Celebs react to racist, homophobic attack against Jussie Smollett

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Just hours after TMZ is reported that Empire star Jussie Smollett was hospitalized in Chicago after allegedly being attacked in what is appearing to be a hate crime, fans and fellow celebs quickly took to social media to send their love and support.

OPINION: The vicious homophobic and racist attack on Jussie Smollett shows the terrifying danger of MAGA thinking

Police say Smollett, 36, told them that early Tuesday, he was walking out of a Subway sandwich shop around 2 a.m., when someone yelled: “Aren’t you that f***ot Empire n*****?” Then two white men wearing ski masks reportedly screamed “This is MAGA country!” At some point during the racially charged assault a noose was allegedly wrapped around Smollett’s neck, and he was beaten so brutally that a rib was fractured, according to reports.

“Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime,” Chicago police said in a statement released Tuesday.

Meanwhile transgender rights activist and editor-in-chief of Out magazine Raquel Willis was among the first to condemn the attack.

Sending love to Jussie and his loved ones. ??

The hate that fuels white supremacy is the same hate that fuels homophobia. A conscientious society realizes it’s at war with both. https://t.co/hXo56SRDYj

— Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) January 29, 2019

Meanwhile, entertainment news site That Grape Juice is also reporting that Fox Studios received hate mail earlier this month targeted at the 36-year-old actor. Haphazardly cut out letters from magazines were used to spell out “You will die black f**.”

READ MORE: ‘Empire’ creator Lee Daniels responds to Jussie Smollett’s brutal attack as 911 call is released

But his supporters are vocal about their backing of him and are calling for justice.

New York Times best selling author and blogger Luvvie Ajayi echoed that.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtOeQEEA_sP/

Love & Hip Hop: Miami star Jessie Woo was also one of many standing by Smollett.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtOeeQ_B_cR/

The actor is beloved in the Black community so it comes as no surprise that everyone from Kerry Washington and John Legend to activists and politicians like Deray Mckesson and Andrew Gillum have sent love his way.

Check out just a smattering of the support and well wishes below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtOmqwxHbBQ/