The Empire star had said he was subjected to a homophobic and racist physical attack by two men in January.

Doubt was later cast on his account after US media reported that police believed he may have paid two Nigerian brothers to stage the attack.

Mr Smollett's lawyers said they would "conduct a thorough investigation and mount an aggressive defence".

On Wednesday a police spokesman said felony criminal charges had been approved against the actor.

Mr Smollett had been charged for "disorderly conduct / filing a false police report", the spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said in a tweet.

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