Jussie Smollett performs for first time since brutal attack

Singer Jussie Smollett performs onstage at Troubadour on February 02, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for ABA

Jussie Smollett returned to the stage for the first time since he was reportedly attacked in Chicago. Police are investigating the violent alleged assault as a possible hate crime.

Smollett cleared up a few things while on stage at The Troubadour in Los Anfeles, including the fact that he was bruised but his ribs were not broken.

"I had to be here tonight. I couldn’t let them win," he told the crowd. Smollett also made it clear to fans that he "fought the fuck back.

The singer's family, Rep. Maxine Waters, and Empire creator Lee Daniels all attended the show, according to Entertainment Weekly.

All the Smollett siblings came out and introduced him and embraced before he started. He says he hasn’t fully healed yet but he’s on way pic.twitter.com/7lffBPzR8x
— Tim Stack (@EWTimStack) February 3, 2019

Jussie Smollett speaks out on inaccuracies surrounding his attack. pic.twitter.com/xHYW8Q5bBy
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) February 3, 2019

“I fought the f*ck back! I’m the gay Tupac!” Jussie after refuting certain rumors like his ribs weren’t broken but bruised
— Tim Stack (@EWTimStack) February 3, 2019

“I fought the fuck back,” @JussieSmollett to a packed house at @theTroubadour.
— Tre'vell Anderson (@TrevellAnderson) February 3, 2019

“The hateful rhetoric that gets thrown around—I’m not gonna name names—it has to stop! But it stops with people who believe in love.” Jussie Smollett at the Troubadour before going into “Hurt People”
— Tim Stack (@EWTimStack) February 3, 2019

“Be as black, be as brown, be as gay as the f*ck you want to be!” JUSSIE ending his show at the Troubadour 🙌🙌🙌
— Tim Stack (@EWTimStack) February 3, 2019

Jussie Smollett performs for first time since brutal attack

“I fought the fuck back.”

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