When the story of the attack on Empire star, Jussie Smollett broke on January 29, social media went berzerk as everyone rallied around the gay actor. The attack was reported as a racist and homophobic attack which made the reactions more intense.
The 35-year-old Jussie Smollett had flown into Chicago from New York on the night of the attack to continue filming the new season of “Empire.”
“The alleged assailants made racially charged comments to the victim implying that they knew he was a star from the show,” police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
From celebrities to civil right activities and the LGBTQ community offered their support to Jussie Smollett after being hospitalised following the attack.
The outrage as a result of the attack was deafening and perhaps Smollett was already basking in the euphoria of the many reactions. However, as they say in Nigerian parlance, kasala don burst!
Sen. Cory Booker responds to Jussie Smollett reports: "The information is still coming out. I'm going to withhold until all the information actually comes out from on the record sources."
Police release 2 men questioned in Smollett attack: https://t.co/HvJ8l95PlK pic.twitter.com/KEKGdSbSEb
— The Hill (@thehill) February 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/1096946190904479744?
Despite the inconsistencies, I can’t blindly believe Chicago PD. The department that covered up shooting Laquan McDonald over a dozen times? That operated an off-site torture facility? That one? I’ll wait. Whatever the outcome, this won’t stop me from believing others. It can’t.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 17, 2019
Hey Hollywood and media types, I’ve noticed a lot of you deleted your #JusticeForJussie tweets… what’s the matter, don’t you want justice for him anymore??? #frauds
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 18, 2019
I just spoke to Ola and Abel Osundairo on the phone. It was brief but they stressed the following.
“We are not racist. We are not homophobic. And we are not anti-Trump. We were born and raised in Chicago and are American citizens.”https://t.co/0TtYH1awDE
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 18, 2019
Thoughts on Jussie Smollett case: He must be held accountable in the strictest way. He must repay resources used to investigate and serve time for the division he caused. The media should be the most outraged. He played all of them for fools. He knew they would cover it.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 19, 2019
AWKWARD: Kamala Harris on her Jussie Smollett 'modern day lynching' tweet…
a.k.a. What it looks like when you've been out shopping with your new BFF reporter girlfriends then a real journalist asks you a real question… pic.twitter.com/avcCy8eqkF
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) February 18, 2019
I am extremely disappointed that J. Smollett staged a hate crime. I apologize for my comment made immediately after the news broke. Without firsthand knowledge, I should have known better than to place any faith in the accusations until an investigation was done by me or others.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) February 19, 2019