Jussie Smollett staged a hate crime in hopes of boosting his Empire salary, Chicago Police alleged Thursday.
At a press conference following Smollett’s arrest, superintendent Eddie Johnson slammed the actor-singer for taking “advantage of the pain and anger and racism to advance his career.”
Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report, which is a felony. He is facing up to three years in prison.
He is accused of paying Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo $3,500 U.S. to stage the attack. Smollett had told police he was assaulted by two men who used racial and anti-gay slurs and put a rope around his neck.
MORE: A Timeline Of The Case
Johnson, who is black, said he was offended by Smollett’s alleged hoax. “I’m left hanging my head and asking why? Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations? How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?”
Smollett’s lawyers said in a statement that their client is presumed innocent and they plan to “mount an aggressive defence.”
Although set in New York City, Empire is shot in Chicago. Smollett, who is openly gay, plays Jamal Lyon on the show. Last March, he released the album Sum of My Music.