Nancy Pelosi DELETES a tweet saying 'attack' on actor Jussie Smollett was 'an affront to humanity' after allegations the Empire star staged homophobic and racist attack to save his job

 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deleted a tweet expressing sympathy for Jussie Smollett, posted before allegations he faked a homophobic and racist attack on himself emerged.

The actor and singer claimed he was attacked at a Subway by two men in ski masks in Chicago on January 29 at around 2am.

The Empire star told police the attackers poured a bleach-like chemical on him and tied a rope noose around his neck, yelling racist and homophobic insults as well as 'This is MAGA country'.

He told officers the unknown chemical substance was used on him while 'Empire f****t' and 'Empire n*****' was shouted at him. 

But on February 15, unconfirmed reports emerged suggesting the openly-gay actor might have staged the attack to save his job with help from two Nigerian brothers that he reportedly knew as extras on Empire.

Investigators have said they believe Smollett may have paid Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo $3,500 to assault him in the orchestrated, rehearsed attack.

Before any suggestion the attack was staged, a number of prominent politicians and celebrities tweeted their support for Smollett.

One of these was House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who wrote on the day of the attack: 'The racist, homophobic attack on @JussieSmollett is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love. I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery & that justice is served. May we all commit to ending this hate once & for all.'

One of the brothers is Smollett's personal trainer, according to a statement to ABC News from Smollett's attorneys. 

Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said: 'We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. 

'We've reached out to the Empire cast member's attorney to request a follow-up interview.' 

The pair decided to cooperate with police after investigators revealed that they had evidence the brothers bought the rope that was put around Smollet's neck at the nearby at Crafty Beaver Hardware Store hardware store. 

Smollett's attorneys released a statement denying he staged his own attack, saying: '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.' 

Others have yet to retract their original statements or delete their tweets, including California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Corey Booker, who are both running for the Democratic 2020 nomination for president.

While Booker was meeting supporters in Rochester, New Hampshire on Sunday, he told reporters that in the wake of the new reports about the alleged attack, he was 'going to withhold until all the information actually comes out from on-the-record sources' before making any judgments about Smollett. 

Booker also urged a broader fight against hate crimes and called the attack an 'attempted modern day lynching'. 

Over the weekend, when asked about the most recent developments in the case, he said he was 'withholding judgement' until more information emerged. 

Al Sharpton said the alleged attack was a 'reminder of the times we live in' when it was first reported on January 30. 

The Democratic reverend doubled down on his rebuke of it in a Twitter video on Sunday. 

'I said that the reports were horrific and that we should come with all that we can come with to find out what happened.

'I still maintain that and if it is found that Smollett and these gentlemen did perpetrate something that is not true, [they should be brought to] accountability,' he said.

He added, however, that it was not a 'left wing hoax' because even the president had condemned the incident. 

Chicago police today said investigators still want to do a follow-up interview with Smollett, but the actor has not yet made himself available to be questioned.

Reports of a possible grand jury emerged hours after the Chicago Police Department said Smollett was not yet being considered an official suspect.

Sources said Smollett initially agreed to sign complaints against his attackers, but declined to do so once he heard that Abel and Ola were the men in custody because he knew them and felt bad, not wanting to see the pair prosecuted.