Fake Reports, Fake News: What’s Real?
On January 29, 2019, it was reported that Jussie Smollett of the Empire cast had been viciously attacked. The words I read didn’t register with the feelings in my heart. Although I am a fan of the actor, I could not connect with what he said had allegedly happened.
This was a first for me. I’m the emotional type. I’ll cry all day for strangers who are hurting, or a family who has lost their child. This story of a malicious and violent crime didn’t break my heart, it sounded so bizarre. I was mentally second guessing this man and the media.
This alleged attack occurred in downtown Chicago, around two in the morning. The temperature ten degrees near freezing. He stated he was en route to subway to get a sandwich when two white men approached him, they apparently recognized him from empire and begin yelling racial, political and homophobic slurs, assaulted him, poured bleach upon him and wrapped a noose around his neck. Yet, they left him alive to tell the story.
Since this appalling report, social media and the news have been flooded with sympathy and outrage, only to follow with many skeptics and YouTube videos of people stating this story just didn’t add up. I was shocked to see, I wasn’t the only one in doubt.
Chicago PD surveyed hours of footage of the downtown area, found no evidence of this crime. Prior to this alleged attack, threatening mail was sent to Jussie Smollett at Empire studios. It was not traced back to any particular individual.
As of recent, two Nigerian brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo have come forth stating the attack on January 29 was staged. Jussie Smollett has since hired a criminal defense attorney.
Was this a publicity stunt, an underlying conspiracy to cause fear, political and racial division, or to promote the LGBT community’s agenda to make this a hate crime against sexual diversity? This one incident has had a nationwide impact and a chain reaction, causing people to further doubt in one another, the media and justice.
This case is still ongoing, causing confusion and chaos. The story is changing everyday as more and more evidence comes to light, making Jussie Smollett look like the boy who cried wolf.
Sources: the Washington Post(nana Efua Mumford) and
CBS Chicago News- Charlie De Mar