Last week, the Chicago Police Department released dozens of text messages between Jussie Smollett and Abel Osundairo, one of the Nigerian brothers he allegedly paid in his attack. Although officials believe the texts were part of the actor’s attempt to stage the crime, Smollett’s team claims the cryptic texts and calls were part of his effort to score an illegal steroid.
In the texts, Smollett reportedly sent a message to Osundairo four days before the incident that read, “Might need your help on the low. You around to meet up and talk face to face?”
However, according to The Daily Mail, sources claim the text referred to a herbal steroid that reduces belly fat, which is currently illegal in the US. Smollett’s team said he wanted Osundairo to buy the pills on a trip to Nigeria.
The text messages revealed much of their communication involved drugs and erotic massages. Hundreds of pages of texts between the two date back to November, including one of Smollett asking Osundairo for a “molly connect.” The latest texts showed him repeatedly asking Osundairo to come around to “smoke” and joked that he had turned him into his “drug pusher.”
In a separate conversation, Smollett offered Osundairo a “nonsexual massage” from a masseuse he had paid, stating, “This dude is amazing. He’s being paid for two anyway.” Abel passed on the offer, replying, “I’m good on the massage.” Smollett then responds, “This n***a is handling life. Sucking my d*** and it’s all good and working!”
But, according to reports, Jussie’s team is reportedly upset about a phone call made to Osundairo after the incident. Sources close to the actor’s team claims the media made it look as though Jussie and Abel were in an ongoing conspiracy to make the ‘attack’ seem real.
They are also especially upset at the Police Superintendent, who claimed Jussie’s wounds were self-inflicted, claiming the actor didn’t mention anything to the doorman as he entered his apartment building after the incident. Jussie’s team says the doorman mentioned cuts on his face, and Jussie responded, “I was just jumped.”
Jussie’s camp believes Abel’s text after the incident proves the attack was real. Abel texted him hours after the alleged attack became public saying, “Bruh say it ain’t true. I’m praying for speedy recovery. S**t is wild. ??.” Sources also say Jussie’s camp is upset that the media jumped on his initial statement that his attackers were white.