Actor and musician Jussie Smollett performed at his first show since his reported attack last week, tearfully telling fans at the event in Southern California that he is not fully healed but he is doing OK.
The "Empire" actor said Tuesday that he was attacked by two men who were "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs" in what Chicago police are investigating as a possible hate crime. He identifies as gay and plays a gay character on the series.
Smollett said one of his attackers put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.
During his concert Saturday night at West Hollywood's Troubadour club, Smollett told fans that he wanted to clarify that following the attack, he was bruised but his ribs were neither cracked nor broken. He also said that he went to the doctor immediately, but he wasn't hospitalized, and physicians in both Chicago and Los Angeles cleared him to perform at the concert.
"I'm not fully healed yet," he said. "But I'm going to (be), and I'm gonna stand strong with y'all."
Smollett: I can't let attackers win
Smollett thanked the more than 300 people gathered at the event and struck a defiant note.
"I had to be here tonight, y'all, I couldn't let those (expletives) ... win," he said, referring to his attackers. "Above all I fought ... (expletive) back."
He reiterated his calls for love, telling fans they needed to do away with hate because love is the only thing they had.
"I don't even care to name any names," he said. "The hateful rhetoric that gets passed around, it has to stop. But guess what, it stops with the people that believe in love."
After the encore, an impassioned Smollett told the crowd, now is the time to be "blacker" and gayer."
While this is his first public appearance since the attack, this is not the first time he has spoken out. In a statement first published by Essence on Friday, Smollett said his attack wasn't an isolated incident.
"These types of cowardly attacks are happening to my sisters, brothers and non-gender conforming siblings daily," he said in the statement.
"During times of trauma, grief and pain, there is still a responsibility to lead with love. It's all I know," he said.
The investigation
Earlier this week, Smollett addressed speculation that he had changed his initial story and was less than forthcoming with authorities.
"I am working w ith authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level," he said. "Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served."
Smollett's family issued a statement Thursday supporting the actor and condemning the attack, calling it a "racial and homophobic hate crime."
"Jussie has told the police everything from the very beginning," the statement read. "His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice."
Chicago police have released photos of potential persons of interest in the attack and are asking for the public's help in identifying who they are.
Investigators said they have video of Smollett entering the hotel after the alleged attack with what appears to be a noose around his neck.
CNN's Don Lemon spoke to Smollett last week, and the actor told him he was shaken and angry that an attack like this could happen. He told him that he fought back against the attackers.
