Reports Claim Jussie Smollett Allegedly Staged Hate Crime Attack; Police Say News Is 'Unconfirmed, Inaccurate'

Police, Fox contradict local reporters' claims.

Ricky Fitchett/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Two local media outlet are now reporting that the assault of Empire actor Jussie Smollett last month may have been a hoax: Smollett himself is suspected of organizing the attack, which was carried out by two brothers, at least one of whom had appeared as an extra on the show and knew Smollett socially.

"Multiple sources have told ABC7 Eyewitness News that police are investigating whether Smollet and the two men staged the attack allegedly because Smollett was being written off of 'Empire,'" wrote ABC 7.

"Investigators believe Jussie Smollett and the non-cooperating witnesses in the alleged attack of Smollett last month 'potentially staged the attack,' sources tell CBS 2 Investigator Brad Edwards," wrote CBS Chicago.

The two witnesses are brothers of Nigerian descent, and were picked up at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday night. A relative of the two men confirmed that they knew Smollet, as did their attorney.

"They do know Jussie," their attorney, Gloria Schmidt, told CBS Chicago. "They have worked with him on Empire. My preliminary investigations show that on set it's very tight. They're all very cordial with each other, so they're baffled why they are people of interest."

Police believe the two men were captured on surveillance video near the scene of the crime, according to to ABC and TMZ. Police raided their home Wednesday night, taking bleach, shoes, electronics, and other items.

A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department (CPD) described news reports as "unconfirmed, uninformed, and inaccurate."

In a statement to Reason, the CPD said, "We don't have any comment as the investigation is currently ongoing."

Smollett was attacked at 2:00 a.m. on January 29 on the streets of Chicago while he was coming back from a sandwich shop. His two assailants allegedly put a rope around his neck, poured bleach on him, and shouted "MAGA country."

According to the ABC and CBS reports, Smollett may have staged the attack because he was being written off Empire. Fox has denied that this was the case, however.

With the police and Fox both pushing back forcefully against the ABC and CBS reports, it's impossible to say with absolute certainty what the truth of the matter is yet. But the fact that the two men evidently knew Smollett—a detail confirmed by their attorney—certainly makes inside job a more plausible explanation than random hate crime. At the very least, it seems vanishingly unlikely that the perpetrators were white Trump voters.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

This pendulum is swinging pretty hard between two too-good-to-be-true scenarios.

[PhilipLWallis]

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[The ghOst of mcgOo]

This going to be comedy gold. It's just a shame that these idiots managed to stage a crime where there were no cameras because I would REALLY like to know if these Nigerian accomplices were wearing whiteface and had MAGA hats on. Tis a real shame we'll probably never know.

[Fancylad]

Alt-right, MAGA-hat wearing, noose-carrying, white-supremacist Nigerians are a common a sight in Chicago neighborhoods nowadays.
It's the freezing temperatures that bring them out, they feel at home then. It reminds them of the frozen Nigerian tundra.

#STANDWITHJESSE
#FIGHTNIGERIANWHITESUPREMACY

[vek]

LOL

Funny thing is, Nigerians are actually probably SUPER likely to hate gays, as they're not all PC pussified about that sort of thing. Hell, neither are American born blacks for that matter.

[WuzYoungOnceToo]

I imagine that most Nigerians can suppress a lot of hate when being offered $4,000 to buy a piece of rope and some bleach.

[esteve7]

It really shows you the priorities of some people. One photo of a kid smiling awkwardly and all of left wing twitter and media are calling for blood.

This guy makes a too good to be true TRUMP BAD narrative and within a day my facebook is all about how this country sucks, republicans suck, whats wrong with these people etc.

Yet all these people don't care or learn a damn thing when their entire worldview is shown for the 1,000th time to be the fraud that it is

[AlmightyJB]

But their world view said it was sorry and that it won't hit them again because it loves them baby.

[Rufus The Monocled]

BUT THIS TIME THEY'LL BE RIGHT!

Same people who think socialism just needs the right formula of top people.

[Last of the Shitlords]

If there were no progressives, America would be a paradise.

[vek]

The thing that gives me hope is THERE IS a way to make that happen! It's not a very NICE scenario mind you, but it is entirely doable. 😉

[AlmightyJB]

Valentine's night at Robbie's house. Robbie in blackface, Mrs. Soave in her MAGA hat. NTTAWWT.

[Aloysious]

Hopefully Rico is drinking a rum spritz.

Or a daiquiri like Hemingway enjoyed. Not the froofy kind.

[loveconstitution1789]

Is the fruit sushi gone that fast?

[IceTrey]

So it was just by coincidence that they staged the attack in the one place on that street that was out of camera view?

[loveconstitution1789]

So it was coincidence that an actual attack was carried out outside view of that camera?

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Would that not be the best place to stage an attack?

[Naaman Brown]

Never been on a Chicago street. How obvious is the placement of surveillance cameras in Chicago?

[Ken Shultz]

"At the very least, it seems vanishingly unlikely that the perpetrators were white Trump voters."

It wouldn't matter if the attackers were white Trump voters. There isn't anything we should or shouldn't do because the race of the attackers was white or black. There aren't any rational conclusions to draw from this incident either way. There isn't anything rational to learn from this incident if this turns out to be a hoax and the fake attackers turned out to be black Liz Warren voters either. Only an idiot would look at any racial aspect of this incident and think they could draw a rational conclusion about . . . anything. Some things really don't matter.

[Ray McKigney]

When the media and pols join in using an alleged hate crime to lecture us about how mean and hateful we are, we should shove it down their gullets when the hate crime turns out to be a hoax. I mean, it's only fair.

[Weygand]

Excellent point.

[vek]

Yup. Blacks are actually charged with MORE hate crimes per capita than "the evil white man" in the USA. When I first found that stat out I was blown away, as I figured we just wouldn't prosecute blacks for hate crimes in the US, but apparently they do. It must be for stuff against Jews, Asians, Mexicans etc as I still don't see blacks being prosecuted for crimes against whites as being very likely.

[A Thinking Mind]

IFhate crimes are actually a common and prevalent occurrence in the country, then I think it matters to highlight them, helping to inform the public about a significant social issue.

If it's not, and yet people are staging hoaxes in order to pretend it's a pressing and ongoing issue, then it should be highlighted for the same reasons. Hate crimes may be so rare and insignificant that victim classes feel the need to stage them for attention. If that's the case, call them the fuck out for trying to create racial tensions where none exist.

[loveconstitution1789]

Racial tensions are not a thing in the USA.

Oprah is rich and Obama was elected by a majority.

[Ken Shultz]

"IF hate crimes are actually a common and prevalent occurrence in the country,"

Hate crimes are either a common and prevalent occurrence in this country or they're not--regardless of whether the attackers in this incident are black or white and regardless of whether they voted for Trump or Hillary.

Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

"If it's not, and yet people are staging hoaxes in order to pretend it's a pressing and ongoing issue, then it should be highlighted for the same reasons."

Hate crimes are either a pressing and ongoing issue in this country or it's not--regardless of whether this incident was a staged hoax.

Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

There is nothing we should do differently because of this incident that we shouldn't do regardless of this incident. There is nothing we should do the same because of this incident that we shouldn't do the same regardless of this incident. The incident is truly unimportant. In a better world, journalists wouldn't write about things that matter so little and people wouldn't waste their time reading about them.

[BigT]

'Hate crimes are either a common and prevalent occurrence in this country or they're not-"

That's pretty black and white thinking. What is common and what defines prevalent? These are not absolute terms, so the statement is meaningless.

Interestingly, this incident pits the News and Entertainment parts of FOX against each other. News would normally favor saying this was a staged incident, not a real hate crime. Entertainment wants it to be a hate crime to boost ratings.

[Nardz]

Meh.
FoxNews parrots all the same narratives as the rest, they just occasionally let both sides have a voice.
Other than their personality hosts, they're often false opposition because they still accept MSM narrative

[ThomasD]

If this is a hoax, it too is a hate crime.

[Naaman Brown]

It has generated a lot of hate directed at white people in general and at Trump supporters in particular. Most of whom did not know Jussie Smollet existed and felt nothing against him personally.

[Ken Shultz]

"That's pretty black and white thinking."

Actually, those statements cover both black and white and every shade of gray in between.

Whatever shade of gray you prefer is that shade of gray or not regardless of whether the attackers in this incident are black or white and regardless of whether they voted for Trump or Hillary.

Feel it in your heart.

This story is unimportant in every way.

[VOTE MILES]

Apparently, Ken Shultz doesn't get it.
Or maybe he just doesn't want to get it.

[WuzYoungOnceToo]

This story is unimportant in every way.

I'd say it's important in so far as it serves as yet another potent reminder of how ridiculously inept and damn-the-fact-we-have-a-narrative-to-push farce "journalism" has become...not to mention how easily duped some people are no matter how frequently they continue to fall for crap like this.

[JesseAz]

Thank you for your string of tautological thoughts.

[Sedona Vortex Hunter]

dude you going to do this now about every single news story now? It applies to almost any single news story in and of itself. What you are saying is not interesting or meaningful, you are pointing out one story is one example, your sudden fascination with this realization is bizarre.

Reporter writes story about a car that blows up on the side of road- Ken Shultz says:

"There is nothing we should or should not do about the car blowing up. If it was purposefully blown up or self destructed is meaningless, the reporter offered no advice about what to do and I am helpless to make anything of this single data point..."

Reporter informs us someone OD on drugs- Ken Shultz says :

""There is nothing we should or should not do about the guy ODing on drugs. If it was purposefully OD or accidental is meaningless, the reporter offered no advice about what to do and I am helpless to make anything of this single data point..."

etc etc

[Mr. Flanders]

You just now figured out that Ken thinks he's way smarter than he actually is?

[Fancylad]

I'm starting to suspect Ken's teenage daughter is using his handle here lately or something. He's been off his game the last week or two.

[Ken Shultz]

"Dude you going to do this now about every single news story now?"

Not every news story is about a pointless incident or covered in a pointless way.

This one is both.

[Last of the Shitlords]

Either way it doesn't matter. All hate crimes are otherwise criminal. And racial prejudices are from from the worst thing in the world.

Not even close.

Progressivism, child molestation, Islamic jihad, slavery, a porous southern border, and a massive national debt are all far worse things. Obsessing over the idea that some people might not like some other people based on looks is not that big of a deal in this day.

[Marcus Aurelius]

This is being used to further progressivism...

[C. S. P. Schofield]

I must respectfully disagree with you. The race matters. The race matters because the claim was made that this was a 'hate crime' perpetrated by people of a certain race and with a certain political affiliation. That it is almost certain that that was wrong means something. It means that the alleged victim either lied or has been so conditioned (by whatever force) to expect racism that he sees what isn't there. It means that the media are - not biased, of course they are biased - but stupid. Bias is inevitable. One of the biggest idiocies in American politics over the last four decades and more has been the premise that unbiased media are POSSIBLE. But this story shows that the mainstream media are not simply biased, they are biased to the extent of unquestioningly repeating whatever idiocy the political Left feeds them, no matter how questionable it looks and how stupid it will make them look when it crashes.

This underlines just how STUPID the Left has become. These 'Hate Crime' frauds are becoming a regular feature of the political landscape. They are just as vicious and stupid, if not usually as fatal, as the lynching of negroes in the South in the early 20th century. They are symptomatic of a political philosophy that has no arguments, just noise and violence.

[Ken Shultz]

"This underlines just how STUPID the Left has become."

I might buy that, but lets not fall into the same trap. It was stupid to suggest that people should vote for Democrats--because of this incident--even when there was no suspicion that the attackers might be Democrat minorities themselves. We could have pointed out the stupidity of their argument from the very beginning even without it being a hoax. Their argument was stupid even if what they were saying was true.

[C. S. P. Schofield]

There I agree with you. My point, I guess, is that it might pay us to hammer on the point; "Look, these nitwits have so little in the way of rational argument that they have to MAKE STUFF UP in the hopes of jerking you around by your emotions."

[mad.casual]

It wouldn't matter if the attackers were white Trump voters. There isn't anything we should or shouldn't do because the race of the attackers was white or black. There aren't any rational conclusions to draw from this incident either way. There isn't anything rational to learn from this incident if this turns out to be a hoax and the fake attackers turned out to be black Liz Warren voters either. Only an idiot would look at any racial aspect of this incident and think they could draw a rational conclusion about . . . anything. Some things really don't matter.

Ken Schultz, U.S. Deputy Marshal

[Bored Lawyer]

IMO, you are right, in part. What matters is whether or not this was a hoax, not the race of the supposed attackers. If Smollett hired two white guys to stage an attack, that would be no different than if he hired two black guys. It's the hoax, not the skin color, that matters.

[Ken Shultz]

It goes beyond that.

I believe that OJ is free because the cops tried to frame a guilty man.

OJ was either guilty or not regardless of whether the cops tried to frame him.

Sometimes people engage in hoaxes unnecessarily. His point may be true even if it is a hoax.

So, what do we have to learn from it being a hoax?

Nothing more than whatever there was to learn if it wasn't a hoax.

No public policy should be changed or remain the same regardless of whether this was a hoax.

[Last of the Shitlords]

If this proves to be a hoax, Smollet should go to prison.

[Marcus Aurelius]

I think he should have to be Trump's Butler for a year.

[AZ Gunowner]

"There isn't anything rational to learn from this incident if this turns out to be a hoax "

oh yes there is.

[VOTE MILES]

It's weird that Shultzy keeps doubling down on his claim.

[vek]

The rational thing to learn is that there is nothing too low for the left to do... So don't trust a single thing they say, EVER, and assume it is all bullshit... Because ALMOST everything that comes out of their mouths actually is.

If you basically believe the exact opposite of anything the left says for every subject, you'll be on pretty firm footing with respect to it jiving with reality!

[Ecoli]

Jail time for Smollet. Poisoning the racial divide is a hate crime if there ever was one.

[Ecoli]

Personally, I think jail for Nathan Phillips is also appropriate.

The US is the least racist, and most racially obsessed country on Earth. People who spend their time (most of the media) stoking racial animosity, and those who perpetrate racist hoax hate crimes should be drawn and quartered.

[Ray McKigney]

And all the celebs who immediately tweeted about how this shows how racist America is and how we have to stop the hate should be slapped in the face.

[Tony]

Don't you mean lynched?

[Sidd Finch v2.01]

Don't you mean hanged?

[loveconstitution1789]

You democrats got lynching rope available 24/7

[VOTE MILES]

If this was a hoax, it suggests that Smollet brought his own lynching rope.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

""Jail time for Smollet."'

If it turns out to be a hoax, he should be offered a chance to offer an apology and explain what exactly he did and why to avoid prosecution.

Let the nation hear about it straight from his mouth.

[Last of the Shitlords]

And then throw his ass in prison.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Then people will play yet another victim card. I figure let's undercut the ability for that card to be played.

[Last of the Shitlords]

They're doing it anyway. At least this way the next asshole who thinks about trying this will have to consider the possibility of going to prison.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Sure they are playing the victim card now with respects to the attack, but that card may evaporate and they will be looking for another card to play to keep the Smollet as the victim alive. He will go from victim of attack to victim of police incarceration with people claiming a white man wouldn't be treated that way. I like the idea of denying them that card.

But if it's a hoax and he ends up in prison, it's deserved, and he brought it upon himself.

[vek]

Personally, I'm fine with him ACTUALLY being hung for it.

Smaller shit like this has caused riots and DEATH in the past. This very well could have. It's bullshit, and wildly reckless behavior. These nutso leftists are out of control, and need to get done learned this sort of shit will not be tolerated.

[An Innocent Man]

Wait. There were actually people out there who didn't know this was a hoax like 3 minutes after it was first reported? Wha.....??

[Anchor]

Ok, now listen. Just because stories like this turn out to be hoaxes every single time, that doesn't mean...

[damikesc]

Yeah, story reeked of nonsense from the word go. Random Trump voters in a location where nobody votes for Trump waited out in sub zero temps in the hopes of beating him up? Seriously?

Him STILL HAVING HIS SANDWICH IN HIS HANDS when he got home was the nicest touch of all of this to me.

[Sedona Vortex Hunter]

the best part was he kept the 'noose' around his neck for like an hour and still wore it like a neck tie when the police arrived.

[Mr. Flanders]

Method acting is extremely effective!

[Marcus Aurelius]

And they let him go... Maybe he learned his lesson?

[Lurker Kurt]

The 'Attack' occurred in Streeterville, also know as 'the Gold Coast'. You are much more likely to be attacked for wearing a MAGA hat than be attacked for 'walking while black'.

Everyone in Chicago was suspicious of this story when it broke.

[vek]

Yup. I assumed bullshit from the get go. It would have taken considerable evidence to convince me otherwise.

Of course the fucking idiot was too stupid to hire 2 white guys he had no prior association with to do the damn thing, which might have enabled him to get away with it. Not surprised some poof actor wasn't even competent enough to pull off a fake hate crime!

I could have pulled off a fake hate crime if I wanted to... But that must be because of my white, cis gender privilege or something. LOL

[Sidd Finch v2.01]

Police, Fox contradict local reporters' claims.

No they didn't.

[A Thinking Mind]

It's a good thing they got the bleach. Who knows what else these fiends might have done with such a dangerous chemical.

[Sidd Finch v2.01]

The bleach hysteria is the funniest part of this IMO.

[A Thinking Mind]

The big twist will come when it turns out it's not Clorox Bleach, but Borateem Color Safe Bleach.

[Sidd Finch v2.01]

You're going to look really silly when it turns out to be the hardcore 10% chlorinating liquid from the hardware store.

[Eddy]

Just be sure not to use the same bleach Michael Jackson used.

Too soon?

[mad.casual]

The bleach hysteria is the funniest part of this IMO.

To me this was the tell. The photo I saw of him in the ER, if two racists attacked him with bleach, they must've waited until it was frozen and hit him with it.

[spork]

Common household bleach freezes at ~18? F.

[mad.casual]

And? Hi/Lo on Jan. 29 in Chicago was 11/-9?F.

The assault was the first night of the bipolar vortex were we were at -22? on Wed. and up to 52? on the following Mon.

[Last of the Shitlords]

Even the weather is bi these days.

[VOTE MILES]

I keep seeing this nonsense repeated ? like the bottle (apparently it was a hot sauce bottle) wouldn't be kept plenty warm in the assailant's hand or pocket. FFS

[Marcus Aurelius]

I had beer freeze on me at a football game. The cup was in my hands, didn't matter at those temps. FFS. Learn some science about thermal transfer. And the size of pockets.

[Sevo]

Well, he *is* an actor, right?
In the meta-interpretation, we should considering a street-improve performance.

[Eddy]

I wasn't there, and I can't say it's *totally* outside the realm of possibility that some white supremacist nutbar would attack a black guy and call Chicago MAGA country, because if you're already insane, why not go all out?

I'm just saying that I hope the media apply some skepticism.

"If your mother says she loves you, double check," is their motto (and rightly so given how they must have disappointed their mothers, but I digress), so if a person's claim seems implausible, see what evidence there is to back up the claim and what evidence doesn't.

Not that a Chicago crime story is inherently newsworthy in itself - but once it's a meta-story about media coverage, then getting the facts right and comparing them to the media narrative will give us interesting information about the media.

[Sevo]

""If your mother says she loves you, double check," is their motto..."

Well, it has been since 11/16. Prior to that is was 'can I get on your lap?'

[loveconstitution1789]

Chicago has not been MAGA country since..... a long time ago.

I call bullshit on that point alone. Only a never-Trumper would use that during a violent race lynching that didnt result in a lynching.

[Eddy]

As I suggested, it would make sense only on the supposition that the attackers were completely insane.

[mad.casual]

Robby isn't always the best source of advice, you shouldn't always rule out the idea that the accuser is completely insane. It doesn't have to make them wrong, but equality under the law and all that, everybody should be equally crazy until proven otherwise.

[damikesc]

Let's also not forget they did this in subzero temperatures during one of the coldest weekends in recorded history.

[BigT]

'I can't say it's *totally* outside the realm of possibility that some white supremacist nutbar"

Two Nigerian brothers. So, yes outside the realm of possibility.

[mad.casual]

It very much and several time's over invokes Twain's notion of truth being stranger than fiction because fiction has the restraint of needing to seem plausible.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

It will be interesting when the brothers have to say. The attack may not be a hoax. They may have targeted Smollet because he was gay, didn't like him, or something else.

We will know soon. If it was a hoax, I'm guessing they will be offered a deal in exchange for testimony.

It would be interesting to find out if Smollet's phone number pops up in one of the brother's phone logs on the night he was attacked.

[Mr. Flanders]

"If your mother says she loves you, double check," - Apparently this is the motto of the police now (let's see those phone records, Smollet)

"If a journalist on twitter said it, its definitely true." - The motto of the 21st century journalist

"I didn't know I was this easily replaceable" - Future motto of the 21st century journalist.

[Fancylad]

"I didn't know coding was this hard" - Future motto of the 21st century journalist.

[TallDave]

Maybe Smollett mistakenly thought he was being written out of the show and panicked. Or maybe it was planned until he became a national media story.

Big divide opening tonight between what we can assume are known police sources and CPD brass. Safe bet Harris and Booker's staff are keeping busy.

[OpenBordersLiberal-tarian]

I just can't understand how anyone would hear this story and immediately think "hoax!" Didn't you all learn in college this is exactly what this country is like for black and brown bodies ? living in constant danger of being violently attacked by racist whites? And as bad as things were before, they're even worse now that Drumpf has emboldened white supremacists.

#IBelieveJussie

[Vandalia]

The reverse is far more likely to be true. Look at violent crime statistics and the demographics of the prison population.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36548494

[vek]

Yup. In the USA blacks are even more likely to specifically be charged with HATE CRIMES! Probably brothas gettin' mean with Jews or something.

[Ray McKigney]

"black and brown bodies" -- nice touch, OBL.

[Sedona Vortex Hunter]

"black and brown bodies" -- nice touch, OBL.

my favorite part too, lol

[Lurker Kurt]

Actually... it is all of the racial attacks on college campuses that made me doubt this story.

Within the past decade, every time these incidents occurred, they were perpetrated by a person of color.

[No Longer Amused]

It's obviously a hoax; if it had been real he'd still be in a coma or a coffin.

[Mr. Flanders]

I thought the same thing, the dude looked like he was in really good shape for being "brutally attacked." Attackers had him 2-on-1, they waited in -50 degree weather just for him, figured out the perfect predetermined spot so they wouldn't be recorded by surveillance cameras -- you'd think they'd want to get some serious hits in to make all the waiting & planning worth it.

This doesn't add up. If someone tied a noose around my neck, I'd get that shit off as soon as freaking possible, I wouldn't wear it around casually for 40 minutes.

[ThomasD]

Honestly, if I'm dressed for that kind of weather, and you are dressed for that kind of weather inflicting any damage without some sort of blunt heavy object is going to take serious time and effort.

Other than that, yeah, it's sounded like bullshit from day one. Mainly from the anti gay angle, which could only be possible if they knew exactly who he was.

[Last of the Shitlords]

And how would they recognize him at all if he was bundled up for that kind of cold?

[Fats of Fury]

Plus he fought them off with a phone in one hand and a subway sandwich i the other.

[SIV]

So alt-right gay white Nigerian MAGA chud homophobes are claiming Jussie Smollet collaborated in this attempted lynching hate crime?

[Last of the Shitlords]

CHUDs? I take it on faith that Bud the CHUD was nowhere near this.

[loveconstitution1789]

Lets be honest here and admit that when white racists wanna kill some Black dude, they kill said Black dude.

Whether its lynching, dragging, shooting, or imolation....there are few near misses.

[vek]

Shit, truth be told, if an actual KKK sort wanted to go kill some black folks, it'd be easy to do it AND get away with it.

Go kill random thuggish looking black guys in ghetto areas of major cities. There are good odds they'll have a history of trouble with SOMEBODY in the neighborhood, and assume it was some gang related thing, even if that particular black guy wasn't actually involved in gangs. Easy peazy. It'll be forgotten a week later, and the crime never solved.

[ejhickey]

From the beginning , Jusse's story did not pass the "Smellet" test.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Reported.

[Cy]

Ha... there's never any reporting around here.

[XM]

America hasn't changed that much from the days when too many people felt OJ was innocent because one of the investigating officers said the N word years ago, while thoroughly discounting DNA evidence that would have convicted a black garbage man.

What's disturbing about this case and the BK saga is the willing blindness of politically motivated hacks. When a crime allegedly occurs in a highly monitored area but no one can find the footage of the incident, skepticism is only logical. But that's offensive for the radical left. The mob, msm and democrat leadership alike were already invested in the notion that there's a terrible crime wave against people of color and certain sexual orientation.

They WANT to believe Smollett. Just like they believe all women by default when they accuse someone of rape, especially if the accused is republican. If you ask how Smollett was able to thwart a hate attack with a sandwhich in one hand or how he was able to perform on a stage with a broken rib, you're being insensitive.

This isn't rational behavior. It's what you expect from a cult promoting a movement, or some fanatical right wing preacher. Identity politics in this country IS a religion, one that's supported by the state and the media.

[BigT]

Amen, brother!!

[Mr. Flanders]

Oh, these people get EXCITED when there's a racially-motivated attack, murder, etc. They LOVE it. They want the violence - it gets them paid and strokes their ideological ego at the same time.

Similarly, these people probably get erect when they hear about school shootings.

[ThomasD]

"This isn't rational behavior."

Yes, it's a lot like Lysenkoism - the need to believe something, even in the face of conflicting information, because it affirms your political convictions.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

""while thoroughly discounting DNA evidence that would have convicted a black garbage man.""

The DNA evidence became questionable when it was discovered that the amount of blood taken from OJ was less than what arrived when it was tested. When an officer was asked about it when on the witness stand he would not answer and took the 5th amendment.

[vek]

My best guess with OJ is that he was guilty as SIN based on a shit ton of evidence... But the cops MAY have tampered with some of the evidence, because they thought what they had might not be enough. But there was such a preponderance of evidence that in any "common sense" court system, not one so heavily biased in favor of defendants, he would clearly be found guilty.

Not that I'm saying out legal system shouldn't be that way, but it's pretty damn obvious in TONS of cases when obviously guilty people get let off. It's the price we pay for not convicting innocent people from time to time, but it always burns when obviously guilty people get off.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.

This turned out even better than I imagined. I initially thought he had gotten in a fight and lost, and claimed that he was set upon by a couple of Trump-voting white rednecks who watched "Empire" and lived in downtown Chicago in a majority black/gay neighborhood, out of sheet embarrassment for getting his ass kicked.

I didn't think this mental case would have actually gone as far as to stage the whole fucking thing, and that the cops were playing him like a fiddle the whole time because they suspected he was full of shit. It gets even better with the self-pitying softball interview with black lesbian teleprompter reader Robin Roberts on GMA that comes out today.

[Lurker Kurt]

One small correction: this attack occurred in Streeterville. It's not majority black, it's majority rich and liberal (not sure about the gay part. Boy's Town is further north).

I doubt if you could walk even a single block wearing a MAGA hat before you got your ass beaten much worse than what supposedly happened to Jessie.

[Rockabilly]

The media will have to come up with a way to blame Trump for the hoax.

Trump's victory gave Jussie TDS which infected his mind so much he thought of this hoax.

Clearly it's Trump's fault.

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[awildseaking]

Calling it now: it wasn't a "fake" in the traditional sense, but an experiment to show how racist we all are for even considering that it might be fake.

[VOTE MILES]

That is my expectation, too. It will just go to show that the progs were right all along.

[Mr. Flanders]

In b4 mainstream journalists tell us "well Smollet was demonstrating that this COULD happen in America, and that's important" or "the fact that Smollet's story was believable in the first place PROVES how racist America really is."

[mad.casual]

"the fact that Smollet's story was believable in the first place PROVES how racist America really is."

Followed up by admonishment from Robby not to dismiss all accusers out-of-hand.

[NashTiger]

both sides are equally to blame

[Freddy the Jerk]

To be sure, Nash, to be sure.

[Fancylad]

"BOTH SIDES!"

[TGoodchild]

Ridiculous hoax from the get go. CPD is rather proud, so I doubt they'll forgive the false report. I'll go with the explanation as described by Dr. Drew and locals - he was in an altercation (received a glancing punch) with another man who was talking to his boyfriend.

[Naaman Brown]

Fox News siding with Smollet and Chicago PD on the alleged attack/hoax is un-surprising.
Empire (2015-date) is a Fox TV entertainment series starring Smollett.
Season Date Rank Nielson/Viewers
1 Jan 2015 - Mar 2015 5 17,330,000
4 Sep 2017 - May 2018 52 7,450,000

2015 "Empire" audience demographics higher than average TV show with young, black, hispanic, urban, female audiences. Unfortunately Variety does not track viewership by Chicago white supremacist Polar Bear Club Trump supporters with MAGA hats.

Very surprising would be if any Chicago white supremacist Polar Bear Club Trump supporters with MAGA hats would even know Jussie Smollet, much less recognize him by sight on a winter night.

[Naaman Brown]

Vi Nguyen, "Police Still Questioning Two Brothers In Connection To Alleged Attack On Jussie Smollett; Charges Could Be Filed Today", CBS Chicago 5 Feb 2019.
"Interrogations will resume today with the two individuals and their attorney. While we haven't found any video documenting the alleged attack, there is also no evidence to say that this is a hoax. The alleged victim is being cooperative at this time and continues to be treated as a victim, not a suspect. For clarification, the two individuals interviewed are classified as potential suspects. Detectives have probable cause that they may have been involved in an alleged crime and we are working to corroborate the allegations and investigative timeline as our investigation continues," Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated in an email Friday morning.
.....
Police raided their home on Wednesday, the same day police met them at O'Hare International Airport, as they were returning from a trip to Nigeria. .... Police left behind an inventory list. Some of the items seized include a black face mask hat, an Empire script, phone, receipts, a red hat and bleach.

Keep Smollet talking to CPD as a believable witness while the two men are talking to investigators. Then let the two sets of listeners compare notes.

[Rufus The Monocled]

THIS IS MAGA COUNTRY!

In a city that has had 12 consecutive Democrat Mayors since 1931.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Said by Nigerians.

[Fancylad]

Bloody Redneck, homophobic, MAGA-hat wearing, alt-right, noose-carrying, white-supremacist Nigerians.
They're far too common a sight in Chicago neighborhoods nowadays. It must be the sub-zero temps, Nigerians thrive in the cold.

[NashTiger]

I've got a great idea for a follow up to my Conclusions Mat

I'm going to make Scandal Bingo cards, with phrases like:
Conservatives Pounce
A dialogue about race
Both sides to blame
etc

Buy as many e-cards as you like each week. As news stories unfold, you mark off your card(s). If you get BINGO, you have to document where in the media or twitterverse each phrase was used. Winner, the first to email me with a documented card, gets half the pot, the other half going to me for administrative costs

I could make a Reason/Reason Commentor specific set as well

[Deconstructed Potato]

I'm down

[Trainer]

In other news, this just in from HPD.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Damn.

[Deconstructed Potato]

I'm so confused as to not particularly care one iota about all this bizarre nonsense because life is complicated enough already without such people who's agenda seems to be to make life even more complicated than it needs to be :\

[vek]

Funny how 95% of the hate crimes you hear about end up being perpetrated by leftists to make people think hate crimes actually happen in the first place... It makes one wonder about the other 5% doesn't it?

These people are such tools. I'm at the point where if somebody isn't caught, and they don't admit to doing it, I just automatically assume it's bullshit. It's sad that it's come to that... But when doing that leaves you correct more often than assuming it's actually true, what else is one to do?

Also, FUN FACT: Black people are disproportionately represented in hate crime prosecutions in the USA! So even the one thing that supposedly only EVIL white people do, hate crimes, blacks actually get prosecuted for them more often! How funny is that? I would imagine that must be for stuff against Jews, Asians, or Mexicans or whatever, as I just don't see blacks being prosecuted for hate crimes against whites as happening much, even though it is common as dirt for black criminals to throw out racist comments at their white victims while robbing/beating them.

[Michael Cook knuckle drag]

I feel kinda sorry for the two Nigerian guys. Who knows what interaction they had with the famous TV star from the set where they worked when they met on the street? It will be his word against theirs and we know whose version the fabulously impartial mainstream media will amplify and if necessary stonewall for and alibi for. They would even apologize for Smollet if it came to it, but it won't because they (the MSM) will invent a complete Fake News history version of this whole incident if ever it should come up again and, surprise, somehow MAGA supporters will be to blame after all.

[Pat001]

"Even if it wasn't true this time, it's probably true someplace else so this serves to raise awareness of racism and hate," or something like that.

[Phillip]

And this will still be recorded as a "reported hate crime", to goose those context-free stats even higher!

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[Pat001]

Anyone remember the Air Force Academy hate crime scandal a few months back where racial slurs were written on walls? The general running the academy made a speech which got nearly 2 million views on You Tube in which he lectured the cadets about how "there's no room for hate in the Air Force." Great speech, except there was no hate crime - it was a hoax. There was no follow-up video in which the general apologized for going off on the entire student body.

[vek]

Jeez. I follow the news pretty well, and I never even heard about that one being a hoax! The level of this shit is insane.