Smollett is a 36-year-old actor who starred on the hip-hop-centric TV show "Empire" from 2015 until February 2019.

Jussie Smollett Scandal Sees Actor Fake Victim Status

Smollett was earning $125,000 per episode starring on a hit TV show. Despite his privileged status as a rich, famous, successful actor, Smollett wasn't satisfied.

He wanted to the world to fawn over him, so he cast himself as a victim. How? He hired two Nigerian brothers to stage a fake race crime in Chicago.

Smollett Rocketed to Fame for Being a Victim

In his January 2019 police report, Smollett claimed he was attacked by two white Donald Trump supporters wearing MAGA hats.

Smollett, who's openly gay, claimed his attackers called him racist, homophobic slurs, tied a rope around his neck, and poured bleach on him while yelling, "This is MAGA country!"