WARNING: This story contains explicit language.
Empire actor Jussie Smollett was initially hesitant to report an attack he allegedly suffered last Tuesday by two men who shouted racist and homophobic slurs and put a rope around his neck.
According to a recently released police report, the 36-year-old actor said he initially didn’t want to report the attack, but that another person convinced him to do so.
The name of the person who encouraged Smollet to call police was redacted in the report, which notes that the person was with the actor when officers arrived at his Chicago apartment.
READ MORE: Jussie Smollett, ‘Empire’ star, hospitalized following possible homophobic, racist attack
Smollett told police that two men dressed in black got his attention by mentioning the name Empire as he walked downtown early on Jan. 29. Smollett said the more aggressive man wore a black mask to conceal his face.
According to CNN, Smollett told police that “as he was walking to his residence, two unknown males approached him and gained his attention by saying verbatim ‘Empire fa***t n***er.'”
Smollett, who is black and openly gay, said the men then shouted slurs, beat him in the face with their hands and poured an unknown substance on him that stained his clothes. He said the men tied a rope around his neck before running away, according to a brief police report released to the public following a Freedom of Information request by media outlets.
WATCH BELOW: ‘Nothing to indicate he is not being truthful with us’: Chicago police on Jussie Smollett attack
“The primary aggressor was wearing a black mask concealing any facial features and both offenders were dressed in black,” according to the report. “The victim does not remember any other distinguishing features of the offenders, or in which direction they fled,” it added.
When officers arrived at his apartment, Smollett still had a white rope draped around his neck. The report also noted that officers turned off their body cameras at Smollett’s request, something that crime victims sometimes ask officers to do, according to Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
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No arrests have been made but police continue to collect and review surveillance video from the area and look for possible witnesses, Guglielmi said Tuesday.
Guglielmi said that police are also going to stores to ask employees if they remember selling rope to anyone and to determine if security camera footage shows anyone buying the kind of rope that was tied around the Beautiful singer’s neck.
“We are starting to search stores to see if any of this kind of rope was purchased in the area,” Guglielmi said.
WATCH BELOW: Chicago police investigating possible hate crime against actor Jussie Smollett
The No Apologies singer went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital after being advised to do so by the officers, according to the police report. Police said he was treated for scrapes and bruises and released.
READ MORE: Jussie Smollett incident: police seek to identify 2 people in connection with reported beating
The actor took police officers to the spot where he was allegedly attacked and told investigators he had received hate mail a week prior to the attack.
Police have said the FBI was investigating the letter, which was sent to the studio in Chicago where Empire is filmed.
Guglielmi said officers don’t yet have video showing the attack and are continuing to search for two men who were walking in the area at around the time of the attack to question them about what they may have seen.
“Detectives continue to follow-up on investigative leads as additional security cameras have been located and footage is being downloaded and reviewed,” Guglielmi said. “The people of interest have not been identified (as homeless or otherwise).”
Smollett and his family have defended themselves against allegations levelled on social media that he has been less than co-operative and changed his story.
“Let me start by saying that I’m OK,” Smollett said in an exclusive statement to Essence. “My body is strong but my soul is stronger.”
“More importantly I want to say thank you,” Smollett’s statement continued. “The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words.”
His family said that the attack on the Empire actor in downtown Chicago this week was a “hate crime” and they pushed back against any suggestion that he was anything but honest with the police.
“Jussie has told the police everything from the very beginning. His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice,” the family said.
READ MORE: Jussie Smollett makes statement after Chicago attack
On Saturday, Smollett gave a concert at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, telling the audience that if he did not perform his attackers would win.
WATCH BELOW: Jussie Smollett performs for the first time since release from hospital
“I’m not fully healed yet … but I’m going to be, and I’m gonna stand strong with y’all,” he told the crowd.
He also said that his family and friends urged him to cancel his performance but he declined
He said his doctors had cleared him to perform at the show.
“I had to be here tonight, y’all. I couldn’t let those motherf**kers win,” he said. “Regardless of what anyone else says, I will only stand for love and I hope that you all stand with me.”
“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.”
Following the encore, the Ain’t About the Money singer told the crowd, now is the time to be “blacker and gayer.”
—With files from the Associated Press
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