Jussie Smollett's co-star Gabby Sidibe deletes post defending him amid alleged staged attack claims

Gabby Sidibe stands by her best-friend and “Empire” co-star, Jussie Smollett, amid accusations that he stated an assault perpetrated by men yelling racist and homophobic slurs.

The “Precious” star and Smollet have a stretch relationship and even lived together in Chicago for a while. She always refers to him as her best friend, and they’re continually showering the other with words of encouragement and support on social media.

Now that Smollett was accused and arrested for making false allegations to the police and staging his attack from last month, Sidibe stood by his side, sharing a post of support on Instagram and deleting it hours after Smollett was taken into custody.

Gabby posted an image with a quote from civil rights icon Malcolm X blaming the “irresponsible media” for making the victim look like the criminal and vice versa. She also shared a screenshot from a tweet stating that even if there were a video of Smollett’s attack, people still wouldn’t believe it because “it’s easier to believe what aligns with your contempt for survivors of hate crimes.”

“I know him, I believe him, I stand with him. #jussiesmollett,” Sidibe captioned the now-deleted post.

Meanwhile, Smollet was bailed on $100,000 on Thursday afternoon. He’s facing one felony count of filing a false police report, and if found guilty, he could face one to three years in jail, or he could also be sentenced to probation.

On January 29, Smollett filed a police report stating two males had beaten him, poured an unknown substance on him, a noose around his neck, and that said “this is a MAGA country” while doing so. He also alleged that the men yelled racial and homophobic slurs.

Police arrested Abel and Ola Osundairo, two Nigerian brothers, for the attack, and they revealed Smollet had paid them to carry the offense. Jussie denied the claims.

A bond proffer details extensive evidence against the actor, including text messages, phone calls, and witness statements. The chief of the criminal prosecutions bureau, Risa Lanier, said that Smollett had been close friends with Abel Osundairo since the fall of 2017.

Osundairo allegedly provided Smollett with “designer drugs” and in a text exchange from January 25, Smollet told the man “might need your help on the low” and “You around to meet up and talk face to face?”

After meeting, the two men allegedly planned the attack, eventually recruiting Abel’s brother into the stunt. Prosecutors said Smollet gave the brothers a $100 bill to buy supplies for the attack, including masks, gloves and the rope they put around his neck.

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters on Thursday that the actor staged the attack because he was “dissatisfied with his salary” on “Empire.”

“Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career,” Johnson stated.

Neither Sidibe or the rest of Smollet’s co-stars on “Empire” have addressed the issue after his arrest.