Jussie Smollett: 'Empire' producer stands by star, Ava DuVernay weighs in

Corrections & Clarifications: The headline of this story was edited for clarity and accuracy after publication.

In light of the recent developments in the investigation into last month's attack on Jussie Smollett, celebrities are speaking out.

Chicago police were pursuing "additional detective work" Sunday amid suspicion that a Jan. 29 attack on actor/singer Jussie Smollett may have been faked. Two brothers told investigators they were paid by the "Empire" actor to stage the attack, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly.

Smollett’s attorneys issued a statement saying the actor would continue to cooperate with police but felt "victimized" by reports that he might have been involved in staging an attack.

Update: Everything we know about the Jussie Smollett case so far

Police pursue hoax angle: CPD investigates claims Smollett attack may have been faked

Brothers say Smollett paid them: Suspects told police they were paid to stage attack

A Twitter account for "Empire" executive producer Brett Mahoney reinforced his belief in Smollett's account Sunday night.

"I believe and stand by @JussieSmollett," the account for Mahoney tweeted. "Keep your head up."

The official Twitter account for the FOX series' writers retweeted the post.

Mahoney previously condemned Smollett's attackers in comments to USA TODAY.

“The attack on Jussie, because he is such a beloved member of our family, hurt us all very hard. Jussie is a proud, gay black man," he said. "I don’t know whether the cowards who attacked him were trying to beat the gay, the black or the pride out of him, but that’s impossible, because he’s strong. And so we’re happy that he is back at work."

More: Chicago police pursue claims Jussie Smollett attack may have been faked

Director Ava DuVernay took to Twitter to express her doubts about Chicago police.

"Despite the inconsistencies, I can’t blindly believe Chicago PD," she wrote, mentioning the department's past use of torture and the death of Laquan McDonald. "I’ll wait. Whatever the outcome, this won’t stop me from believing others. It can’t."

Later, the "Wrinkle in Time" director responded to questions from a Twitter user who believes "this case was fishy from the start."

"Yessir. I hear you. And agree," she replied. "I wrote (that there) are inconsistencies. He might have lied. He might be not have. I don’t know. But what I do know? I never believe police on general principle just ‘cause they say so. My experience, our history, makes it impossible for me to do so."

Elsewhere on Twitter, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has seemingly walked back her support of Smollett. Her Jan. 30 tweet in which she called the attack "an affront to our humanity" appears to have been deleted.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) who previously described the attack as "an attempted modern-day lynching" told reporters Sunday that he planned to withhold comment "until all the information actually comes out from on-the-record sources."

Activist and MSNBC commentator the Rev. Al Sharpton said on his program, "Politics Nation," Smollett should be held accountable if he is behind the attack.

"I among many others, when hearing of the reports, said that the reports were horrific and we should come with all that we can come with in order for us to find out what happened and the guilty should suffer the maximum," Sharpton told viewers. "I still maintain that. And, if it is found that Smollett and the gentlemen did, in some way, perpetrate something that is not true, they ought to face accountability to the maximum."

Contributing: Aamer Madhani and Bill Keveney

Smollett recounts violent attack on 'GMA': I saw the rope 'and I started screaming'

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jussie Smollett: 'Empire' producer stands by star, Ava DuVernay weighs in