This is painful to report - it seems Empire actor Jussie Smollett orchestrated a fake attack on himself last month in Chicago and then drew attention to himself as the victim.

Police sources tell CNN the two suspects were released after questioning yesterday because the two brothers provided evidence they were hired by Smollett. Smollett told authorities he was attacked by two men who were "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs." He said one attacker put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.

Meanwhile, Smollett is denying he set up the attack; his attorneys released a statement saying Jussie is upset by the accusations: "As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying."

The statement goes on to say Smollett will continue cooperating with authorities to find the perpetrators: "At the present time, Jussie and his attorneys have no inclination to respond to 'unnamed' sources inside of the investigation, but will continue discussions through official channels."