In related news, police have released photos of persons of interest in the Tuesday attack on the 'Empire' actor.

AceShowbiz - Kevin Hart has joined celebrities, who are rallying for Jussie Smollett after the latter was attacked in possible hate crime, only to get backlash. The comedian wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, January 29, "Sending prayers your way @jussiesmollett ....This is unbelievably sad."

"Why are we going backwards....this is disgusting. We as people have to do better. WTF is going on the world???? Why are we falling in love with hate????" he continued. "God damn it people....Choose love...I repeat...Choose love. I will forever choose love and I will continue to teach my kids how to do the same. Stand strong brother."

Hart added on Twitter, "Operation spread love is in full effect damn it. I don't condone or believe in hate, infact I despise it. Hate makes me sick to my stomach...Its pointless. Cowards & weak individuals embrace it. I choose love...I love all of you. I challenge the rest of the world 2 do the same."

While some of his followers agreed with Hart's statement, some others were not having it. Those who criticized the comedian's message brought up his controversial homophobic jokes and remarks in the past, which recently forced Hart to step down from Oscars hosting gig. "You were just throwing hissy fits about not being able to make homophobic jokes. This is disrespectful honestly," one commented on Hart's post.

Others reminded "The Upside" actor the effect of homophobic jokes like his. "This is why someone's jokes about beating their gay son were never funny," one wrote on Twitter. "But keep joking about beating up your kid for being gay, Kevin Hart!"

Another sarcastically tweeted, "Where's Kevin Hart and DL Hughley with some more of their little homophobic jokes? Since it's all just funny and accountability isn't important." Another added, "This is your reminder that Kevin Hart was given a publicity tour to declare that being an ally to LGBTQ folks is not his life's goal or dream and that he's done apologizing. This is your reminder that his jokes reflect actual attitudes that produce what happened to Jussie."

There are people who think that the attack on Smollett was fake. Sounding off the opinion on Hart's post, one wrote, "Sounds more like a planned attack... I don't know a single person who carries around bleach on the regular." Another agreed, "Only thing worse than an actual attack like this - is making it up... What a joke..."

"This is a hoax it never happened to him do research," read another similar comment. "Wanna take this down since he lied," one added, while someone else bluntly said, "Cool story, didn't happen though."

Meanwhile, police investigation on the attack is still ongoing. Sharing an update, a Chicago Police official took to Twitter that detectives have spotted potential persons of interest in the Tuesday attack. Two individuals who matched the descriptions of the attackers were captured on surveillance footage and are now wanted for questioning.

Chicago Police Department has then released screengrabs from the surveillance video showing two men wearing hoodies walking down the street. It's hard to recognize their faces since it's dark and not one of the photos shows them close enough.

Smollett's music manager Brandon Z. Moore has also confirmed the "Empire" star's story. Moore said he was on the phone with the actor at the time he was attacked and that he heard some of what transpired.

As reported before, Smollett was attacked in Chicago early on Tuesday morning by two men wearing ski masks who hurled racist and homophobic epithets at him. They battered Smollett's face, poured an unknown chemical substance on him, and tied a noose around his neck. After the attackers left the scene, the 36-year-old star took himself to Northwestern Hospital. He is currently recovering.

In the wake of the attack on Smollett, production on his TV series "Empire" has been halted, though it's not related to the case. The production is temporarily suspended due to the arctic temperatures in Chicago. According to weather forecast, the temperature in the city will remain under 0 degrees on Wednesday with a wind chill in the -40s.

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