
Jussie Smollett may be bruised, but he isnât broken. The 35-year-old made his first public appearance on Saturday night since his reported attack.
âI had to be here tonight. I couldnât let those motherfuckers win,â he shouted to the exuberant crowd in triumph, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Chicago police are currently investigating an attack on Smollett, who was reportedly targeted by two men in ski masks who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him and tied a noose around his neck. The FBI is assisting the city department in the matter, due to a previous threat Smollett received in the mail.
According to CNN, the actor-singer performed at the Troubadour Club in West Hollywood to an audience of over 300 people and clarified some things surrounding the reported homophobic and racist attack against him.
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âIâm not fully healed yet,â he confirmed. âBut Iâm going to [be], and Iâm gonna stand strong with yâall.â
Assuring that nowâs the time to be âblacker and gayer,â the 35-year-old pointed out that heâll continue to lead with love despite the âhateful rhetoricâ spewing around.
âI donât even care to name any names,â he noted. âThe hateful rhetoric that gets passed around, it has to stop. But guess what, it stops with the people that believe in love.â
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Along with love, Smollett championed his resistance.
âAnd above all, I fought the fuck back,â he said, per E! Online, which resulted in supportive cheers from the audience. âIâm the gay Tupac.â