The two men who were previously “persons of interest” in the homophobic and racial attack on Empire actor Jussie Smollett have now been arrested.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the two Nigerian brothers have been treated as potential suspects because Chicago detectives had “probable cause that they may have been involved in an alleged crime.”

The two men have not been charged nor have the police said what the brothers were accused of or what the alleged crime might have been.


Smollett reported to Chicago police on January 29th that he had been physically attacked by two men who yelled racial and homophobic slurs at the 36-year old actor. He also said that the alleged suspects wore MAGA(Make America Great Again) baseball caps.

“Interrogations will resume today with the two individuals and their attorney,” Guglielmi said in today’s press statement.

“While we haven’t found any video documenting the alleged attack, there is also no evidence to say that this is a hoax.”

“The alleged victim is being cooperative at this time and continues to be treated as a victim, not a suspect,” he added.