Breaking News
‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Assaulted In Reported Hate Crime
In a horrifying series of events, the popular star of Fox’s Empire, Jussie Smollett (Jamal Lyon) was assaulted at 2am this morning in Chicago, where he is currently filming episodes of the series..
According to the report from the Chicago Police Department, Smollett was walking down the street when two offenders approached him and began yelling racial and homophobic slurs toward him. The offenders then became physically violent, battering Smollett with their hands and pouring an “unknown chemical substance” on him. At some point during the attack, one of the offenders wrapped a rope around Smollett’s neck before fleeing the scene. Some reports have the attackers shouting Pro-MAGA comments and wearing ski masks.
Chicago PD said in a statement: “Given the severity of the allegations, we are taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime. Detectives are currently working to gather video, identify potential witnesses and establish an investigative timeline.”
Smollett was hospitalized following the attack, and is said to be in good condition and cooperating fully with investigators.
In addition, there is a possibility that this attack was premeditated. According to a report from That Grape Juice, Smollett had previously received a death threat in the mail with a drawing of him getting shot; accompanied by his name and a homophobic slur.
In an report/update from TMZ on the incident they state: “Sources directly connected to Jussie say the actor arrived in Chicago from New York late Monday, and at around 2 AM he was hungry and went to a Subway. We’re told when he walked out, someone yelled, ‘Aren’t you that f***ot ‘Empire’ n*****?’ The 2 men — both white and wearing ski masks — viciously attacked Jussie as he fought back, but they beat him badly and fractured a rib. They put a rope around his neck, poured bleach on him and as they left they yelled, ‘This is MAGA country.’ Jussie was taken to Northwestern Memorial where he was treated. He was discharged later Tuesday morning.”
Since the TMZ report, The Daily Beast’s Tim Teeman tweeted that according to a Chicago police spokesperson he spoke with, the attackers did not yell “This is MAGA country”. Chicago PD said, ‘There is no report of that being said.’ The spokesperson said the genders of the attackers was unknown, and their faces and hands had been covered.”‘
So, what do you think of this disgusting hate crime against Smollett? Please send your well-wishes to Jussie via the comment section below.
So very sad for Jussie. Hope his attackers are quickly caught and brought to a powerful justice. If people can’t accept, they should tolerate, and if they can’t do either, then never leave your home, because that is how small hater’s worlds are.
Donald Trump owns this.
Donald Trump’s supporters own this.
Everyone who allows racist and homophobic words to go unchecked in 2019 owns this.
Words are actions that lead to more actions.
Like this one.
My God. This is horrible. I hope they catch these guys in put them under the jail….
No one deserves this type of treatment!
It’s just that…disgusting! What the hell is wrong with people?
This is disturbing beyond words. He has been a frequent guest/guest host on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” and have loved his positive approach to life, great smile and thankfulness for his job. I have read several reports today and it seems people HAVE to have someone to blame, whether it is being a racist, homophobia or making it political. Let’s get one thing straight. This is H-A-T-E. The men that attacked him are nothing better than a wild animal that needs to be caged. I hope these men are caught and are prosecuted to the fullest extent.
Get well, Jussie.
This is (some of) us. Sad. People spending more time judging and worrying about another person’s life choice while all the while THEY’RE the ones headed to Hell. Throwing MAGA crap in there is just a smoke screen if that was added. When men like this go after gay men it’s because that gay man struck a chord in them that they’ve ignored and basically get angry at themselves and react by taking it out on unsuspecting victims. That’s just the bottom line. More than to do with hate.
So sad,prayers for Jussie
Love him! Was horrified to read this…just unspeakable violence and sick. The irony is it sounds like a scene out of Empire.
Good thing they didn’t know he was Jewish, too. That’d be the icing on the cake.
this is what these fools consider “Making America Great Again”??
If they have their way, pretty soon Hell will look like a paradise compared to Orangemerica.
Send those MAGAtts down…. I’ll take it from there. The dragons could use some new chew toys.
It’s really unbelievable and sad that stuff like this still goes on in 2019. We should all be embarrassed and ashamed. White, black, brown, gay, straight, rich, poor, liberal, conservative there should be no acceptance for hate of any kind in this country period. Everyone needs to stop concerning themselves with what other people are doing in their lives, things that have no effect on you whatsoever, and worry about living your own life. The world would be a much better place if everyone did that. Live and let live.
Get well soon, Jussie.
Words cannot convey what I am feeling. This is totally vicious and ridiculous! What gives another person the right to take their issues out on another person? Jussie is an out and proud gay man and has the right to live his life and love as he pleases. This —- cannot be accepted or allowed!
I am left stunned and angry! I wish Jussie nothing but the best and a speedy recovery. It is my hope that these two attackers are brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No one should have to go through what Jussie went through early Tuesday morning.
this hurts
this hurts , like no other (s)
I certainly do believe that the current climate ( MAGA ) has heightened the fear.
FEAR … afraid to come out… because I did not make that choice… I am born not unlike you
oh Lord… after all the effort… Obama reached. this is definitely, one of those times… one step forward, two steps back. we have definitely taken , with a lot of legislation by the current GOP … taken steps back in denigrating another human being (s). like legally, right ? after the marriage law was made legal… I had hoped that the , “tolerance” would ebb and flow and acceptance seep in to our consciousness.
“Mr. Jussie Smollett” My heart is with you… as I search again and again my soul to remain vigilant and forward to that day when ALL walks of life reach an accord
These attacks have definitely increased since Trump took office. Racist, anti-gay… anti semitic attacks have increased by 60%. He’s unleashed all the roaches that were always there but under the woodwork. Now they’re freely crawling among us.
just read that he is now telling a different story.. I hope this is not true!!
Real believable story. Now racists carry bleach at 2 a.m.?
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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This week starts with heartbreaking news. Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles as the original Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and later as Richard Hart on Melrose Place, died on Sunday, April 19, at the age of 57. Reports indicate his death was sudden following a heart attack.
Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ on Monday more details on her brother’s death, “Patrick went to take a shower Sunday morning after drinking coffee with his girlfriend in their Beverly Hills home. His girlfriend decided to check on him after he was taking too long and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor?” Shana added that paramedics rushed over and tried to revive Patrick, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Soap fans first saw Muldoon as Kate’s (Lauren Koslow) son on DAYS back in 1992, where he quickly became a fan favorite during the on-screen love story between Austin and Carrie Brady (Christie Clarke). Patrick left the series in 1995. He later made comeback for appearances in 2011 and 2012.
Photo: JPI
On Melrose Place, he played bad buy Richard Hart from 1995-1996. Patrick launched his acting career while in college landing the role of Matt in the 1990 sitcom Who’s The Boss? alongside the likes of Judith Light (ex-Karen, OLTL) and Tony Danza. Following his graduation, Patrick nabbed a recurring role as Jeffrey Hunter in Saved By The Bell by 1991.
Throughout his decades long career, Muldoon also starred in several motion and TV series including his leading roile in Starship Troopers (1997). He also had parts in Deadlock (2021), Vanquish (2021), Dakota (2022), Marlowe (2022), and Murder At Hollow Creek (2023).
Photo: JPI
Not only was Patrick an actors, but a producer and a musician and singer. He often made appearances and put out music with his band, The Sleeping Masses. Muldoon was the band’s lead singer and guitar player. Patrick was also a producer of TV and film projects.
At the time of his death, Patrick was also an executive producer on a the movie “Kockroach,” which is currently in production.
Taking to his Instagram, just a few days before his death, Muldoon expressed,“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia,” he captioned his post.
Sadly, on April 24, Muldoon can be seen in his 2025 film Dirty Hands also festuring Denise Richards (ex-B&B, RHOBH), which will be released on digital streaming platforms on VOD.
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart; parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr.; his sister and brother-in-law, Shana and Ahmet Zappa; and their children, Muldoon’s beloved niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.
Share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Patrick Muldoon via the comment section, which is followed below by the trailer Dirty Hands due out later this week on digital platforms.
All My Children and Hallmark alum, Jonathan Bennett has been cast in the newly-created role on General Hospital as Joe Fitzpatrick.
Look for Bennett to make his debut on the ABC soap opera next month in May. Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans for his work as JR Chandler on All My Children from 2000-2001. Later, he landed the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout role.
Jonathan would go on to star in seven Hallmark Channel movies and then hosting and producing the network’s reality competition show Finding Mr. Christmas, Bennett has also appeared as a contestant on Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, plus Celebrity Big Brother in 2019, and he starred on Broadway in Spamalot.
Courtesy/ABC
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital shared to Deadline who first reported the casting news, “We’re so excited to have Jonathan joining our cast. He’s a tremendous talent and will be a fantastic addition to ‘GH.’
After the news broke, Bennett took to his Instagram and shared, “There’s a new guy in town…” Meanwhile, the official General Hospital account shared a pic and expressed, “He’s already tired of us telling him his hair looks sexy pushed back. Welcome to the family, Jonathan Bennett.
Bennett is married to Jaymes Vaughan. Back in 2022, they became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the wedding magazine, The Knot.
So, what do you think of the casting of Jonathan as Joe Fitzpatrick? Is he the new man for Lucas? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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