Jussie Smollett attack: Two ‘persons of interest’ questioned

Police say they are interviewing two people who appeared on surveillance footage in the area where Empire star Jussie Smollett was attacked.

Chicago police say they’re interviewing two “persons of interest” who surveillance photos show were in the area where Empire actor Jussie Smollett says he was attacked last month.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that the two men aren’t considered suspects but may have been in the area at the time.

"There's a level of pride there." @JussieSmollett says he waited to call police because as a gay man, he did not want to be seen as "weak." https://t.co/b5efiP0JCG pic.twitter.com/zosV9Ni78H

— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 14, 2019

Mr Guglielmi said that the two men are the same people shown in surveillance photos released last month by police.

Smollett says two masked men shouted racial and homophobic slurs at him before beating him and putting a rope around his neck when he was walking downtown early on January 29.

Empire star Jussie Smollett breaks down talking about attack to Robin Roberts. Picture: ABC

Mr Guglielmi says the men were identified through the use of advanced technology, interviews with Smollett and witnesses, and transportation records.

It came as Smollett responded to critics who are questioning his report about being attacked.

The 36-year-old actor is black and openly gay.

Jussie Smollett with his Empire co-stars Taraji P. Henson, Grace Gealey and Trai Byers. Picture: Splash

Smollett tells ABC News it’s “ridiculous” to think he’d lie in his explanation for being outside at 2am in frigid Chicago weather.

He says he left the rope and clothes on when police arrived “because I wanted them to see.” He says accusations that the attack was a date gone bad are offensive.

Empire star Jussie Smollett was the victim on a hate crime. Picture: Supplied

Choking back tears, he explained when asked why it took so long for him to contact the authorities: “There is a level of pride there. We live in a society where as a gay man you are considered somehow to be weak and I am not weak. I am not weak and we as a people are not weak.”

“I fought back,” he said. “I want a little gay boy who might watch this to see that I fought the f**k back. They ran off,’ I didn’t.”

No arrests have been made.