Tyler Perry Is 'Lost for Words' After Jussie Smollett's Arrest for Allegedly Staging Attack
Tyler Perry is speaking out as Jussie Smollett faces a felony charge of disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false report claiming two men attacked him in an apparent hate crime last month.
The filmmaker addressed the news on Thursday after Chicago police held a press conference in which they alleged the Empire star paid $3,500 to stage a “bogus” attack against him to draw attention to himself because he was dissatisfied with his salary.
“How I wish that the disappearance of Terrance Williams and Felipe Santos could get half as much attention as this Jussie Smollett thing,” Perry wrote on Facebook, referencing two men who disappeared after allegedly being picked up by a Florida sheriff’s deputy 15 years ago.
“I have personally spoken to Jussie, and he is adamant that he’s telling the truth,” Perry continued. “Also, everyone that I know who knows him says that he is not the kind of person who would make up such a horrible and awful thing. Yet the evidence seems to state otherwise. I’m lost for words. To stoke fears and raise racial tensions is wrong in every situation on ALL SIDES! Yet my prayers are still with him and his family and our Nation. CAN WE PLEASE STOP THE HATE!”
Smollett, who is black and gay, was arrested Thursday morning, one day after he was charged. Anthony Guglielmi, chief communications officer for the Chicago Police Department, confirmed the news on Twitter.
Tom Ahern, deputy director of news affairs and communications for Chicago PD, also confirmed the arrest on Twitter, writing, “Chicago Police Detectives take #Empire actor #JussieSmollett into custody to face Class 4 Felony charge (punishable for up to 3yrs in prison) for Disorderly Conduct in Falsifying Police report.”
Press Briefing: Jussie Smollet is under arrest and in custody of detectives. At 9am at #ChicagoPolice Headquarters, Supt Eddie Johnson, Commander of Area Central Detectives Edward Wodnicki will brief reporters on the investigation prior to the defendants appearance in court. pic.twitter.com/9PSv8Ojec2
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 21, 2019
UPDATE: Chicago Police Detectives take #Empire actor #JussieSmollett into custody to face Class 4 Felony charge (punishable for up to 3yrs in prison) for Disorderly Conduct in Falsifying Police report. Bond Hearing scheduled for 1:30p in Cook County Criminal Court.#ChicagoPolice
— Tom Ahern (@TomAhernCPD) February 21, 2019
Smollett’s bond hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT Thursday.
The arrest news came after Smollett and his legal team said they are gearing up to launch an “aggressive defense.”
“Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked,” Smollett’s attorneys Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Wednesday.
“Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense.”
In a statement issued after Thursday’s press conference, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment said: “We understand the seriousness of this matter and we respect the legal process. We are evaluating the situation and we are considering our options.”
