I had to be here tonight yall, he told the audience.
I couldnt let those mother fkers win.
Smollett also fought back tears as he admitted he wasnt fully healed.
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
But hes on his way, he added.
This song has new meaning to me, he said of the latter tune.
Smollett plays Jamal Lyon inEmpire, which is currently in its fifth season on Fox.
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
There was a scheduled meet and greet for special ticket holders but itwas reportedly canceled dueto security concerns.
Ill sign them I promise!
said Smollett, who was dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants.
The hateful rhetoric that gets thrown around, Im not gonna name names, it has to stop!
Smollett said during his performance.
But it stops with people who believe in love.
Take love back because thats all that we have … Smollett ended his performance by saying he wanted to clear up a few points.
He said he was bruised but my ribs were not cracked.
They were not broken.
He went to the doctor immediately after the incident but was not hospitalized.
Doctors in Chicago and Los Angeles also cleared him to perform.
And above all I fought the f back!
he said, as the crowd cheered.
Im the gay Tupac!
After allegedly yelling this is MAGA country, the offenders fled the scene.
The police have since releasedvideo surveillance imagesof persons of interest in the case but there have been no arrests.
On Friday, Smollett made his first public comment.
Let me start by saying that Im OK. My body is strong but my soul is stronger.
More importantly, I want to say thank you.
Tim Stack contributed to this report.
