# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/161 "2019-02-22T18:32:27Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > This whole ‘check’ thing is blowing my mind. I’m pretty sure that none of my three sons (24-27) have written more than two checks in their lives, and I’m certain that at least two of them don’t even have checkbooks. Don’t the kids these days use Venmo or some such? I certainly can’t see my neighborhood dealer accepting a check . . . > > Heck, I don’t think I write more than 4-5 checks a year myself anymore (taxes, some charitable contributions). **mrs andros** ’ working hypothesis is that he assumed the medium was so archaic they’d never catch him. ---
**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 22, 2019, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/162 "2019-02-22T23:13:33Z")
There are only two episodes left to film for the latest season and Smollett has been cut from them. > **[Empire executives suspend Jussie Smollett and say his character Jamal will...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/empire-executives-suspend-jussie-smollett-155039919.html)** > > Jussie Smollett's character Jamal will not appear in the final two episodes of Empire, the Fox show's executive producers have said. Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report after alleging he had been the victim of a racist... ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/163 "2019-02-22T23:17:08Z")
I have a sneaking suspicion the studio is circling their wagons. Heads down with the legal team, trying to figure out how to boot him from the show. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/164 "2019-02-22T23:42:58Z")
They don’t need a reason to boot him. They can write off a character any time they like. They may have to still pay a remainder on his contract if it states a certain number of episodes. I have a feeling the character will fall down an open elevator shaft. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/165 "2019-02-23T02:14:43Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > They don’t need a reason to boot him. They can write off a character any time they like. They may have to still pay a remainder on his contract if it states a certain number of episodes. > > I have a feeling the character will fall down an open elevator shaft. One scenario, he dies in an attack by two white supremacist. It would save on rehearsals. > [@Calatin](#): > > I read a report that, upon arrest, he told police that he had a drug problem and the check was because they were his dealers. Or, gets killed in a drug deal gone wrong with the Osundairo brothers’ characters, they’d probably want to land a punch or two for free this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/166 "2019-02-26T18:11:57Z")
Not sure this is worth a separate thread for, so - a gay-rights activist is now being charged with having intentionally set his own home on fire, possibly with the motive of framing it as a hate crime. > **[Jackson gay rights leader accused of burning down own home](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/02/25/gay-rights-leader-accused-burning-down-home/2816523002/)** > > Jackson gay rights leader allegedly burned down own home, killing pets ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/167 "2019-02-26T18:20:33Z")
[Chicago Police Credit Their Extensive Experience Falsifying Evidence For Helping Solve Smollett Case](https://www.theonion.com/chicago-police-credit-their-extensive-experience-falsif-1832825796) > [@](#): > > “We’ve been doing this sort of thing for decades, so we were really able to bring a lot of expertise to bear on this matter,” said CPD superintendent Eddie Johnson ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/168 "2019-02-27T15:23:17Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > So any predictions on how Smollett decides to end this thing? Does he eventually cave and make a prepared apology to… pretty much everybody for his moronic actions? Or does he do the Cosby thing and claim innocence for the rest of his life? My top two predictions: 1. Smollett tearfully confesses that he engineered the whole thing, but only because he’d been the victim of previous, unreported hate crimes - so this was a sincere if misguided attempt at bringing attention to a real problem. After a plea bargain and a _mea culpa_ appearance on Oprah, he’s a hero to a slice of America again. And there could be a book deal. 2. He doubles down on the denials and hopes his legal team can select the right jury (juries?) to assure an acquittal. My money’s on #1. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/169 "2019-02-27T16:32:06Z")
I’d go with 1. He owns his idiocy, at least partially, falls on the mercy of the court, and fades into obscurity. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/170 "2019-02-27T16:38:37Z")
> [@andros](#): > > I’d go with > > 1. He owns his idiocy, at least partially, falls on the mercy of the court, and fades into obscurity. I think you’re on to something, especially if he pays back the city for the expense of the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/171 "2019-02-27T17:18:09Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > and a _mea culpa_ appearance on Oprah, Considering there is no current Oprah show in production, and hasn’t been for many years, this would be a huge expense, just to get it back in production for a D list entertainer to make an appearance. Just don’t see it happening. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/172 "2019-02-27T18:23:57Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I think you’re on to something, especially if he pays back the city for the expense of the investigation. Well, I find that astonishingly unlikely. But as Dan Savage commented on his podcast this week, if every single Chicago resident–if every single Chicago _cop_–who had ever filed a false report were arrested, we’d need to commandeer both baseball stadiums to process them all. The obvious corollary to that is that if everyone who had filed a false report were required to repay the costs they incurred Chi would have no problem with their budget for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/173 "2019-02-27T21:43:36Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Considering there is no current Oprah show in production, and hasn’t been for many years, this would be a huge expense, just to get it back in production for a D list entertainer to make an appearance. She’s [still doing TV interview specials](https://pitchfork.com/news/oprah-to-interview-michael-jackson-accusers-on-hbo/). A Smollett tell-all would probably generate an even bigger audience than the one anticipated for the Michael Jackson accusers. ---
**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 27, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/174 "2019-02-27T23:03:18Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Well, I find that astonishingly unlikely. > > But as Dan Savage commented on his podcast this week, if every single Chicago resident–if every single Chicago _cop_–who had ever filed a false report were arrested, we’d need to commandeer both baseball stadiums to process them all. The obvious corollary to that is that if everyone who had filed a false report were required to repay the costs they incurred Chi would have no problem with their budget for a long time. Did he provide any cite or is this just a made up fact? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/175 "2019-02-27T23:28:57Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Did he provide any cite or is this just a made up fact? More to the point - so what? Loads of people get away with crimes without being prosecuted or punished. Does that mean it’s wrong or futile to go after the ones we can make a case against? You could probably fill the stands at Wrigley (for a season) with all the Chicagoans who’ve committed racial/ethnic/religious-motivated crimes. Should we ignore the next high-profile real case because others got away with it? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/176 "2019-02-27T23:39:34Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Well, I find that astonishingly unlikely. > > … Ahh, it was your own suggestion. I just mentioned the repayment part. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/177 "2019-02-27T23:50:14Z")
I read recently that TMZ, as a primary source, claimed that the FBI said that the CPD’s statements on the incident were misstating the facts. Is anyone else indicating this, or is TMZ just pulling this out of their ass? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/178 "2019-02-28T01:07:42Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Did he provide any cite or is this just a made up fact? > [@Jackmannii](#): > > More to the point - so what? > > Loads of people get away with crimes without being prosecuted or punished. Does that mean it’s wrong or futile to go after the ones we can make a case against? > > You could probably fill the stands at Wrigley (for a season) with all the Chicagoans who’ve committed racial/ethnic/religious-motivated crimes. Should we ignore the next high-profile real case because others got away with it? My bad. I heard it in my head as a joke, simple hyperbole. It was not my intention to strike the nerves it clearly struck, nor to imply what you clearly inferred, and you both have my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/179 "2019-02-28T01:10:33Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Ahh, it was your own suggestion. I just mentioned the repayment part. Yeah, that’s the part I find less likely. It’s my understanding that the costs of an investigation are rarely recouped in a false charge case. :shrug: Could easily be wrong about that. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698/180 "2019-02-28T01:33:48Z")
I got you, shrug, astonished, whatever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-say-it-aint-so/829698.md?page=10)