GMA staffers had ‘doubts’ during Jussie Smollett interview with Robin Roberts

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The emotional interview with Empire actor Jussie Smollett on “Good Morning America” raised doubts with some of the staffers working on the morning show well before reports surfaced that the actor might have been implicated in his own attack.

According to The Blast, though the sit down with host Robin Roberts may have touched some people when it was broadcast on the show, some people actually present during the taping felt Smollett’s credibility was still “up in the air” after his conversation with Roberts.

READ MORE: Chicago prosecutor recuses herself from Jussie Smollett case

The unnamed sources say once Smollett and his team left the premises, there was a palpable feeling of unease among the GMA staffers, with some voicing that something about the story felt off.

Many media outlets wanted to get the first interview after the alleged attack, but Smollett approached the morning show about doing the sit-down, and specifically requested Robin Roberts because the two had a history together. In April of 2018 Roberts made a cameo on an episode of Empire in which she played herself.

In light of new developments and increasing speculation about the story being a hoax, Monday, Roberts addressed the controversy about her interview with Smollett stating, “When I sat down with Jussie, it was Tuesday night in Chicago, at the time to give his first account — publicly give his first account — of what he said happened.

“And we have to remember, at that time, on Tuesday, police officers were saying that his account was consistent, it was credible, and that he was being cooperative,” she continued. “This was all before the interview aired on Thursday, and then we found out about the brothers.”

READ MORE: Brothers at the center of Jussie Smollett hate crime investigation speak out

As for motive, according to a report out of Chicago, authorities now believe that a week before the alleged attack Smollett was upset about the lack of reaction to a threatening letter he received at Chicago’s Cinespace Studios, where his show is filmed.

The outlet quoted a source as saying, “When the letter didn’t get enough attention, he concocted the staged attack.”

READ MORE: Jussie Smollett assault case has ‘shifted’, sources suggest actor orchestrated attack