Jussie Smollett: Withdraws from Reality Show

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: “Jussie Smollett: Withdraws from Reality Show”

Date: November 9, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace
Notable Guests: Ellen Killoran (crimeonline.com), Daryl Cohen (criminal attorney/ex-prosecutor), Karen Smith (forensics expert), Dr. Bethany Marshall (psychoanalyst)

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Overview

This episode centers on the controversial figure Jussie Smollett—his infamous 2019 hate crime hoax, ensuing legal fallout, and recent appearance and abrupt exit from the reality show Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. Nancy Grace and her expert panel revisit key details of the alleged attack, the investigation, and discuss implications of his continued media presence. With a trademark mix of skepticism and directness, Nancy and her guests question Smollett’s motivations, the nature of his withdrawal from the show, public backlash, and the broader impacts of high-profile hoaxes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Smollett’s Reality Show Appearance & Exit

• Smollett joined, then medically withdrew from Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test in Morocco.
• He developed a severe cough attributed by the show’s medic to “inflammation throughout his chest” and a probable allergy, prompting medical withdrawal.
  • [43:40] Nancy Grace: “When his co stars realized that Smollett had developed a nasty cough, his co stars encouraged him to go to the medic…Dr. Andy determined that Smollett had developed an allergy to something in the dust, medically withdrawing Smollett from the show.”

2. Recap of the 2019 Attack Allegation

• The Claim: Smollett reported being attacked in Chicago at 2am by two people hurling racist and homophobic slurs, pouring bleach on him, and putting a noose around his neck.
• The Investigation:
  • The attackers were soon revealed to be the Osundairo brothers, Smollett's personal trainers and extras on Empire.
  • Evidence—including a personal check from Smollett for ~$3,500—suggested the event was orchestrated.
  • Smollett insisted on privacy, initially refusing to turn over his phone, and provided redacted phone records.
• Nancy’s Take:
  • “To claim a hate crime and wrap a rope around your neck as if you were threatened with lynching. Nothing could be more incendiary in our American consciousness. All brought to the forefront by Smollett’s hoax.” (15:40)

3. Doubts, Red Flags, & Contradictions

• Unlikely Scenario:
  • Panelists question aspects like venturing out for Subway at 2am in subzero Chicago.
  • [09:55] Nancy Grace: "I start right there. That's where I start the story. And I think that's crazy. I'm not saying it didn't happen, I just think that's cray cray."
• Phone Controversy:
  • Smollett’s reluctance to relinquish his phone is highlighted as problematic.
  • [20:00] Nancy Grace: “But when you don’t hand your phone over to cops, that is a big red flag…If you have had bleach poured on you...you’re handing your phone over because you want those people caught, right?”
• Timeline Fuzziness:
  • Smollett first called his manager—not the police—after the attack, with police contacted 40 minutes later.
  • Surveillance camera footage showed a 60-second gap omitting the alleged attack.
  • Redacted phone records provided by Smollett were deemed “basically of no use” by police.
  • [46:04] Daryl Cohen: “If you have a victim of a crime...this is absurd. He is looking for publicity...He is scripted and he's gotten himself into a problem. He's a living soap opera."

4. Examination of Motives & Psychological Angles

• Malingering:
  • Dr. Bethany Marshall explains “malingering” — exaggerating or faking symptoms for external motives, highlighting the attention, sympathy, or career benefits as possible rewards.
  • [31:18] Dr. Bethany Marshall: "When somebody malingers, they usually obstruct investigation process...The sicker I am, the more I’m going to get some kind of reward or attention..."
• Panel's Analysis:
  • Continued skepticism about Smollett's actions, citing inconsistencies, highly performative statements, and “scripted” demeanor in interviews.

5. Parallels and Cultural Impact

• Nancy Grace draws parallels to notorious hoaxers and notes the damage such cases do to public trust and police resources.
  • [29:43] Nancy Grace: "Remember the Runaway Bride when she lied about getting kidnapped? … other people have done jail time, hard jail time, for bringing police in on a hoax…"

6. Public & Social Media Reaction

• Strong backlash against Smollett’s continued media presence and reality show casting.
  • Nancy reads from social media:
    • "Why is Jesse Smollett not in jail?”
    • “I thought he was in jail. Well, you're right, that's where he should be.”
  • [43:40] Nancy Grace: “Everybody joining in on X is right. Someone giving Jussie Smollett a platform after all the... let me just say, crap he pulled is a little scary.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nancy Grace on Smollett’s Claim:
  • "This felon? Oh, my stars. Jussie Smollett. Remember him? The race hoaxer who claimed he was attacked because he is black and gay... It was all a lie." (02:16)
• Jussie Smollett Defending Himself:
  • “Subway is open 24 hours. Like, people kill me when they say things like that because it's like subway is open 24 hours for a reason...” (05:30)
  • “I just want young people, young members of the LGBTQ community, young black children to know how strong they are, to know the power they hold in their little pinky.” (25:54)
• Daryl Cohen on Police Cooperation:
  • “Why would you not call the police?...So, yeah, I've got a real problem with him not turning over his phone... This guy is Jesse, but he's, he thinks he's Jesse James.” (21:11)
• Panel’s Suspicion of Motive:
  • Dr. Bethany Marshall: “When people malinger symptoms...they do it for a reward. Is he trying to up his Twitter following? Is he negotiating a contract now and wants to prove...he is the center of a national news situation?” (48:20)
• Ellen Killoran on Phone Records:
  • “He did hand over phone records, but they were heavily redacted.” (39:04)
• Nancy Grace on Star Treatment:
  • “People that make false claims to police, much less to this extent, usually land behind bars if they're regular mortals like all of us. If you're a Hollywood star, maybe you get different treatment.” (36:25)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Smollett’s Reality Show Withdrawal Summary: 02:16, 25:15, 43:40
• Attack Recap & Initial Doubts: 05:30–11:18
• Phone & Investigation Issues: 17:22, 20:00, 39:04, 46:04
• Malingering, Motive & Psychological Angles: 31:18–34:45, 48:20
• Public & Social Media Reaction: 43:40
• Discussion of Threatening Letter: 27:03–29:43
• Panel’s Final Assessment of Police Interest in Re-Interviewing Smollett: 49:32–51:16

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Tone & Style

The conversation maintains Nancy Grace’s signature blunt, sometimes sarcastic, and confrontational style—frequently pausing to editorialize, press for accountability, and demand logical answers. Panelists offer expertise but echo her incredulity over the case’s inconsistencies, with occasional dry humor.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a deep dive into the still-contentious story of Jussie Smollett, examining why his case remains in public consciousness, the technical and ethical details of the failed hate crime narrative, and how these high-profile hoaxes reverberate through law enforcement, the legal system, and media. The podcast reflects both legal scrutiny and a cultural reckoning over truth, celebrity privilege, and consequences.

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Transcript

[Ellen Killoran]

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[Jussie Smollett]

Subway is open 24 hours. Like, people kill me when they say things like that because it's like subway is open 24 hours for a reason. So that when you hungry at night and you ain't got no food, you go to Subway, the cat facing north. How is that my issue? It feels like if I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black, I feel like the doubters would have supported me a lot. Much more. A lot more. And that says a lot about the place that we are in our country right now. The fact that we have these fear mongrels, these people that are trying to separate us, and it's just not okay. It's just not okay. And for all of the people, the next time that you see someone report something, maybe well after the fact that it happened and you say to them, well, why you wait until now? Just remember that mine was reported right away and look what has happened.

[Nancy Grace]

You are hearing TV star Jessie Smollett talking to superstar Robin Roberts on GMA at abc talking about people who have doubted his story that he was attacked by. I believe it started as two white males. It changed at some point. Wearing red MAGA hats, I believe is how the story started. That also has changed. At 2am in the morning coming out of a Subway sandwich shop. According to Jussie Smollett, everyone knows him, big star on Empire. He was attacked. The perps threw acid on on him, put a rope around his neck. It's my understanding he called his manager and not 911 when he walked back home. He then called 91 1. When police arrived, they found him sitting there and roughed up and the rope still around his neck. What is the truth? If this is the truth, who attacked him? If it's not the truth? When he talks about his detractors dividing people, is he the one that's dividing people? And again, this is not about politics. I think all politicians lie, every single one of them. This is about a potential hoax on police or a horrible hate crime. With me, an all star panel forensics expert and boy, do we need her now, Karen Smith, out of the Florida jurisdiction, renowned criminal attorney Daryl Cohen, former prosecutor, joining me from Atlanta. Joining me from LA, psychoanalyst Dr. Bethany Marshall. And joining me right now, crimeonline.com's Ellen Killoran. EK let's just start at the beginning. Now, typically when I'm hungry at 2 o', clock, I get something, anything, usually the wrong thing, out of the fridge, eat it and go back to sleep. All right. Usually I don't feel like getting up and even going to the fridge because I'm exhausted. But let's just start with a 2am Subway sandwich call. Go.

[Ellen Killoran]

Well, it does appear that Jussie Smollett had arrived to the airport in Chicago late. So I don't think this was a matter of him waking up in the middle of night and going out to the freezing cold at his Subway. It was a very cold day, though, and he's, he tells police that he's on his way home with his Subway sandwich.

[Nancy Grace]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. This is in Chicago, correct?

[Ellen Killoran]

That's right, yeah.

[Nancy Grace]

So how cold is it?

[Ellen Killoran]

We were pretty sure it was below freezing temperatures. This, this was during a very, very, very Cold spell in Chicago. I don't know the exact Dr. Bethany.

[Nancy Grace]

He must have been very hungry. Very hungry indeed.

[Ellen Killoran]

His tummy must have been growling at 2 in the morning. Because you know, Chicago has those, that wind chill factor. So if it's 20 degrees out regular temperature, the wind starts blowing 40, 50 degree below wind chill. I did my undergraduate work there. Nobody goes out at 2 in the morning. Let's see.

[Nancy Grace]

Daryl Cohen, renowned Atlanta criminal defense attorney is gnashing his teeth and twitching his tail right now because he thinks the temp has nothing to do with any of this. But that's where I always like to start, Darrell. Not with just the temperature, but the beginning. The beginning is he wakes up according to his story at 2am and instead of getting leftover pizza out of the fridge or the whole chocolate cake or whatever the matter may be, he goes out in 40 below to get a Subway sandwich. See, I start right there. That's where I start the story. And I think that's crazy. I'm not saying it didn't happen, I just think that's cray cray.

[Daryl Cohen]

Well, I'm wondering if Subway was actually open at 2 in the morning.

[Nancy Grace]

Yep, they're 24 hour. Yeah, I love Subway. Although I did have a mini boycott for a weed after Jared was, you know, busted on child porn. I guess it was their spokesperson. But long story short, Darrell Cohen, I mean a defense attorney would argue that has absolutely nothing to do.

[Daryl Cohen]

I don't think it has anything to do with it. I think what has to do with it is did it or did it not happen? And as far as I can see from all of the evidence that's been presented to me, this guy is looking for more publicity for whatever the reason. And he is about to get it.

[Nancy Grace]

Well, he's getting it all right. Okay Ek, let's just go with the premise that it's true. Because the official, the official statement from Chicago PD is he is being treated as a victim. Because he is a victim.

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[Nancy Grace]

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. As you will recall, soon after Smollett takes to the airwaves describing how he was the victim of a hate crime. Chicago PD released surveillance images of the perpetrators and identify the two as also being black. They are Nigerian American brothers. So we see the attackers performing a, quote, hate crime on Smollett, who is black and the perps are black. Okay, just let that soak in for a moment. To claim a hate crime and wrap a rope around your neck as if you were threatened with lynching. Nothing could be more incendiary in our American consciousness. A horrible, horrible era that our country endured. All brought to the forefront by Smollett's hoax. Then evidence came out. Smollett orchestrated his own attack and paid the brothers nearly $4,000. Idiot wrote a check. Yeah, idiot wrote a check for his hate crime attack. What more do we know? When did you. Because as you said, it was an accurate account of the timeline.

[Daryl Cohen]

Valuable information.

[Nancy Grace]

When did you make that information available to the police?

[Jussie Smollett]

We gave. We had to give the phone records, which they didn't originally ask for my phone records. They asked for my phone. They wanted me to give my phone to the tech for three to four hours. I'm sorry, but I'm not gonna do that.

[Nancy Grace]

Why?

[Jussie Smollett]

Because I have private pictures and videos and numbers. My partner's number, my family's number, my castmates number, my friends numbers, my private emails, my private songs, my private voice memos. I don't know what that's gonna be to hand over my phone for. And honestly, by then, inaccurate F statements had already been put out.

[Nancy Grace]

There you are hearing our friend, superstar Robin Roberts at ABC's GMA. She's awesome. And she is talking to Jessie Smollett, the Empire star. Everybody loves Empire. The Empire star who claims that at 2am in the morning in Chicago, he decided he was hungry, goes out to Subway sandwich, gets a sandwich and is attacked by two guys that throw acid on him. Or bleach. Bleach, wrap a rope around his neck, attack him for being black and homosexual. He manages to get home and call police. He says he calls his manager from the scene. Now, I think that is why they wanted the phone to confirm that he called his manager and not 911. They aren't being clear why they want the phone, but they want the phone. Karen Smith joining me, forensics expert out of Florida. Why do they want Jessie Smollett's phone?

[Ellen Killoran]

Listen, when you're dealing with with an alleged victim or alleged perpetrators, the best Way now in the world of social media and texting is to get the phone of the victim. You can look at text messages and Instagram and Facebook and Twitter and all those things. And text messages especially, listen, if nothing happened, and I understand, you know, the privacy thing, and there's phone numbers and emails and whatever that he want released, but the police, they're not going to go into that. That's not their interest. Their interest is looking at communications between Jussie Smollett and these other alleged perpetrators. If there was any. If there was any. The phone call that he made to his manager, what time did he make it? Where did he make it from? All of those questions have to be answered and they have to have the device. They can't just take somebody's word for it. That's not how life works anymore.

[Nancy Grace]

Not anymore. Gerald Cohen Atlanta Criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor, felony prosecutor in the jurisdiction where I also prosecuted. I just missed him, Darrell. At the time when we were prosecuted, when I first started prosecuting, we did not have DNA. We did not have cell phone pinging. We did it old school, okay? And we did it now with the advent of cell phone triangulation, GPS tracking, when he is saying that he won't hand his phone over, that is a problem to me. I don't have a problem with anything else he's saying. But when he says, fine, you know what? I don't have to explain why he's hungry at 2am or goes out in sub zero that below freezing. That's a personal decision. But when you don't hand your phone over to cops, that is a big red flag to hay with your private communications. If you have had bleach poured on you, beaten up, have a rope tied around your neck out on the street, you're handing your phone over because you want those people caught, right? I mean, have I lost my mind on that one thing, Darrell?

[Daryl Cohen]

Well, Nancy, I'm having a very big problem with finding out why he would call his manager, who the last time I checked was not a law enforcement person, was not a bodyguard. Why would you not call the police? Any of us. Any of us, whether we're an actor, whether we're a lawyer, whether an Indian chief, whatever we may be, we are going to call the police if something bad happens. So, yeah, I've got a real problem with him not turning over his phone. This guy is Jesse, but he's, he thinks he's Jesse James. He is having, now he's having a real problem.

[Nancy Grace]

You probably stayed up all night long I think he's having a coming up with that. He's not Jesse. He's Jesse James. Okay, you know what? I'm going to just pass over that one. You know, it's a big deal to me, Darrell, and I know you're a famous defense attorney now, but in my mind, you'll always be an incredible felony prosecutor because you could get a jury eating out of your hand. You were always prepared. You knew the law, you knew the facts. You knew it all when you went in front of a jury. And in this case, when you have a victim that does not cooperate with police, that is a problem. I don't care who he is. I don't care who he sleeps with. I could not care less. I don't care. But if you don't cooperate with police, then that is a problem with me. What's your problem?

[Daryl Cohen]

There's a problem with me as well. I've got another problem with that. How in the world, in the middle of the night, 2am, 9 degrees, minus 9 degrees. It's about the same frozen. Do you get mugged by two people who know you're obviously black, but you're homosexual? Really? And you.

[Nancy Grace]

Well, because he's a famous TV star. So here, here's the thing. This is another wrinkle in this to Ellen Killoran, crimeonline.com and hold on, I've got to write this down. Here's the thing. So if they were targeting Jesse Smollett. Okay, hold on. They were targeting him and this was a hate crime. How do they know to be outside the subway at 2am with bleach and rope? Or are they just hanging around to get a sandwich and they happen to have bleach and rope with them? If they were targeting Jesse Smollett, ek were they casing out his apartment, why were they there at 2am and I haven't even touched on these two guys, these two Nigerian guys that work out in his apartment building gym, that know him, that have been extras on the set of Empire, or at least one of them has, that have been questioned and released and allegedly are now saying they were paid to do the attack. But first of all, I want to get to the theory Ellen killer. And so the perps were what, waiting outside the subway sandwich shop for him? I mean, what's the theory here? How did they know he was going to be getting a sandwich at 2am if he was the one targeted for a hate crime?

[Ellen Killoran]

Well, Nancy, they may have not known that he was going to get a sandwich at 2am But Jesse has an Instagram account, and he's a very active social media user. And we learned over the weekend that been in New York during the previous days, and he was on. He had flown back to Chicago that night, but his flight was delayed, and he came in much later than expected. And he posted a couple of Instagram stories on his Instagram account talking about how his flight was delayed. So someone who had to have a little bit of information about what was going on with him that day, if they wanted to track his movements, they could. They could to a certain degree, through his social media activity.

[Nancy Grace]

Jussie Smollett, the infamous race hoaxer, the former star of Empire, he brought that crashing down. Is gonna star on Special Forces World's toughest test. The teams had to navigate tough terrain obstacles and fake explosions for the reality series in the hot Moroccan desert. Reportedly, Jesse was determined to power through the difficult reality competition. But in addition to nearly throwing up mid exercise, he developed a nasty cough that became worse, ultimately leading to him being declared medically ineligible. Guys, what more do we know?

[Jussie Smollett]

I think that what people need to hear is just the truth. It's just the truth because everybody has their own idea. Some are healing and some are hurtful. But I just want young people, young members of the LGBTQ community, young black children to know how strong that they are, to know the power that they hold in their little pinky.

[Nancy Grace]

It's been two weeks since that night left actor Jussie Smollett bruised but not broken. And he's still processing the raw emotions. Have you ever been threatened before?

[Jussie Smollett]

Yeah, I get threatened all the time on Twitter and Instagram and DMs and things like that. It's like. But, you know, I'm a public figure. I'm very outspoken sometimes, maybe too outspoken, but it's who I am, you know, So I get the idea of pissing people off, that you gonna rub people the wrong way.

[Nancy Grace]

In fact, the week before attack, police confirm a letter was sent to the Fox studio in Chicago with threatening language and laced with powdery substance, likely Tylenol. Do you think there's a link between the letter and the attack? And you did mention it to the police right away about the letter?

[Jussie Smollett]

Absolutely, absolutely. Just because on the letter, it had a stick figure hanging from a tree with a gun pointing towards it with the words that said, smollett, Jussie, you will die black. There was no address, but the return address said in big red, you know, like caps maga. Did I make that up, too?

[Nancy Grace]

You are hearing our friend Robin Roberts at ABC's GMA speaking with Empire star Jussie Smollett. And right now we know that the police investigation is going on. Police chief has confirmed the two guys that allegedly are identified in the video that police believe committed the act, the attack on Jesse Smollett have been apprehended, questioned and released with no charges. What about these letters, Ellen? Killer. And what are the letters that he claims he got leading up to this attack? Threatening letters?

[Ellen Killoran]

Yes, one. Exactly one week before the night of the alleged assault, a letter was sent to to the studio where he filmed the show Empire in Chicago. And it contained direct death threats, homophobic and racist language. There's two things about the letter that are coming up more recently in the discussion around this case. One of those is that some unidentified sources who have access to the set and may even work with Jussie have told CBS News that he was unhappy about the response to the letter and the threat that he got, that he felt that there wasn't, it wasn't taken seriously enough and that he was angry and that they're questioning, did he set up this, orchestrate this purported hate crime as retaliation for that? The other thing that we're learning, and again, these are not official law enforcement statements. These are unidentified sources who are talking to news outlets. But we're learning that the letter was made out of, and you can see it in the photos, the letter was written sort of like a ransom type of letter with cutout letters from a magazine. And we're hearing that when investigators went and raided the apartment of these two brothers who have been identified as possibly involved in this attack, they took away a magazine.

[Nancy Grace]

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Dr. Bethany Marshall, are these threat letters like the kinds you see on Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot, like in the movies where you cut out letters from the newspaper and you stick them on a piece of paper instead of divulging your handwriting. And also we are learning for sure that in a follow up visit by investigators, Smollett says the attackers mentioned something about this as MAGA country, which relates back to the Trump campaign. Right. So the whole situation is fluid. But I can tell you this. Remember the Runaway Bride when she lied about getting kidnapped? Yes. She got to cut grass and do community service out in the public for. I forgot how long other people have done jail time, hard jail time for bringing police in on a hoax of an investigation. Because who knows what crimes were really happening at the time of a hoax. And instead of dealing with the real crime, cops are out spending Thousands and thousands of dollars in man hours trying to solve a fake call. And this one, if it is fake, is a whopper. Now, what do you make, Dr. Bethany Marshall? The studio, the Empire studio, had assigned him bodyguards, we've been told. But according to sources, he was unhappy with the reaction to the letters. Does that mean, what, they didn't get enough attention? What does that mean to you, Dr. Bethany?

[Ellen Killoran]

Well, you were mentioning the Runaway Bride and these crimes where we find out it's a hoax in the end. And I don't know if this was a hoax or not, but in forensic interviews, one of the things we're trained to do with crime victims is to find out if they're doing something called malingering. Malingering is when you make up medical symptoms or you exaggerate medical symptoms for some external reward. It's that simple. Now, in 20% of criminal cases, malingering is involved in some way. 20% of PI cases, as you can imagine, malingering. 30% of disability cases. The sicker I am, the more I'm going to get some kind of reward or attention or I'm going to get out of some consequence, like, you're not going to send me to jail. I'm not going to have to go to the military. So what's so interesting to me about this story is the. The exaggerate two aspects. The exaggerated nature of his symptoms. He's sitting on the sidewalk, bleach on his clothing. The rope around his neck. Wouldn't you pull the rope off? No, he's. He's sitting there, you know, with the clear sign that he's been accosted. He talks about being black, gay, lgbtq. Anything that could paint him in a sympathetic light, he keeps putting out there. The second aspect is the fuzzy nature of the timeline. When somebody malingers, they usually obstruct investigation process. They do not want the investigators to know clearly what happened. So if I have a patient in my practice who's malingering, you know, Dr. Marshall, I was. I don't know. My boss keeps yelling at me, I want to bring a lawsuit. You know, I say, well, what did your boss say? Well, I don't know. I just can't remember. So. Malingering is associated with very fuzzy details.

[Nancy Grace]

Is it true, EK Ellencalorin crimeonline.com investigative reporter, that Smollett had been in New York to audition for a role in the play that is very oddly similar to his alleged attack. What do we know about the play for which he was auditioning?

[Ellen Killoran]

He was at a reading. Actually, it wasn't an audition. I believe he's already part of the cast. But that's what he was doing in New York. He was flying back to. He was flying back to Chicago from New York. And he was in New York because he was doing a reading of the script of this play. And the character in the play is person of color. It's a gay, it's a celebrity, a sports star in the cave in the case of the fictional character. But he is someone who. The character is someone who has been the victim of hate crimes that, according to the reports that we're reading, the have some similarities in the crime that was allegedly committed against him just within hours of him arriving back to Chicago.

[Nancy Grace]

After the same wording, the same slurs, awful slurs. If this is true, it is a hate crime. I'm learning also Daryl Cohen, Atlanta criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor in felony court, that he, Smollett, did not call police. It was a close associate about 40 minutes after the attack, according to the New York Times. And I think that was his manager. He did not call police. And when cops got to his place, he still was wearing the rope around his neck. Help me.

[Daryl Cohen]

Well, I can help you, Nancy, because it sounds to me like a setup. Did you also pay attention to his voice? This is a guy that's reading a script. This is not someone who's upset. This is not someone who's been attacked. If you're attacked, you're not going to be calm and gentle. Add that to the cocktail. Add the fact that he's not giving his phone to the police to the cocktail, and add the fact that all he can do is say, oh, my gosh, I was attacked. And this is terrible. But he has a noose around his neck 40 minutes later. Really? This is a guy who is. Look, many times, Nancy, people equate stars on television or on the big screen with intelligence. Sorry, not the same. Some are, some are not. But this guy is reading a script. He saw a way to get even. Perhaps. He saw a way to make more money. Perhaps. But what he didn't see is that he's not as bright as he believes himself to be. So he's not Shakespeare.

[Nancy Grace]

Take a listen to CBS Chicago reporter Charlie demar. Brothers Ola and Abel Osundaro, captured on Streeterville surveillance cameras, told detectives their role in the reported January 29 attack on actor Jussie Smollett, according to multiple sources. Those sources say Smollett paid the brothers thousands to carry out a staged attack. Smollett had this to say about the scuffle with his attackers.

[Jussie Smollett]

He said, this Maga country punches me right in the face. So I punched his ass back. I noticed the rope around my neck and I started screaming.

[Nancy Grace]

People that make false claims to police, much less to this extent, usually land behind bars if they're regular mortals like all of us. If you're a Hollywood star, maybe you get different treatment. Jesse Smollett, superstar on the cast of empire to ellenclaurencrimeonline.com investigative reporter where we have all breaking crime and justice news. Ellen, what can you tell me about these two guys? Everyone refers to them as Nigerian. They're American.

[Ellen Killoran]

That's right, Nancy. They were born and raised in Chicago. The reason I believe that people are calling them Nigerian is because they, for reasons that, that have not been explained and I do not understand, apparently flew to Nigeria the day after the attack and came back to Chicago last week, where they were met with investigators at the airport. That has not been explained why that happened or if it has anything to do at all with the alleged assault. And I also wanted to point something else out since we're talking about the rope and the phone. A lot of the things that have come up in recent days really don't look good. Like, they look very suspicious. And things are starting to really maybe fall apart here in this story. But a couple of things I think are not suspicious that happened here. I don't think it's suspicious that he did not want to hand over his entire phone immediately. He's a public figure. He's a celebrity. Who has Ellen received before?

[Nancy Grace]

Ellen, have you ever been attacked at 2am Had a rope tied around your neck and bleach poured on you? Because if you have, I'd like to have you about that, okay? Because if that happens to you and your life is in danger and cops say, we need your phone, you go here, whatever. I mean, when a cop pulls me over, which has happened, I, like, say whatever. Here, take it all, okay? Just please leave my children behind. Whatever. I don't want a problem with a cop, okay? Nobody should be above the law. And if they want your phone, give your phone. But you know what? That's you, and this is me. So go ahead with your analysis, okay?

[Ellen Killoran]

But what I wanted to also say is that I believe he did agree to hand over the phone records about the rope. What we heard in the. In the beginning of this narrative was that he kept the rope around his neck because he didn't want to sort of disturb the scene. And he wanted the responding officers to see what had been done. That was the explanation for the rope being left.

[Nancy Grace]

You know what, I hear you and he could have claimed that he did not want his DNA. His I don't think you get prints off rope but any of his fibers or DNA on the rope or to ruin any evidence on the rope. So I can understand that now. It's my understanding that he did hand over phone records, but that they were heavily redacted.

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace X is on fire. One user says Yikes. Someone giving Jussie Smollett a platform after all the, let me just say, crap he pulled is a little scary. Another says, I thought he was in jail. Well, you're right, that's where he should be. Another says on X, why is Jesse Smollett not in jail? Another says, I see Jussie Smollett still trying to reinvent himself. Like we forgot he staged a fake hate crime to become famous. Another says, this is bleak. Another says, the return of Juicy Smollett. Is he going to convince us he's a tough guy? Jussie Smollett getting rewarded Special Forces the World's Toughest Test Nancy Smollett became the fourth celebrity to drop out of season four of Special Forces World's Toughest Test. When his co stars realized that Smollett had developed a nasty cough, his co stars encouraged him to go to the medic. Special Forces Dr. Andy Brown, the chief medical officer, listened to Jesse's lungs and declared he had inflammation throughout his chest, and Jesse had to admit it hurt every time he coughed. Dr. Andy determined that Smollett had developed an allergy to something in the dust, medically withdrawing Smollett from the show. In his confessional, Smollett said, quote, there have been too many opportunities in my life to quit on things, on myself, and I don't quit easily. Everybody joining in on X is right. Another gets real and says Jussie Smollett is such a gross and unnecessary casting choice. Why is everyone up in arms? This is why, according to tmz, our friend Harvey Levin, the phone records were handed over and the cops rejected them. The cops rejected them? Darrell Cohen, are you sitting down? The cops rejected them saying that they were so heavily redacted that they were basically of no use. What about handing over your phone records to cop and you redact them?

[Daryl Cohen]

Oh, come on, Nancy. This is absurd. If you have a victim of a crime. First of all, I want to go back to the net, to the noose. If I've got a noose around my neck, oh my God, I'm going to rip that off as quickly as I possibly can because I am freaked out. This guy was not hurt. This guy was not attacked. He is looking for publicity. He may have won an Emmy for Empire, but the news outlets in Chicago are going to win a news Emmy for their coverage of this guy who doesn't recognize the truth from a lie. He is scripted and he's gotten himself into a problem. He's a walking living soap opera. That's all he is.

[Nancy Grace]

The whole reason they got interested in the phone records to start with is that Smollett said to cops he was on the phone with his manager at the time of the attack and that the manager says he heard the racial and homophobic slurs being thrown and they want to authenticate that that call was in fact made. They asked Smollett for the records about two weeks before they got a PDF file. Now, police also say there are cameras everywhere in the area, but there is a 60 second gap in the video where you don't see the Empire star. So there's no video of the actual attack. I've looked at shots of the video and you see two persons of interest in surveillance footage. Now, this is what is telling to me. Don't. Dr. Bethany Marshall, these two guys that everybody calls Nigerians, they're Americans. Let's be very clear on that. Who take off to Nigeria the day after the attack. They work out in his building. At least one of them does in the gym in Smollett's building, his apartment building. One of them has been an extra on the set. They're totally buff. They look like they're bodybuilders. I've seen their photos and I never see them wearing a shirt. I mean, not judging, but they are totally buff. So you can see they work out all the time. They take off for Nigeria. The day after the attack, they come back, they're met by the cops, they are questioned, they are released. Dr. Bethany no charges. And after meeting with them, cops say they want to re interview Jussie Smollett. What does that say to you?

[Ellen Killoran]

Dr. Bethany well, first of all, the trip to Nigeria, they're now $3,500 richer because they just got paid for the right. And some people do not think ahead when they collude with somebody who's drawing them into a crime. So they thought, may have thought, no big deal. We'll rough him up, we'll put a rope around his neck, we'll take vacation, we'll come back, this will have all blown over. But you know what? They talked to the police. And as I was saying about malingering, the whole story does not shake out. The timeline is not consistent. And so the police are going to look to Jesse. And I would wonder what, what is Jesse's reward in all of this? When people malinger symptoms, you know, I was roughed up, I was a victim, they do it for a reward. Is he trying to up his Twitter following? Is he negotiating a contract right now and he wants to prove to the EP of the show that he is the center of a national news situation? Is he wanting to take somebody else's role in Empire? You know, I think that there's a reward there somewhere. And if you follow that trail, the whole thing begins.

[Nancy Grace]

Well, I've been looking and researching and following and asking questions. According to CBS Chicago, who is there on the scene? Cops want to speak to Smollett again based on, quote, new evidence they learned from the Two friends. The two guys. Now, according to CBS, two sources told them that Smollett paid the two guys $3,500 to stage the attack. This is CBS THIS MORNING anchor John Dickerson. Take a listen to what they see on the video. Police are looking for two potential persons of interest in a possible hate crime against actor Jussie Smollett. Police say a surveillance camera took these images of the two men on the night Smollett says he was beaten.

[Daryl Cohen]

The star of the TV drama Empire.

[Nancy Grace]

Said his masked attacked attackers yelled racist and homophobic slurs. Dean Reynolds is tracking the investigation. Investigators are hoping the FBI can enhance.

[Daryl Cohen]

Those images to provide some distinguishing details.

[Nancy Grace]

Now, the men are not considered suspects, but the police do want to know.

[Daryl Cohen]

Who they are and what they were.

[Nancy Grace]

Doing when Smollett says he was attacked.

[Daryl Cohen]

Sources tell CBS News the two figures seen in these dark surveillance images were also spotted sitting on a bench when Jussie Smollett walked past them across the street. They then appear to get up and follow him, although the three of them are never seen on camera together. About a minute later, investigators say another security camera captured Smollett returning to his.

[Nancy Grace]

Apartment with a noose tied around his neck. The rope was untied but still on.

[Daryl Cohen]

His neck when police arrived 45 minutes after he says he was attacked.

[Nancy Grace]

The Truth About Jussie Smollett I think I already know the truth. Joining the infamous race hoaxer stirring up racial animosity like nobody else, Jussie Smollett set to star in a reality show along with the Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member Teresa Giudice, whose own brush with the law involved an 11 month prison sentence for fraud. Ooh, she's going to compete along with her daughter Gia. Oh, okay, I guess Smollett's in good company. Other contestants for season four include Kristen Cavallari's ex boyfriend Mark Estes. I may not know who all these contestants are, but I know who Jussie Smollett is. As fans respond quote I thought he was in jail. Well, he should be. We wait as justice unfolds. Goodbye, friend. With diabetes, everyday decisions feel like a mystery without a solution. But with Dexcom G7, the most accurate CGM system, you can quickly and easily see your glucose in real time on your phone, helping you make confident decisions that keep your glucose levels in range and lower your A1C which can help protect your long term health. Dexcom G7 gives you the knowledge to better control diabetes today for healthier tomorrows Start your healthier [e-mail] knowledge dexcom data on File for full prescribing information on risks, benefits and compatible smart devices, visit Dexcom.com let's take a minute to unpack the myths behind GLP1 drugs. GLP1 is a long term solution for weight loss True, GLP1 can potentially be.

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Jussie Smollett]

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[Jussie Smollett]

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[Daryl Cohen]

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