Jussie Smollett

By: Bailey A.

Jussie Smollett, who stars in “Empire” on Fox, is both an African-American and an openly gay man. As a minority in several aspects, it would make sense for him to want to support and protect the rights of other minorities. Instead, Smollett decided to stage an attack that resembled a hate crime against himself for his own gain and to put him in the headlines.

Last month, Smollett supposedly received a letter that threatened that included a death threat on the grounds of his race and homosexuality, and referenced the Trump-coined slogan, “Make America Great Again.” About a week later, police opened a hate crime investigation after the 36-year-old actor reported that he was attacked by two men who shouted homophobic and racist slurs at him, poured a chemical substance on him, and put a noose around his neck. The attackers allegedly yelled “This is MAGA country” before running off. Not even a month later, two brothers from Nigeria, Ola and Abel Osundairo, told police they had been paid by Smollett to enact the attack.

Hate crimes are a very real problem in America, which makes what Smollett did so offensive. Not only did his stunt cause purposeful hate by relating it to politics, but it is demeaning to actual victims of these hate crimes and could potentially discredit them and make it harder for people to believe these real survivors.

As a member of both the African American and LGBTQ+ community, Jussie Smollett severely let down his fellow minorities, many of whom stood up for him and believed him even when doubts of his story were plentiful. Hate crimes and acts of violence against these minorities are very real. Victims of these crimes are often called liars, and face severe criticism for coming forward. Now, because of Smollett, they may have an even harder time getting people to believe their story. In fact, it may cause some people to not share their story at all. This is a serious step back for these groups of minorities, and it’s even worse that it was caused by a man that identifies with these groups himself.