The investigation into the alleged attack ofJussie Smollett was still ongoing. However, it appeared some people may have been overstepping to find out the truth.
See Also: Complete Timeline Of Jussie Smollett Investigation
Several nurses at Northwestern Hospital, where Smollett was treated after his alleged attack in Chicago in January, were fired for looking at the actor’s medical chart, according to a CBS report published Wednesday.
One of the nurses appealing her firing, claiming it was a misunderstanding and she simply scrolled by his chart. The unidentified nurse “was fired last week and believes many other nurses and staffers were fired for the same reason. The nurse says she was called in at the end of her shift last Tuesday, fired on the spot and escorted out of the hospital. She says she wasn’t asked any questions and never had a chance to offer an explanation. She says she never accessed the actor’s chart but simply scrolled past it when looking for another patient’s name. She’s appealing and believes other [sic] may have been fired for simply scrolling past the name as well.”
The hospital declined to comment.
On Jan. 29, while walking to a subway, Smollett claimed two men yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him, investigators told The Hollywood Reporter. They allegedly punched and poured bleach on him while one of the suspects put a rope around his neck. As they fled the scene, Smollett told police they said, “This is MAGA country.”
By Feb. 21, he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for filing a false report.
The Chicago Police Department claimed Nigerian-American brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo told them the attack was orchestrated by the “Empire” actor and that they were paid $3,500. However, TMZ reported the FBI said the Chicago Police were “overstating” and “went too far” when they said Jussie sent a hateful Jan. 22 letter to himself.
https://twitter.com/Homiekage/status/1090283693497896960
TMZ also reported, “We’re told authorities are trying to determine if the pages have the lettering found in the letter. They’re also checking the postage stamp against the stamps found in the brothers’ apartment.” The Nigerian brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, denied sending the letter.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson may have also gone too far when he said Jussie paid the brothers $3,500 to stage the attack. TMZ reports they “obtained documents that on the surface back his claim the $3,500 check he wrote to Abel was for training. The check was written to Abel on January 23, 2019, six days before the ‘attack.’ The memo line reads, ‘5 week Nutrition/Workout program Don’t Go.'” “Don’t Go” is a song for a music video where he would appear shirtless.
TMZ also reported, “There are various texts starting from January 20 between Jussie and Bon. On January 28 — the day before the ‘attack’ — Bon [Abel Osundairo] wrote, ‘I know you’re traveling today, make sure you get at least 45 mins of cardio.’ Another text on January 20 outlines a menu for the day, including chicken thigh, StarKist Tuna, Eggs and Smucker’s peanut butter. And, a text on January 25 reads, ‘This is the meal plan and the breakdown of macronutrients. Also includes projected fat loss.'” The $3,500 breakdown was reportedly “$600 a week for the workout plan for 5 weeks, and $100 a week for the nutrition plan for 5 weeks,” according to TMZ reports.
Smollett has maintained his innocence.
SEE ALSO:
Kamala Harris Leads Senate To Finally Passing Anti-Lynching Bill
WTH? ‘Black Panther’ Writer Roxane Gay Was Not Invited To The Movie Premiere
Can Racial Profiling Be Stopped? A Federal Jury Sides With The Louisiana State Police
