) – Before singing a note, Jussie Smollett took the stage and fought back tears as he told the crowd that he had…
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) – Before singing a note, Jussie Smollett took the stage and fought back tears as he told the crowd that he had to go on with a Southern California concert because he couldn’t let his attackers win.
“The most important thing I can say is ‘thank you so much, and I’m OK,” said the “Empire” actor and R singer from the stage at the Troubador in West Hollywood in his first public appearance since he reported to police in Chicago on Tuesday that two masked men had attacked him and put a rope around his neck while using homophobic and racial slurs.
“I’m not fully healed yet,” said Smollett, who is black and openly gay, “but I’m going to be, and I’m gonna stand strong with y’all.”
The concert had been planned long before the incident. Family members and others had urged Smollett to cancel the show while he recovers and police investigate.
But Smollett said he couldn’t do that.
“I had to be here tonight, y’all. I couldn’t let those (expletives) win,” he said to screams and cheers from the packed room.
