Representatives for “Empire” star Jussie Smollett pushed back Tuesday on a statement from the Chicago Police Department that Smollett provided “limited and redacted” phone records to detectives who are investigating his report that two men beat him while shouting racist and homophobic slurs.
“Jussie is the victim here,” the statement read. “Any redacted information was intended to protect the privacy of personal contacts or high-profile individuals not relevant to the attack.”
“Jussie has voluntarily provided his phone records from within an hour of the attack and given multiple statements to police,” the statement continued. “Chicago PD has repeatedly informed us that they find Jussie’s account of what happened that night consistent and credible.”
“Chicago Police have not told us that they are rejecting any records, nor have they expressed concerns about the records to us. Therefore, we don’t feel compelled to be bated into responding to uncorroborated press reports. We are dealing directly with the Chicago Police Department,” the statement added.
Smollett’s reps said they are continuing to work “closely” with authorities and “remain confident that they will find Jussie’s attackers and bring them to justice.”
The statement comes less than 24 hours after police said that Smollett’s phone records did not meet the “the burden for a criminal investigation.”
A spokesperson for the Chicago PD declined to comment Tuesday.
On Jan. 29, Smollett told Chicago police that two men attacked him while yelling racial and homophobic slurs and referencing “MAGA.” A police statement said chemicals were poured on the “Empire” star’s face, and a rope placed around his neck.
Police asked for Smollett’s phone records because he said he was on a call with his manager, Brandon Z. Moore, during the attack.
On Monday, Smollett handed over the redacted phone records after the department publicly stated that he had declined to hand over his phone.
But the department said in a statement that Smollett’s records were “limited and redacted.”
Chicago PD spokesman Howard Ludwig told TheWrap: “Usually when we ask people to hand over their records, they just hand over their phone.”
Later on Monday, another Chicago police spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, told Chicago’s ABC 7, “We are very appreciative of the victim’s cooperation, however, the records provided do not meet the burden for a criminal investigation.”