Jussie Smollett's family calls alleged attack 'domestic terrorism'; Neighbor says she saw a suspicious redneck loitering

As stupid as it may sound, the fact that the alleged racist and homophobic attack on “Empire’s” Jussie Smollett happened to an actor means that outlets like TMZ are covering it — and doing a better job than CNN, thank goodness.

So it’s TMZ that is reporting some new information, including a statement from the Smollett family that seems to blame President Trump for his hateful words inspiring hateful actions.

#????????: Jussie Smollett's Family Calls Attack 'Racist, Homophobic and Domestic Terrorism' https://t.co/61TVTI5sIY

— TMZ (@TMZ) January 31, 2019

TMZ reports:

Jussie’s family just gave TMZ a statement, saying the actor’s story has never changed, and he is one of the increasing numbers of hate crime victims. They go on to say, “Hateful words lead to hateful actions.” This seems pointed at the President, particularly because Jussie says the attackers screamed “MAGA Country” as they left.

The family says, “This was a racial, homophobic hate crime … We want people to understand these targeted hate crimes are happening to our sisters, brothers and our gender non-conforming siblings.”

The statement goes on … “These are inhumane acts of domestic terrorism and they should be treated as such.” They also make it clear Jussie won’t be silenced by the attack, saying … “We, as a family, will continue to work for love, equity and justice until it reigns supreme.”

Domestic terrorism?

TMZ also reports that a woman who lives in Smollett’s building in Chicago saw a suspicious man who looked like a “redneck” loitering outside the building about an hour and a half before the alleged attack.

UPDATE: Chicago police have confirmed a @TMZ report to @ABC that a neighbor of Smollett's did come forward with information. Her description of a man she said she saw with a rope of some kind was "significantly different" than one provided by Smollett.

— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) January 31, 2019

Detectives took her information but have yet to find any surveillance video that shows an individual matching the description she gave.

— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) January 31, 2019

So, the suspicious character she said looked like a redneck differs from the description Smollett gave to police?

We’ll apologize in advance if suspects are apprehended and it turns out it all went down like Smollett said (noose and bleach and “MAGA country and all), but the skeptics online far outweigh the true believers.

Y’all really pushing this hoax for division

— T (@Goatroppolo) January 31, 2019

There is no evidence this happened, he had police turn off their body cameras during the interview, and he refuses to turn over his phone. He fought off 2 attackers in subzero weather, and they somehow got a noose over his neck while he was on the phone Yea OK

— Scott (@UKBleedingBlue) January 31, 2019

Too bad there is NO evidence in the thousand cameras that are in the surrounding area. And Why won't Jessie let the police look at his cell. I know it I got beat up and a Noose put on me I would cooperate with the Police. #smellsfishy

— Elizabeth Forster (@BethForster0405) January 31, 2019

@tmz why don’t you ask him why him and his manager refuse to cooperate with the investigation and turn over their phones…??? Don’t you think they’d be more than willing to provide that information to the officers? Seems suspicious ??

— Dawn Hobson (@Latybugstl) January 31, 2019

What is he hiding? Why won't he turn over his phone to investigators?

— Anthony DiGuardi (@AnthonyDiguardi) January 31, 2019

Why is he and his manager refusing to turn over their phones to Chicago PD? ?

— Asian Trump Fan (@Asian_Trump_Fan) January 31, 2019

As Twitchy reported earlier Thursday, Smollett told detectives he was on the phone with his manager while Smollett was being attacked by men shouting, “This is MAGA country,” but Smollett refused to turn over his phone so detectives could independently verify his story.

Initially, wasn't it said the gender/race was unknown? Ski masks? This is getting confusing.

— Rachel ???? (@RaychelTania) January 31, 2019

So she volunteered to be charged with falsifying a statement to local and federal authorities?

That is a fucking awesome neighbor.

— Mortis (@WitchyDruss) January 31, 2019

I need this kind of loyalty from my neighbors.

— Katie (@livewithkatie) January 31, 2019

She told TMZ this "redneck" was wearing "blue jeans that were too short, exposing 'thick, grey hunting socks' with camel-colored dress shoes." Assuming this "redneck" exists, then it doesn't seem like it could be either of the two people in the pics the cops sent out.

— Steph (@WhyIsKorisTaken) January 31, 2019

Even though those pics could be of anyone, the one thing that seems clear is that they were fully bundled up, no socks hanging out from blue jeans. And that brings us back to the fact that the two people in the pics have NOTHING to do with this, and 1/2

— Steph (@WhyIsKorisTaken) January 31, 2019

the rope-wielding redneck was hanging outside for hours in sub-zero temps, eventually met up with a friend, got a bottle of bleach at some point, and then somehow tracked Smollett down to a Subway.

— Steph (@WhyIsKorisTaken) January 31, 2019

Is this neighbor a friend? Pass each other time from time? Seems odd how people close to or aquatinted to Smollett somehow are the only ones with any type of details. Seems a lot of useless info and hearsay is trying to cloud the story

— Capt. Brian (@captainbrian_) January 31, 2019

Is this really breaking news?

— are those bugle boy jeans? (@SwtThangB) January 31, 2019

Still zero evidence of anybody actually committing this assault.

— William Michael D (@wmdavid66) January 31, 2019

TMZ pushing that fake news.

— Dillon Standridge (@DStandridge92) January 31, 2019

can we stop misusing words like terrorism. If a black person attacked a white person nobody would bring terrorism into the equation. Heck it would struggle to be even considered racist or a hate crime.

— MarcG (@MarcLeSwag) January 31, 2019

MAGA hat rednecks hanging out on the streets of Chicago caring a noose and bleach just happen to run into Jussie Smollette? Sorry, I’m calling bullshit on this one.

— ??Irish Hooligan?? (@NYJetsFan74) January 31, 2019