Jussie Smollett: Unhappy with salary, actor 'took advantage of racism to promote career', say police

Empire actor Jussie Smollett "took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career'' when he made a false police report about an attack in Chicago, US, the city's police superintendent said.

Smollett also sent a racist and homophobic threatening letter to the Fox studio lot where he works in Chicago before the attack, Supt. Eddie Johnson said. He said Smollett was dissatisfied with his salary.

Smollett turned himself in and was arrested to face accusations that he filed a false police report when he told authorities he was attacked in Chicago by two men who hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and looped a rope around his neck, police said.

The whispers about Smollett's account started with reports that he had not fully cooperated with police after telling authorities he was attacked. Then detectives in a city bristling with surveillance cameras could not find video of the beating. Later, two brothers were taken into custody for questioning but were released after two days, with police saying they were no longer suspects.