Empire Star Jussie Smollett Has Returned To Performing Just Days After Being Attacked

Empire actor Jussie Smollett has returned to the stage just days after he was attacked in Chicago.

Jussie performed his sold-out show in West Hollywood on Saturday night, days after he was attacked on January 29th by two men, who were allegedly wearing MAGA hats and shouting homophobic and racist slurs.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Jussie told the crowd: “I had to be here tonight y’all, I couldn’t let those motherfuckers win.”

“The hateful rhetoric that gets thrown around, I’m not gonna name names, it has to stop. But it stops with people who believe in love.”

He continued: “Take love back because that’s all that we have. These last few days I couldn’t have gotten through without the love of my family and the love of y’all.

“And above all, I fought the fuck back! I’m the gay Tupac.”

The performance was attended by Empire creator Lee Daniels and California representative Maxine Waters, as well as Jussie’s brother Jocqui Smollett.

“My family realised that tonight was an important part of Jussie’s healing,” Jocqui reportedly told the crowd. “On behalf of the Smollett family, we are so proud of our brother.”

• jussie smollett