Jussie Smollett Reportedly Paid The Two Men To Beat Him Up

Jussie Smollett paid two men to orchestrate an attack the “Empire” actor claimed was carried out by a pair of homophobic racists, according to a stunning report on Saturday.

The men, brothers from Nigeria who were arrested Wednesday as persons of interest in the alleged assault, but released without charges Friday, are cooperating fully with the probe, two law enforcement sources told CNN.

Smollett, 36, who is gay, claimed he was attacked Jan. 29 outside a Subway restaurant in Chicago at 2 a.m. by two men yelling “racial and homophobic slurs.” One attacker put a rope around his neck, he claimed.

But it was the brothers who bought the rope — found around Smollett’s neck– at an Ace Hardware store in Chicago, the sources told the outlet.

Chicago police said Saturday they reached out to Smollett’s lawyer, because they’d like to re-interview him, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The brothers have a “relationship” with Smollett and worked on the smash Fox drama. They also pumped iron with Smollett at the gym, their lawyer, Gloria Schmidt, has said.

Smollett told authorities he was attacked early January 29 by two men who were “yelling out racial and homophobic slurs.” He said one attacker put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.

The sources told CNN that there are records that show the two brothers purchased the rope found around Smollett’s neck at an Ace Hardware store in Chicago.

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