# Jussie Smollett - Say It Ain't So **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 17, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698 "2019-02-17T00:34:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/61 "2019-02-18T01:18:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The _ **Crafty Beaver Hardware Store** _?? This is starting to sound like an episode of “The Simpsons”. Hey, it’s a damn fine hardware store. I like the Ace Hardware at Clark and Devon better, but only because I can get to the Ace on a single bus ride. ---
**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 18, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/62 "2019-02-18T01:25:33Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I would love to know his motivation behind this. It seems Chicago PD did a good job handing this sensitive matter in a way to get to the bottom of what happened. I think several levels of the police department are pretty pissed about all the leaks. I would bet some in the lower levels of the police department were pissed that they were being played in national media which is why there were leaks. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/63 "2019-02-18T02:27:53Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I would love to know his motivation behind this. It seems Chicago PD did a good job handing this sensitive matter in a way to get to the bottom of what happened. I would guess he shares the same biases presented by the op of this thread and acted to promote them. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/64 "2019-02-18T16:48:00Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Anyone else find it odd the original poster would rather a minority get almost lynched in the street just so the “redhats” don’t get a “win”? I didn’t get that from the OP at all. I got that OP would have rather whatever this was had not happened AT ALL, plus dismay that such a hoax it will strengthen the hand of those who claim all such incidents are fabrications which IS a reasonable concern. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/65 "2019-02-18T17:55:41Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > If only the Nigerians had been wearing whiteface! Yeah, that would have been perfect! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/66 "2019-02-18T18:00:22Z")
> [@Covfefe](#): > > I heard a pundit (who I happen to dislike) make an interesting point, that uttering the “MAGA” slogan while assaulting someone is far more prevalent as a caricature that exists in some people’s minds than something that would conceivably happen in reality. And that’s because MAGA represents positive feelings to its adherents while some on the other side see it as negative xenophobia. I don’t know if that’s true. I mean, BBC cameramen don’t get attacked at other people’s rallies (including other GOP candidates/officerholders’ rallies). That is not to say that rank-and-file Trumpettes are violent people, just that he seems to attract more of them. Generally speaking, political violence on the left and the rest of the right seems to happen among those who are on the fringe and well beyond the mainstream candidates’ spectrum (and thus not at campaign rallies). But I can’t imagine what Smollett hoped to achieve. Apparently there were eyewitnesses because there are statements from others about the “attackers” wanting to MAGA; it’s not as though the attack took place in Idaho and none of the witnesses would have noticed the attackers were black. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/67 "2019-02-18T18:28:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Apparently there were eyewitnesses because there are statements from others about the “attackers” wanting to MAGA; Seriously? This is the first I’ve heard of eyewitnesses. There was a report that he was on the phone with his manager during the attack (yes, a trifle hard to believe), and the manager heard the claimed “this is MAGA country” taunt. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/68 "2019-02-18T18:39:46Z")
I think this story has about run its course, having received the attention it deserves at this point and no more. If this had been the first case of this, that would have been another story, but this sort of thing happens much more often than actual caricatured prejudice displays, especially attacks, which is why I was suspicious of this in the first place. I think it would have been worse if it had been _more_ subtle and thus easier to believe. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/69 "2019-02-18T18:53:56Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > It seems Chicago PD did a good job handing this sensitive matter in a way to get to the bottom of what happened. I’m actually really curious as to how they figured it out. Up until a few days ago the only evidence was [this picture.](https://www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/AP19031084483254-e1550320431157.jpg?w=540) I’m guessing someone who knew the whole story tipped off the police. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/70 "2019-02-18T19:09:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t know if that’s true. I mean, BBC cameramen don’t get attacked at other people’s rallies (including other GOP candidates/officerholders’ rallies). That is not to say that rank-and-file Trumpettes are violent people, just that he seems to attract more of them. Generally speaking, political violence on the left and the rest of the right seems to happen among those who are on the fringe and well beyond the mainstream candidates’ spectrum (and thus not at campaign rallies). Well yeah, Trump has the kind of problem with violent supporters that most don’t because of his own public statements, such as expressing a like for excessive police force or his devil may care reaction in regard to the Montana politician who assaulted a reporter. I’m talking about the words “Make America Great Again” and how much some seem to read into them viewing them as threatening standing alone, whereas I think endorsing that regalia may inextricably tie you to some things but I don’t infer so much. To demonstrate, over the weekend this got a lot of traffic: [Professor says someday MAGA hats will be shameful secrets, like Klan robes](https://www.salon.com/2019/02/17/scholar-matt-sears-someday-maga-hats-will-be-shameful-secrets-like-klan-robes/) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/71 "2019-02-18T20:15:06Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > There was a report that he was on the phone with his manager during the attack (yes, a trifle hard to believe), and the manager heard the claimed “this is MAGA country” taunt. I thought one of the news articles I read referenced onlookers, but I may have been mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/72 "2019-02-18T21:13:02Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > I’m actually really curious as to how they figured it out. > … I’m guessing someone who knew the whole story tipped off the police. The implication seems to be that it was the Osundairo brothers. They were grabbed as they got off a plane, were designated as suspects and questioned extensively. The result was that they were released without being charged, and the police announced that the “trajectory” of the investigation had changed. Given that the current story is that they were involved (bought the rope, rehearsed the “attack”, agreed to be paid $4000, etc.), it seems likely that a condition of their release was their willingness to testify that Smollett was the mastermind. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/73 "2019-02-18T22:03:28Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > The implication seems to be that it was the Osundairo brothers. > > They were grabbed as they got off a plane, were designated as suspects and questioned extensively. The result was that they were released without being charged, and the police announced that the “trajectory” of the investigation had changed. > > Given that the current story is that they were involved (bought the rope, rehearsed the “attack”, agreed to be paid $4000, etc.), it seems likely that a condition of their release was their willingness to testify that Smollett was the mastermind. Right, but how did they know to arrest the brothers in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/74 "2019-02-18T23:34:28Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I think this story has about run its course, having received the attention it deserves at this point and no more. If this had been the first case of this, that would have been another story, but **this sort of thing happens much more often than actual caricatured prejudice displays, especially attacks** , which is why I was suspicious of this in the first place. > > I think it would have been worse if it had been _more_ subtle and thus easier to believe. (emphasis added) Are you saying that there are more fake assaults (fake hate crimes targeted at non-whites) than real ones? I’m asking because what you’re saying is not really clear, at least to me. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/75 "2019-02-18T23:51:15Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Right, but how did they know to arrest the brothers in the first place? They were identified initially by appearing in video near the scene and time of the alleged attack. That didn’t make them suspects or subject them to arrest by itself. Police initially were just looking to interview them. Since they weren’t available that certainly could have gotten some investigation just by itself. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/76 "2019-02-19T00:28:39Z")
[Now for the parody posters](https://www.tmz.com/2019/02/18/jussie-smollett-racist-movie-posters-los-angeles-street-artist-sabo/). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/77 "2019-02-19T00:40:39Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > (emphasis added) > > Are you saying that there are more fake assaults (fake hate crimes targeted at non-whites) than real ones? I’m asking because what you’re saying is not really clear, at least to me. I’m saying that there are more fake assaults by people displaying nooses, wearing MAGA hats, and yelling “this is MAGA country”, than there are actual assaults with those sort of blatant characteristics. The less blatant the attack and/or threat, the more likely it is to be genuine. As others have said, why even bother with a noose when simply attacking people will accomplish as much? Now, this applies to certain words and symbols more than others. I’d include KKK references amongst things that would raise my suspicions. Now, at the opposite end are homophobic slurs, which are used even against men whose orientation is not known. The inclusion of those does not up the unbelievability level. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/78 "2019-02-19T00:51:04Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I’m saying that there are more fake assaults by people displaying nooses, wearing MAGA hats, and yelling “this is MAGA country”, than there are actual assaults with those sort of blatant characteristics. The less blatant the attack and/or threat, the more likely it is to be genuine. As others have said, why even bother with a noose when simply attacking people will accomplish as much? > > Now, this applies to certain words and symbols more than others. I’d include KKK references amongst things that would raise my suspicions. Now, at the opposite end are homophobic slurs, which are used even against men whose orientation is not known. The inclusion of those does not up the unbelievability level. Thanks for the clarification. ---
**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, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/79 "2019-02-19T00:53:08Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Right, but how did they know to arrest the brothers in the first place? From what I gathered from various articles is that it was old fashioned police work. There were pretty much no one else on the street in the middle of the night and lots of cameras. They were able to follow them back to their point of origin. The current theory that is being put out in the media is that he received a genuine threatening letter some time ago and he was upset that it didn’t receive enough attention. [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/) ---
**Author:** ![Dacien](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dacien/32/5663_2.png) [@Dacien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dacien)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/80 "2019-02-19T01:13:30Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Anyone else find it odd the original poster would rather a minority get almost lynched in the street just so the “redhats” don’t get a “win”? I view it differently for most people. There’s a need to demonstrate that racist and homophobic attacks occur, that it’s a problem, and to an extent, blame it on political opponents. But at it’s root, it’s simply a need to demonstrate the problem of racism and homophobia. So there’s a “demand” for these kinds of attacks. Not because anybody wants these attacks per se (obviously), but because if something is a major, widespread problem, you want instances to point to in order to punctuate the message, to demonstrate the problem. Fortunately, the supply is actually quite low. The chances of a black person being the victim of a hate crime in the US is 0.03%. LGBT a bit higher at 0.07%. So you get what we got last week, which is the way he wanted it. Well, he got it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698.md?page=5)