# Jussie Smollett (Empire) alleged hate crime attack. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706 "2019-02-17T04:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/41 "2019-02-19T15:34:19Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > “At the end of his rope”? Good one. > > How many laws has this guy broken? He may eventually face Federal charges for the threatening letter. Crimes committed through the Post Office can be quite serious. We’re not there yet. It’ll be interesting to see how this story develops. It’s hard to say what a Fed prosecutor may eventually decide. People need to think long and hard before doing something like this. They don’t realize what the consequences can be. Recent article. The FBI is already involved. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/18/jussie-smollet-motive-staged-attack/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/s/chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/18/jussie-smollet-motive-staged-attack/amp/) Geez, talk about amateurs. These men kept the magazines they used? > [@](#): > > The note was crafted with letters apparently cut out from magazines to form words. The pieced-together message contained racial and homophobic threats directed at Smollett. A magazine is one of the pieces of evidence retrieved from the brother’s home last week during a search conducted by CPD. Investigators also recovered a book of stamps. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/42 "2019-02-19T15:41:56Z")
[Jussie Smollett appeared in the play “Take Me Out”](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6717419/Jussie-Smollett-appeared-play-biracial-gay-baseball-star-similarly-attacked.html) You know, the play about a biracial, gay sports star who endures attacks similar to the one he reported to police just HOURS before his ‘assault.’ ETA: Anyone else having flashbacks of Tawana Brawley? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/43 "2019-02-19T15:43:58Z")
Smollett’s role is being substantially reduced in Empire. He’s being written out of scenes. The fall out is starting. He needs to tell the full and truthful story ASAP and show some genuine remorse. Imho, or this case will just get worse. > **[Jussie Smollett's 'Empire' Role Slashed in Wake Of 'Attack' Scandal](https://www.tmz.com/2019/02/19/jussie-smollett-empire-role-slashed-alleged-attack/)** > > Jussie Smollett's "Empire" role slashed in wake of the alleged attack. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/44 "2019-02-19T16:00:11Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Smollett’s role is being substantially reduced in Empire. He’s being written out of scenes. > > The fall out is starting. He needs to tell the full and truthful story ASAP and show some genuine remorse. Imho, or this case will just get worse. > > [Jussie Smollett's 'Empire' Role Slashed in Wake Of 'Attack' Scandal](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.tmz.com/2019/02/19/jussie-smollett-empire-role-slashed-alleged-attack/) To be honest his career is over either way, and the only thing he should be worried about are the legal consequences. Not confessing to the crime is probably his best move. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/45 "2019-02-19T16:21:28Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > [Jussie Smollett appeared in the play “Take Me Out”](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6717419/Jussie-Smollett-appeared-play-biracial-gay-baseball-star-similarly-attacked.html) > > You know, the play about a biracial, gay sports star who endures attacks similar to the one he reported to police just HOURS before his ‘assault.’ > > ETA: Anyone else having flashbacks of Tawana Brawley? Tawana Brawley lied because she was afraid of her step dad and thought he would beat her. I don’t think she ever intended for her case to get publicity. This is much worse, Smollett is lying for personal aggrandizement and to hurt people he hates. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/46 "2019-02-19T17:28:39Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Tawana Brawley lied because she was afraid of her step dad and thought he would beat her. I don’t think she ever intended for her case to get publicity. > This is much worse, Smollett is lying for personal aggrandizement and to hurt people he hates. In the Brawley case there were actual people named. Their lives were made into a living hell. I think that was worse. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/47 "2019-02-19T20:34:45Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Probably a legal secretary or paralegal who works at the firm. Nope. [The media spokesperson](https://abcnews.go.com/US/brothers-police-empire-actor-jussie-smollett-paid-orchestrate/story?id=61136630) was Anne Kavanagh. [Anne Kavanagh is Partner, Senior Media Advisor at Media Pros 24/7, a boutique consulting firm.](http://mediapros247.com/about.html) Anne is also an advisory board member at DePaul University’s College of Communications and teaches investigative journalism there as an adjunct instructor. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/48 "2019-02-19T22:16:02Z")
Is it a Federal crime to mail threatening letters to yourself? I’m sure the false reporting is but probably a lesser offense than the threats. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/49 "2019-02-19T23:36:55Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > Nope. [The media spokesperson](https://abcnews.go.com/US/brothers-police-empire-actor-jussie-smollett-paid-orchestrate/story?id=61136630) was Anne Kavanagh. > > [Anne Kavanagh is Partner, Senior Media Advisor at Media Pros 24/7, a boutique consulting firm.](http://mediapros247.com/about.html) Anne is also an advisory board member at DePaul University’s College of Communications and teaches investigative journalism there as an adjunct instructor. Well, I sit corrected. I wonder how large Smollett’s legal bills are. He has to realize his career is pretty much over, at least for a while. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/50 "2019-02-20T00:04:32Z")
Foxx has apparently recused herself from the case: > [@](#): > > [NEW: A spokeswoman for Cook County State’s Attorney @SAKimFoxx tells @ABC “Foxx has recused herself from the investigation surrounding Jussie Smollett’s alleged attack and the Acting State’s Attorney for the matter is First Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Magats.”](https://twitter.com/RobElgasABC7/status/1098003625434075137) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/51 "2019-02-20T00:23:47Z")
First of all, Smollett should do his homework better if he wants to pull off a hoax. Chicago is hardly a hotbed of MAGA activity. Trump supporters round these parts stick out about as much as a palm tree on Lake Shore Drive. Secondly, even if it is a hoax, I doubt he will ever believe that he did anything wrong. I suspect he will forever see himself as the true victim for having the balls to stand up to the Evil Regime. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/52 "2019-02-20T01:04:32Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > [Jussie Smollett appeared in the play “Take Me Out”](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6717419/Jussie-Smollett-appeared-play-biracial-gay-baseball-star-similarly-attacked.html) > > You know, the play about a biracial, gay sports star who endures attacks similar to the one he reported to police just HOURS before his ‘assault.’ > > ETA: Anyone else having flashbacks of Tawana Brawley? The difference is that Tawana Brawley was a 15 year old kid and Smollett is an adult. He deliberately set out to create a racially charged media event. I can’t imagine how he’s going to salvage his reputation. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/53 "2019-02-20T01:07:54Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > First of all, Smollett should do his homework better if he wants to pull off a hoax. Chicago is hardly a hotbed of MAGA activity. Trump supporters round these parts stick out about as much as a palm tree on Lake Shore Drive. His incredible ego made him think that it was plausible that the typical MAGA-enthusiast would actually recognize him walking down a random street at night. Either that or MAGA-enthusiasts have an incredible sense of gaydar to pick him out as a renowned gay activist. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/54 "2019-02-20T01:15:20Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Well, I sit corrected. I wonder how large Smollett’s legal bills are. He has to realize his career is pretty much over, at least for a while. I wonder that, too. I would be conserving cash right now if I were him. Unless being the future senior gay black affairs commentator at MSNBC or the Huffington Post is a well-paying career path, it’s hard to imagine how he can afford this kind of legal support. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/55 "2019-02-20T01:31:38Z")
[Jussie Smollett Was Involved In Creating Racist Letter, Which Later Led To Attack, Sources Say](https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/19/jessie-smollett-letter-brothers-attack/) > [@](#): > > The two brothers involved in the Jussie Smollett attack told police that Smollett was behind creating a racist letter that was sent to the actor on the set of his show, “Empire,” according to two sources with first-hand knowledge of the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/56 "2019-02-20T02:29:22Z")
It has now come out that in 2007 he pleaded no contest to a charge of providing false information to police. There is no further information as to what happened. I have a feeling because it dealt with a DWI that it may have been something like giving a false name at the scene. > **['Empire' Actor Jussie Smollett Pleaded Guilty to DUI, Providing False...](https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/jussie-smollett-2007-dui-arrest/4578/)** > > As the police investigation into the alleged attack against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett continues, it was revealed Tuesday that in 2007 Smollett pleaded no contest to DUI, driving without a license and providing false information to law... > [@Magiver](#): > > The difference is that Tawana Brawley was a 15 year old kid and Smollett is an adult. He deliberately set out to create a racially charged media event. Brawley was surrounded by adults (Sharpton, Maddox etc) Who deliberately set out to create a racially charged media event. It was much worse. Real people were falsely accused. The motivation of those adults was much worse and more damaging. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/57 "2019-02-20T02:57:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > … adults (Sharpton, Maddox etc) Who deliberately set out to create a racially charged media event. Isn’t this pretty much what happened in the current case: 3 adults set out to fabricate a racially charged media event ? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/58 "2019-02-20T03:26:10Z")
> **[Police: 'Empire' star Jussie Smollett allegedly staged 'stunt' because 'he...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jussie-smollett-rehearse-attack-days-incident-latest-puzzling-case-012504205.html)** > > The “Empire” star turned himself into the Chicago Police Department on Thursday morning after he was charged with disorderly conduct for false report of offense. They are now seriously reducing the presence of his character which is in filming now. He is well and truly fucked. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/59 "2019-02-20T03:39:10Z")
I hated that my spidey sense came out when I heard this story. I work night shift so I’ve spent a lot of time out late at night in different parts of Chicago. This hate crime took place when the weather was about 10 degrees F and very few people would be out. If he’d gotten mugged for his phone and wallet, sure, I’d believe it. But an over the top racist attack in an area where more people wrote in Bernie Sanders than voted for Trump seems unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/60 "2019-02-20T03:53:01Z")
I hate Trump, but I also think that there IS a liberal hypocrisy in this country right now. What I mean is that had the race and political parties been reversed (e.g. a white actor fabricated an attack from men wearing “Change We Need” hats), he’d have been immediately fired. The fact that this clown still has a job is wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706.md?page=4)