Empire’s Jussie Smollett was hospitalized after being brutally beaten by two white men in ski masks.

In a sandwich shop in Chicago, around 2am, the men allegedly shouted at Smollett: “aren’t you that faggot ‘Empire’ n**ger”?

Before pouncing on him, and beating him to the extent of having broken ribs. Before putting a noose around his neck, dousing him with bleaching and yelling: “This is MAGA country!”

Before running away. (Obviously).

Smollett was treated at Northwestern Memorial and thankfully released hours later. But you’ll be pleased to know that Chicago police are treating this as a “POSSIBLE” hate crime. Hmmm, we wonder how much more evidence they need?

What about this letter that was sent to Smollett at Fox Studios just days before the attack?

Jussie Smollett hate letter

Police said: “Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime.”