Fox supports Jussie Smollett amid assault claims: 'He is not being written out of the show'

Network says actor is a 'consumate professional'

Jussie Smollett attends The Trevor Project's 2018 TrevorLIVE Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on 2 December, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. ((Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images))

Fox has publicly offered its support to Jussie Smollett, amid a case in which the actor has claimed he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack.

“Jussie Smollett continues to be a consummate professional on set and as we have previously stated, he is not being written out of the show,” a representative for 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment told The Independent.

The network broadcasts Empire, the series in which Smollett plays R&B singer-songwriter Jamal Lyon.

It was previously reported that Smollett’s screentime on the show had been cut amid the ongoing case.

Smollett has said two masked men hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him before beating him up early on January 29. The actor, who is black and gay, said the men then looped a rope around his neck.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said last week that media reports about the attack being a hoax were unconfirmed by case detectives.

But on Saturday, police said the “investigation had shifted” following interviews with two brothers. The men were released from custody without charges and police later requested another interview with Smollett.

Chicago’s top prosecutor has now recused herself from the investigation into the attack reported by Smollett.

The office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx offered few specifics on Tuesday when announcing that Foxx was recusing herself from the case.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the decision to recuse herself was made to address potential questions of impartiality based upon familiarity with potential witnesses in the case,” Foxx spokeswoman Tandra Simonton told the Associated Press.

Smollett’s lawyers have said the actor was angered and “victimised” by reports that he may have played a role in staging the attack.

“Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying,” attorneys Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson, said in a statement on Saturday.

Additional reporting by agencies.