Have you been following the Jussie Smollett story?
We haven’t covered it much here at WeLoveTrump because we were waiting for the dust to settle.
From Day 1, the story never made sense to us.
In case you haven’t been following, or are wondering who is Jussie Smollett anyway, Wikipedia gives this summary:
Jussie Smollett is an American actor, singer, director and photographer. He began his career as a child actor in 1987 starring in commercials and films, including The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner‘s North (1994). In 2015, Smollett attracted international attention and received rave reviews for his portrayal of musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire (2015). Smollett has also appeared in Ridley Scott‘s science fiction film Alien: Covenant (2017) as Ricks and in Marshall (2017) as Langston Hughes. In 2019, Smollett gained media attention after he alleged he was assaulted in a hate crime.[6][7][8]
He made news a few weeks ago when he claimed he was attacked in Chicago in a “hate crime” by people wearing MAGA hats and claiming “this is MAGA country.”
At least that was his official story when the news broke.
Here are some old Tweets from when the attack story first broke:
As someone said....those Tweets didn't age well!
That story never made sense to us.
First of all, Chicago is not "MAGA country". It's a very leftist city.
Second of all, Trump supporters don't do things like that.
No part of that story felt right.
But then a few days ago the story took a left turn.
News started to break that the whole thing might be a hoax orchestrated by Smollett himself.
We still held off covering the story because the dust was not yet settled.
But now it looks like the dust is settling and it's sure looking like the entire thing was a big HOAX!
From local Chicago Fox10:
Several Chicago Police Department sources have told Fox 32 that the two brothers arrested and questioned in the Jussie Smollett case told detectives they were paid by the “Empire” actor to orchestrate an attack.
The sources say the brothers claimed they were paid by Smollett. The brothers’ attorney said both knew Smollett.
Fox 32 News has also learned that police found a receipt for the rope found on Smollett’s neck in the brothers’ possession showing they had purchased it from an Ace Hardware in Chicago.
The two brothers were released by the police once they agreed to cooperate with police, after detectives said they would charge them with battery. Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed detectives have reached out to Smollett’s attorneys and expressed that they need to talk with Smollett.
Police are now investigating whether Smollett made up the story but police are still calling him a victim at this point.
And from CNN:
Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation tell CNN that Chicago Police believe actor Jussie Smollet paid two men to orchestrate an assault on him that he reported late last month.
The men, who are brothers, were arrested Wednesday but released without charges Friday after Chicago police cited the discovery of "new evidence."
The sources told CNN the two men are now cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Smollett told authorities he was attacked early January 29 by two men who were "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs." He said one attacker put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.
The sources told CNN there are records that show the two brothers purchased the rope found around Smollett's neck at an Ace Hardware store in Chicago.
CNN's attempts Saturday to reach both Smollett's representative and attorney were unsuccessful.
Smollett identifies as gay and since 2015 has played the gay character of Jamal on the Fox TV drama "Empire."
What happened
According to Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, the actor told detectives he was attacked by two men near the lower entrance of a Lowe's store in Chicago. Police were told the two men yelled "'Empire' fa***t" and "'Empire' n***er'" while striking him.
The day after the incident, police released surveillance images that showed two silhouetted individuals walking down a sidewalk, and police said they were wanted for questioning.
The two men were arrested Wednesday. Police on Friday said the men were being viewed as "potential suspects" and that detectives had "probable cause that they may have been involved in an alleged crime."
But by Friday night they had been released, Guglielmi said, "due to new evidence as a result of today's investigations."
"And detectives have additional investigative work to complete," he added.
One of the men has appeared on "Empire," Guglielmi said. A police source also told CNN on Friday night that the men had a previous affiliation with Smollett, but did not provide additional details.
Smollett has expressed frustration about not being believed
Following the alleged attack, Smollett's colleagues and fans rallied around him, expressing shock and sadness.
"We have to love each other regardless of what sexual orientation we are because it shows that we are united on a united front," Lee Daniels, the creator of "Empire," said in a video posted to his Instagram page on January 29. "And no racist f*** can come in and do the things that they did to you. Hold your head up, Jussie. I'm with you."
Smollett gave his first detailed account of what he says was a hate crime against him, and the aftermath, in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" that aired Thursday.
During the interview he expressed frustration at not being believed.
"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 much more," Smollett said. "And that says a lot about the place where we are as a country right now."
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