Chicago police are refusing to comment on a number of recent reports claiming that authorities believeJussie Smollettorchestratedthe Jan. 29 apparenthate attackon himself.
“While we are not in a position to confirm, deny or comment on the validity of what’s been unofficially released,there are some developments in this investigation,” Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement released on Sunday afternoon via Twitter.
The spokesman went on to write that “detectives have some follow-ups to complete which include speaking to the individual who reported the incident.”
The police statement was released one day after multiple outlets reported that the two brothers who werearrested and released without chargesin the case have reportedly claimed that theEmpirestar paid them to stage the incident.
According toCBS Evening News, a police source told the outlet on Saturday that the brothers said Smollett paid them to participate in the alleged incident and purchase the rope that was found around the star’s neck.
CNNalso reported on Saturday that two Chicago police sources said investigators believe Smollett paid the men in exchange for carrying out the attack and the men are now fully cooperating with authorities.
“Detectives have reached out to his attorneys hoping to speak with him again,” Chicago police spokesman Thomas J. Ahern later said in a statement to PEOPLE.
“One of these purported suspects was Jussie’s personal trainer who he hired to ready him physically for a music video,” the statement continues. “It is impossible to believe that this person could have played a role in the crime against Jussie or would falsely claim Jussie’s complicity.”
A rep for Fox, which airs Empire, had no comment, while the brothers’ attorney did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Jussie Smollett.Leon Bennett/Getty
“Detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” Guglielmi added.
A spokeswoman previously told PEOPLE the pair was arrested Wednesday evening. Because they were not charged, police withheld identifying information about them.
The police spokeswoman also confirmed the suspects are the same people as those previously identified as persons of interest.
Jussie Smollett andEmpirecostar Terrence Howard.FOX/Getty
An attorney for the men, Gloria Schmidt, told CBS Chicago on Thursday that the men know Smollett from working onEmpireand go to the same gym on occasion. Schmidt did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Officials also recently denied reports that the attack on Smollett was staged.
“While we haven’t found any video documenting the alleged attack, there is also no evidence to say that this is a hoax,” Guglielmi said in a statement on Friday. “The alleged victim is being cooperative at this time and continues to be treated as a victim, not a suspect.”
Responding to the claims, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment alsoreleased a statementon Thursday, writing, “The idea that Jussie Smollett has been, or would be, written off ofEmpireis patently ridiculous,” the statement said, adding, “He remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him.”
Smollett was also brought in for questioning on Thursday.
RELATED VIDEO: Jussie Smollett Breaks Down Over Fears His Apparent Hate Crime Attackers Will Never Be Found
At around 2 a.m. in Chicago on Jan. 29, Smollett transported himself to a doctor after he said he was the victim of anapparent hate crime.
Early Thursday morning, Smollett appeared onGood Morning Americafor his first in-depth, televised interview since the incident occurred.
Afterdetailing what occurredand hitting back at critics who have questioned the accuracy of his account, Smollett got emotional, saying he feared that his assailants won’t be found.
The Chicago Police Department had confirmed that Smollett, who is gay, was involved in a “racially-charged assault and battery.” They also released two photos of the persons of interest; however, the images did not show the individuals’ faces.
“I want that [surveillance] video found so badly for four reasons,” Smollett said in theGMAinterview. “Number one, I want them to find the people that did it. Number two, I want them to stop being able to say ‘alleged attack.’ Number three, I want them to see that I fought back. And I want a little gay boy who might watch this to see that I fought back. It does not take anything away from people who are not able to do that, but I fought back. They ran off, I didn’t.”
“Learn to fight. Learn to be a fighter,” he continued, addressing young gay men. “I am not advocating violence at all, so let’s be clear about that. If you’re going to die, fight until you do. If you don’t fight, you have no chance. I have fought for love. I’m an advocate. I respect too much the people — who I am now, one of those people — who have been attacked in any way.”
Jerod Harris/Getty
After being asked if one can heal if their attackers are never found, Smollett broke down.
“I don’t know. Let’s just hope that they are, you know what I’m saying? Let’s not go there yet,” he said, crying.
“I was talking to a friend and I said, ‘I just want them to find them.’ And she said, ‘Sweetie, they’re not going to find them,’ ” he said. “That just made me so angry. So I’m just going to be left here like this? I’m just going to be left here? They get to go free, go about their life, and possibly attack someone else. And I’m here left with the aftermath? That’s not cool to me. That’s not okay.”
source: people.com
