JUSSIE Smollett paid two men £3,000 to get him in shape for a music video, and not to fake a racist attack, the pair have claimed.

The Empire actor is accused of paying brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo to stage a hoax racist attack on him to get attention.

But the brothers claim the cash was for them to train him for five weeks after Smollett "wanted abs like his", reported TMZ.

Both Abel and Ola agreed to train Jussie, and also give him a five-week nutrition plan, they reportedly say.

A few days before the alleged "attack", Smollett paid the two men with the cheque's memo reading "5 weeks training nutrition plan".

Earlier this week, Smollett told officers he has a drug problem as they arrested him for allegedly staging the attack to boost his career, according to US reports.

Cops later said the Empire star had bought ecstasy from one of the brothers said to have helped him in the elaborate hoax.

Police charged Smollett on Wednesday with staging the violent attack in Chicago and he handed himself in the next morning.

During his arrest he reportedly told officers he struggled with drug use and had never been treated, TMZ reports.

And police papers say text messages appear to show Smollett asking pal and Empire extra Abel Osundairo for "Molly" - a street name for ecstasy.

If he is convicted, a drug problem could be used as a mitigating factor and get his sentence reduced, US reports say.

Police said the actor messaged Abel days before saying: "Might need your help on the low."

'DESPICABLE' HOAX
Smollett reportedly headed straight to the Empire TV set from court to plead with cast members after being released on £76,000 bail on Thursday.

Sources told TMZ that Jussie arrived late on the TV series set and then begged his cast mates to believe he did not orchestrate the hoax.

Earlier on Thursday, the actor was told to surrender his passport when he appeared in front of State of Illinois Circuit Court Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr.

The judge called the hate-crime hoax allegations against the star “utterly outrageous,” reports the New York Post.

“The most violent, despicable part of it, if true, is the noose,” he said. “That symbol conjures up such evil in this country’s history.”

Earlier this week, Smollett was slammed by Chicago's black police chief for "taking advantage of the pain and anger of racism" to boost his career and earnings.

The Empire actor could face three years in jail after he was sensationally charged with staging an elaborate street assault so he could play victim.

He has also been accused of sending himself a note containing a cartoon figure strung up by a noose and cut-out letters spelling: "You will die, black f*g".

Smollett claimed the note was a threat before two Trump fans in MAGA hats shouted racist and homophobic abuse, beat him up and left him with a rope round his neck.