Jussie Smollett did not play any role in his own attack, according to lawyers

Lawyers for US actor Jussie Smollett have denied playing a role in an badault last month allegedly committed by two white men.

Their statement comes after sources told the US media that police thought he might have paid for two Nigerian brothers to stage the Jan. 29 attack.

The brothers, who worked as extras in Empire, on the Smollett show, were interviewed by the Chicago police.

The police only stated that the "trajectory of the investigation" had changed.

What did Smollett's lawyers say?

"Jussie Smollett is angry and devastated by recent reports that perpetrators are people with whom he is familiar," said attorney attorney Todd Pugh and Victor Henderson.

"He is again the victim of accusations attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack, nothing is further from the truth, and anyone who claims otherwise is lying."

One of the brothers is Smollett's personal trainer, and the lawyers said it was "impossible to believe that this person could have played a role in the crime against Jussie or falsely claim the complicity of Jussie ".

And the police?

They had interrogated the two brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo, last week, but were released Friday and would continue to collaborate in the investigation.

The two brothers had left the United States after the alleged attack and had been arrested on their return last Wednesday.

Chicago police released this video surveillance image of two "people of interest" in the case

Police sources told the US media that the couple had bought a rope used in the attack at a nearby hardware store.

Police searching their apartment found ropes, masks and bleach, reported CBS.

Anthony Guglielmi, spokesman for the Chicago Police, said Saturday: "We can confirm that the information provided by those interviewed by the police earlier in the Empire case actually changed the direction of l & # 39; investigation.

"We contacted the lawyer of the cast member of the Empire to request a follow-up interview."

Ola and Abel Osundairo both appeared as extras in Empire, a drama about a hip-hop mogul and his family. In this Instagram post, Ola Osundairo (R) is seen alongside the creator of the Empire, Lee Daniels (C).

What did Smollett himself say about this alleged attack?

He added that two white men had uttered racist and homophobic insults by hitting him, pouring a chemical and pbading a rope around his neck.

"This is the country of Maga," he said, they told him, referring to the slogan "Make America Great Again" by President Donald Trump.

The actor said that he had been "forever transformed" by the incident.