Jussie Smollett has performed for the first time, just days after he was a victim of a racist and homophobic assault – committed by two men allegedly wearing MAGA hats.
The 35-year-old singer performed to a sold-out crowd on Saturday night, where he updated his fans on his health following the attack.
According to Entertainment Weekly, he told the crowd, “I had to be here tonight y’all, I couldn’t let those motherf**kers win.”
“The hateful rhetoric that gets thrown around, I’m not gonna name names, it has to stop. But it stops with people who believe in love.”
He continued: “Take love back because that’s all that we have. These last few days I couldn’t have gotten through without the love of my family and the love of y’all.”
The singer also said: “And above all, I fought the f**k back! I’m the gay Tupac.”
Empire creator Lee Daniels and California representative Maxine Waters also attended the concert.
Jussie’s brother Jocqui also spoke to the crowd, and said, “My family realised that tonight was an important part of Jussie’s healing.”
