# Why did the MSM fall for the Jussi Smollett hoax? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 19, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832 "2019-02-19T15:26:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/101 "2019-02-20T03:55:27Z")
Why, I ask you WHY, does a story about a celebrity getting violently and dramatically attacked get any attention? What is it about our culture that would lead to that? -An overemphasis on celebrities? -An obsession with violence? -A love for a perverse story? Nonono. It’s LIBRULS I tell you. Christ almighty, people, IF IT BLEEDS IT LEADS. There is no need to dig any deeper than that. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/102 "2019-02-20T04:46:44Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > I guess everyone forgot about [the 2010 inciden](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1375208/Acid-attack-victim-Bethany-Storro-sentenced-admitting-hoax.html)t when a white woman claimed a Black woman through acid in her face. MSM was all over the story. During the investigation, cops got suspicious, and the woman, Bethany Storro admitted she’d thrown drain cleaner in her own face to get sympathy. > > So a _white_ woman alleged a _Black_ woman threw acid on her, and it was all over the MSM. Tell me again how the only reason the supposedly-liberal MSM ran with the Smollett story was because it involved a Black victim, a white alleged assailant, and a MAGA hat. 2010 may as well be 1010. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/103 "2019-02-20T04:54:10Z")
Here’s a nice opinion piece and some rare self-reflection being published by The NY Times. [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/opinion/jussie-smollett-attack.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/opinion/jussie-smollett-attack.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/104 "2019-02-20T05:02:05Z")
You know who is the blame for all the media attention? Trump. The right-wing newssite _The Washington Examiner_ ran this story on January 31. [Trump: Attack on actor Jussie Smollett is ‘horrible’](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-attack-on-actor-jussie-smollett-is-horrible) > [@](#): > > “That, I can tell you, is horrible. I’ve seen it, last night. I think that’s horrible,” the president told reporters during an event at the White House. “It doesn’t get worse, as far as I’m concerned.” So, questions for the OP and his cohort: [ul] [li]Is the _Washington Examiner_ part of the MSM?[/li] [li]Is President Trump part of the MSM?[/li] [li]Is it meaningful that President Trump commented on Smollett sooner than he has commented on other major news stories?[/li] [li]Should the media not cover something that the President has commented on? If not, exactly how long should they wait to cover it?[/li] [li]Is there anything at all different from the media coverage of this story from hundreds of other analogous stories?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/105 "2019-02-20T05:37:00Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Fox News is inherently stupid. Who here watches Fox News and takes it seriously. 5 bucks says OP and at least 1 other poster here do. > [@](#): > > Are you saying CNN and MSNBC are the left wing versions of Fox News? If that’s what I was saying, then I would have… said that. > [@](#): > > Shouldnt they be held to a higher standard then “Well he did it too!!!” CNN didn’t do anything wrong. A famous person says they are attacked, the police believe them, then that’s what you report. If it turns out that person was lying, then you report that. That’s the news. By contrast Fox news is objectively bad and dishonest (big long thread about that, if you care to search for it). If our tireless conservative media watchdogs have ever called Fox out on their horseshit, I must have missed it, they seem to stay glued to CNN waiting for them to slip up. That’s why I say, take this hypocritical situational outrage somewhere else, it’s a hypocritical farce. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/106 "2019-02-20T06:23:44Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If you think they’re mistaken, all you have to do is explain why. Desiring to not be an asshole in the myriad ways that affects all social interaction is not new. History is nothing BUT the admittedly slow progression in total of not being an asshole. I object to a new buzzword that an individual uses to really just signal that they are hip. I AM NOT A BIGOT is not a statement that should deserve an ovation. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/107 "2019-02-20T10:24:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > You’ll forgive us if we don’t just take your word for it. AFAICT, broadly speaking, the media reported what the police and Smollett said. The police conducted an investigation. The media is now reporting the latest results of the police investigation, which are casting doubt on Smollett’s account. > > That seems like, broadly speaking, what the media should be doing if a prominent person claims to have been assaulted and the subsequent investigation casts doubt on this. Well yeah… especially with the political slant but nope, they went all out to report about the MAGA and anti-Trump connection. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/108 "2019-02-20T10:33:47Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Well yeah… especially with the political slant but nope, they went all out to report about the MAGA and anti-Trump connection. Huh? They reported what the police and alleged victim were saying. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/109 "2019-02-20T11:12:15Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > You know who is the blame for all the media attention? Trump. > > The right-wing newssite _The Washington Examiner_ ran this story on January 31. > > [Trump: Attack on actor Jussie Smollett is ‘horrible’](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-attack-on-actor-jussie-smollett-is-horrible) > > So, questions for the OP and his cohort: > > [ul] > [li]Is the _Washington Examiner_ part of the MSM?[/li] > [li]Is President Trump part of the MSM?[/li] > [li]Is it meaningful that President Trump commented on Smollett sooner than he has commented on other major news stories?[/li] > [li]Should the media not cover something that the President has commented on? If not, exactly how long should they wait to cover it?[/li] > [li]Is there anything at all different from the media coverage of this story from hundreds of other analogous stories?[/li][/ul] Trump’s first words in regards to this came directly after he was asked about it by a reporter. If he refused to answer, that would have made for a story tying in with Smollett. Either way, it can still be news when the press has the power to gaslight the president. I find it admirable his comment was vague to the point that it can’t be deduced what aspect of the event was horrible, but that something indeed horrible had happened. (I’m almost certain his motive for commenting in opaque yet denouncing fashion wasn’t coming from an admirable place, as he’s never shown contrition for what he said about the Central Park 5.) The final question you asked on is this different from coverage of hundreds of other analogous stories is the most fascinating. Obviously individual stories vary tremendously in the level of attention they receive. I don’t know if I’m necessarily the kind of person your questions are intended for anyway; I’m responding because a person who knows the facts assigning blame to Trump in this case would give an appearance of attempted gaslighting. In general I’m much more perturbed by how squeaky wheels and hyper-extroverts with low credibility get disproportionate media attention than I am by bias. With things I heard about Covington HS students and how the MSM covered that incident, I feel like there’s some sort of problem quite a few have with empathy or lacking a rounded life experience. As someone who went to the kind of Christian high school that might protest abortion and who has strongly rejected those beliefs since I turned 20, it’s second nature I can put myself in their shoes. That one should never have been a national story. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/110 "2019-02-20T13:31:26Z")
Speaking of [why Covington became a national story…](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2019/02/19/covington-catholic-outrage-spread-shady-facebook-and-twitter-posts/2667213002/) /hijack ---
**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 20, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/111 "2019-02-20T16:46:38Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Well yeah… especially with the political slant but nope, they went all out to report about the MAGA and anti-Trump connection. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Huh? They reported what the police and alleged victim were saying. Really, what’s his position, that if there is an alleged incident reported, then sure the media may convey it, “just the facts, ma’am”, BUT he’d rather they _not quote the opinion of other public figures_ about it? Heck, come on, Trump himself reacted, saying that was “a terrible thing”(\*). Public opinion today demands that public figures and “influencers”[:rolleyes:] come out and plant a flag about any issue or event _right away_, and alas, has \*also \*ruled that that _whatever_ a political or media figure tweets IS “news” and has to be republished for the record, even if only to throw it in their faces when they turn out wrong. So whoever’s at fault started it years ago. (\*He could easily add “that’s not what I mean by MAGA and anyone who believes that is a putz” and still come out looking good no matter the reality of the incident, but that would be far exceeding expectations) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/112 "2019-02-20T16:47:52Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Why did they fall for the hoax? They wanted another opportunity to virtue signal. “The Media” also believed Charles Stuart. As did the police. To the detriment of both and to the harm of minorities in the city of Boston. “The Media” also believed Susan Smith and gave her loads of airtime. Thankfully the police were more on the ball and realized her story was crap from the start. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/113 "2019-02-20T17:36:25Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > (\*He could easily add “that’s not what I mean by MAGA and anyone who believes that is a putz” and still come out looking good no matter the reality of the incident, but that would be far exceeding expectations) Or he could have said, “I’m waiting for the police investigation before I say anything about it.” But he didn’t. He never has. He responds immediately and likes to blame certain groups before any evidence at all is in. Fascinating that the OP has higher standards for the MSM than for the President of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/114 "2019-02-21T16:07:24Z")
Also fascinating how quiet it got in here since I mentioned Trump’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/115 "2019-02-21T16:21:45Z")
We were all stunned by your eloquence in trying to blame Trump for a hoax committed by one of his enemies. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/116 "2019-02-21T17:22:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > We were all stunned by your eloquence in trying to blame Trump for a hoax committed by one of his enemies. I think we’re actually more stunned by your attempt to characterize that as somehow blaming Trump instead of what it actually was, the Right wanting to hold individuals to a higher standard than they expect of the President. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/117 "2019-02-21T17:26:49Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > We were all stunned by your eloquence in trying to blame Trump for a hoax committed by one of his enemies. Not one of your better efforts to try to shift the discussion. My mention of Trump and the Washington Enquirer were totally on point, refuting the baseless claim (in “Just Asking Questions” format) that the MSM were at fault for not allowing the police to investigate before reporting. Yes, I used the word blame in conjunction with Trump. Sarcastically. Just before I asked whether you and your cohort would want something condemned by Trump not covered by the press. A question you have been totally silent on. Now try answering my five real questions and we can see if we can have a debate or if the purpose of this thread got destroyed after dozens of posters revealed the OP’s JAQ for the uninformed political shot that it was. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/118 "2019-02-21T17:54:21Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > We were all stunned by your eloquence in trying to blame Trump for a hoax committed by one of his enemies. Would you prefer that someone start a thread asking, “Why did Trump fall for the Jussi Smollett hoax?” [sic] ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/119 "2019-02-21T18:58:09Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Now try answering my five real questions and we can see if we can have a debate… OK. **Is the Washington Examiner part of the MSM?** Yes. **Is President Trump part of the MSM?** No. **Is it meaningful that President Trump commented on Smollett sooner than he has commented on other major news stories?** No. He was asked about it, and he responded. \*\*Should the media not cover something that the President has commented on? If not, exactly how long should they wait to cover it? \*\* N/A. They didn’t wait, they asked him. \*\*Is there anything at all different from the media coverage of this story from hundreds of other analogous stories? \*\* Hell yes. I am thinking (I won’t bother with a cite, it happened) where the CNN news reader ended her coverage of the Smollett story with “this is America in 2019”. Now she could have added “or else it is some second-tier gay black actor faking hate crimes to troll the media”. That would have been fair. Or she could add the tagline “this is America” whenever Maxine Waters spouts off about intimidating Trump supporters or AOC shows yet again that she can’t count or the Lieutenant Governor of VA is accused of raping somebody again But if it’s fair to use something that didn’t happen to characterize America in 2019, then it would be equally fair to use things that did happen to characterize her. Of course, this is CNN, so I am not holding my breath. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832/120 "2019-02-21T19:19:17Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > OK. > > **Is the Washington Examiner part of the MSM?** > > Yes. > > **Is President Trump part of the MSM?** > > No. > > **Is it meaningful that President Trump commented on Smollett sooner than he has commented on other major news stories?** > > No. He was asked about it, and he responded. > > \*\*Should the media not cover something that the President has commented on? If not, exactly how long should they wait to cover it? > \*\* > N/A. They didn’t wait, they asked him. > > \*\*Is there anything at all different from the media coverage of this story from hundreds of other analogous stories? > \*\* > Hell yes. I am thinking (I won’t bother with a cite, it happened) where the CNN news reader ended her coverage of the Smollett story with “this is America in 2019”. > > Now she could have added “or else it is some second-tier gay black actor faking hate crimes to troll the media”. That would have been fair. Or she could add the tagline “this is America” whenever Maxine Waters spouts off about intimidating Trump supporters or AOC shows yet again that she can’t count or the Lieutenant Governor of VA is accused of raping somebody again > > But if it’s fair to use something that didn’t happen to characterize America in 2019, then it would be equally fair to use things that did happen to characterize her. Of course, this is CNN, so I am not holding my breath. OK. What is your definition of the MSM? Under most modern usages, the MSM, an epithet uttered by conservatives, does not apply to right-wing media. The Washington Examiner is distinctly right-wing. Trump did not have to answer. He is capable of [not answering questions](https://finance.yahoo.com/video/trump-wouldn-t-answer-campaign-222203545.html). What matters is that the President commented on how horrible the attack was a day after it was reported. Once that occurred, how could media not have followed up? The end of your post is laughable spin that doesn’t come close to the question, so no need to waste time on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832.md?page=7)