Perhaps not explicitly, but look at who Smollett says it’s not: https://youtu.be/pXLx5OY21Bk?t=407
My favorite part is when he is in the middle of lecturing us about 20 seconds into that clip, and he mentions, “fear mongrels.” Comedy gold.
These are his words from the GMA interview:
“It feels like if I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black, I feel like the doubters would have supported me … a lot more,” he said. “And that says a lot about the place that we are in our country right now.
“I come really, really hard against” Trump, Smollett said. “I come really, really hard against his administration, and I don’t hold my tongue."
This statement is consistent with several reports such as this one in the Washington Post:
“Jussie Smollett said attackers were white, but the two suspects are black”
that suggest he described the attackers to police as white.
^ I linked to that part of the video of the GMA interview in post #120. (We must have been posting at the same time.)
About coming after Trump “hard,” one of the items removed during the search was postage “stamps” (easily verified online - the pics of the inventory of items taken have been posted). I have no confidence that Chicago will actually prosecute Smollett because of his race and sexuality. However, tying him to the fake hate letter implicates Federal crimes, and there have been many leaks already to the effect that the FBI has been involved. I sure hope so, and that they come at him “really, really hard.” If this is proven a hoax, Smollett should lose it all.
Crazy because many people called this as fake immediately after the incident, but media ate it up running with the story.
Ironically the shooting in Aurora or this isnt even of the front page of Yahoo…I wonder why?
IF he did orchestrate this, he needs major fines and jail time. IF he did this, I feel very sorry for his Empire family and those that stood behind him.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Tuesday that Empire actor Jussie Smollett is still being treated as a victim in the alleged MAGA hate crime attack, but if the investigation reveals that he made a false report, he will be “held accountable.”
This story has so many twists and turns I expect a Venmo link between Smollett and the brothers.
Chicago Police “have” to get this right. There’s a lot riding on it.
So the brothers admit to buying rope for ammunity… That’s a nice theory…
This is one of the strangest stories I have heard. CNN is pounding on him the last hour.
The question is “why”, if true. There’s nothing gain but everything to lose. That’s what doesn’t make any sense to me whatever side your taking.
The ‘why’ is publicity. Actors thrive on attention.
Either way, it’s shocking, and, if it’s a hoax, maybe reverse racist, and maybe a reverse hate crime?
Developing Story: “Police sources: New evidence suggests Jussie Smollett orchestrated attack”
The Nigerian brothers were questioned and released. Now, as to whether these “police sources” are telling the truth, guess we will find out!
Color me shocked.
Now comes the attempt to generate sorrow for him and to try to shield him from accountability.
I feel sad, but not for him.
I’m angry at him.
Latest statement from Jussie Smollett:
"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.
“One of these purported suspects was Jussie’s personal trainer who he hired to ready him physically for a music video. It is impossible to believe that this person could have played a role in the crime against Jussie or would falsely claim Jussie’s complicity.”
Here’s a reason why. Totally supposition but perhaps.
Maybe there was a fight between them that had nothing to do with the way it was portrayed. To avoid an embarrassing situation or a domestic charge they came up with this to explain the face bruise. And they thought it would be readily believed in the current court of public opinion. Also raise his public status. But it spun out of control as they tried to control.
He seems like a nice enough kid. But hatred and bad decision making may have led him down a wrong path.
^most reasonable post on the subject so far today.
I don’t think so, @privatebanker. The threatening letter with white powder came to the studio about a week prior. Obviously the two incidents are connected and planned (though maybe lightening can strike twice, occasionally). Whomever did the first incident, with all probability did the second, whether real or a hoax.
@busdriver11 Good point. I was hoping there might be a more benign (albeit wrong and harmful to certain groups and victims). reason than personal gain and fame.
I know that your positive nature will make you want to be hopeful. But there is too much pre-planning and coordination in this to be as you described. The threatening letter, the purchase of the rope, the flight right after to Nigeria (tickets bought at the last minute would cost a fortune), the manager happening to be on the phone to witness it. This was planned, it’s all a matter of, by whom?
The brothers have now been release by Chicago police and said they were paid to ‘attack’ Smollett. Now who are we to believe in all this?
Look on the bright side for Smollett. For a short while, he gets to enjoy the limelight at the top of the leaderboards in the race hoax and fake hate crime game - he currently has a double entry (at numbers 348 and 349) in the site I linked to in post #4 above.