Tony Goldmark

There is literally no outcome to the Jussie Smollett story that won't be depressing as fuck.

If we receive irrefutable proof that it WAS definitely a hoax, then he basically gave all the worst people free reign to commit as many hate crimes as they want, secure in the knowledge that millions of garbage people will happily look the other way and call all victims liars.

If we receive irrefutable proof that he was telling the truth...it won't matter. The "he was lying" narrative is too widespread at this point. It'll mean MAGAholes (with help from an irresponsible news media) were able to turn a victim into a criminal by sheer force of will.

And if it remains unsolved, with no irrefutable proof in either direction...that won't matter either. The garbage people will see absence of evidence as evidence of absence. They've stacked the decks and even if they lose, they win.

If Smollett IS lying...I would strongly encourage you to take a good long look at how you react to that. If you are seriously HAPPY that a gay black man sold out the safety of his people like that...ask yourself why.

If your little cup of joy overflows at the prospect of a gay black man getting punished for DARING to speak ill of Trump supporters...ask yourself why. The answer may surprise you.

The same Goddamn people who won't shut up about "innocent until proven guilty" when it's a straight white man in trouble have been more than happy to call for Smollett's blood before the investigation's even finished. And for what? To protect a fucking hat.

From the moment Smollett's name started trending, people everywhere were INSISTING it must be a hoax. They would not entertain the possibility that it wasn't. Not a single MAGA hat wearer mentioned by name, but it didn't matter. The hat itself was what they were protecting.