Local reports that attack on actor Jussie Smollet was a hoax are unconfirmed, police say

Chicago police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said local media reports that the attack against Empire actor Jussie Smollett was a hoax are unconfirmed.

The reports surfaced as investigators were questioning two "persons of interest" who were captured on surveillance cameras in the area of downtown Chicago where Smollett said the attack occurred 

Police said Friday the two men are in custody and are considered suspects. The two were picked up by officers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday after returning to the city from Nigeria. 

Guglielmi said at least one of the men had worked on the set of Empire.

Guglielmi said police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has contacted at least one Chicago news outlet to say investigators have no evidence to support their reporting. Guglielmi adds that Johnson said the "supposed CPD sources are uniformed and inaccurate."

As well, the producers of Empire disputed reports that Smollett's character is being written off the show.

Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment released a statement Thursday night calling the reports "patently ridiculous." The statement said Smollett "remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him."

Smollett said two masked men shouted racial and homophobic slurs before attacking him and putting a rope around his neck at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 29.

Guglielmi told The Associated Press that the two men are the same people shown in surveillance photos released last month by police. Guglielmi said the men were identified through advanced technology, interviews with Smollett and witnesses, and transportation records.

Lying about attack would be 'ridiculous'

Smollett, who is black and openly gay, told ABC News in an interview that aired earlier Thursday that he believes the people of interest were the ones who attacked him.

"I don't have any doubt in my mind that that's them," he told the network. "Never did."

No charges have been laid in the case. Police said they have not found surveillance video that shows the attack, but that the investigation is ongoing.

Smollett also told the ABC News that people who question his narrative of the attack were "ridiculous" to think he would lie. Smollett has said he was attacked while out getting food at a Subway restaurant.

"I've heard that it was a date gone bad, which I also resent that narrative," he said.

"I'm not gonna go out and get a tuna sandwich and a salad to meet somebody. That's ridiculous. And it's offensive."

I don't need [to make up] some MAGA hat as the cherry on top of some racist sundae.- Jussie Smollett

He said he didn't remove the rope from around his neck before police arrived "because I wanted them to see."

The singer and actor said the attackers also yelled "this is MAGA country," referencing U.S. President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. Smollett said earlier reports from some media outlets that his attackers were wearing "MAGA" hats were inaccurate.

"I didn't need to add anything like that," he said. "I don't need some MAGA hat as the cherry on top of some racist sundae."

Smollett said he didn't want to call police at first, but that his friend and creative director, Frank Gatson, called on his behalf. Smollett also said he didn't initially want to give police his cellphone because the device contained private content and phone numbers.

Smollett later gave detectives heavily redacted phone records that police have said are insufficient for a criminal investigation.