HuskerNBigD

Playing devil's advocate (and really just throwing this out there, because I have no clue whether the city could get any answers now that the case has been sealed), what if the federal government and POTUS are the only way to get answers / clarification? Granted, we then have to ask ourselves whether this case warrants additional resources. Honestly, I think the guy should be prosecuted given his theatrics and intentional race-baiting, but I'm not exactly sure what that'll prove. People are already dug in on their sides, whether they support him or not, and I don't believe any sort of conviction would sway individuals one way or another. What concerns me is this case allows for others to believe you can side skirt any ramifications of trying to create hoopla around a hate crime, producing more copycat like acts. That has the potential to not only divide this country further, as some will claim it is real and others will call it another Smollett farce. We will have to rely on the fact that there are some normal human beings who can objective apply a sniff test to each individual case. However, in a world that continues to be more and more polarized by political parties or acts, I fear the number of able individuals continues to dwindle. I think it is completely ridiculous that his attorneys are claiming he's 100% innocent and demanding an apology.

The far right that wants to hang their hat on this event and claim scoreboard.

I don’t have a dog in the fight either, but I believe you have to be pretty ignorant to overlook the fact they have the two brothers on camera buying the red hat and rope.

Seriously?

Agreed. As you said, Smollett could easily fall on the "raising awareness" card and he's already played the victim card through his press release. The city is really in a no win situation, as you stated they know he's not a harm to anyone and if they throw the book at him they'd probably end up being painted in a worse light by those that have stood in Jussie's corner this whole time. They'll use this decision to say that he was innocent, but hopefully most will see through the B.S. Wash your hands of the situation and move on to more pressing matters.

Reported.

What a weird, weird case. I have a hard time believing that he was completely 100% innocent, given all the mounting evidence that seemed stacked against him and really, just the fact that I find it extremely implausible two white racist were on a witch hunt at 2:00 AM during one of the coldest nights on record in Chicago. It seems like some sort of deal was struck and many didn't want to touch a very serious / sensitive topic that is prosecuting a gay black man. I'd be willing to wager with that more so than the CPD making huge mistakes.

In that case I’m a F(reaking) idiot.

He uses the term towards his co-host when he’s trying to make a point. To me, it just comes off as immature, belittling and very unbecoming.

LOL.

One day, I’d really like Franklin to tell DB where to shove his vagueness.

Sounds like something scotty Mattyice would say.

Yeah, kids that don’t get LSU offers. For example, SMJ. If LSU wants him, I highly doubt honey badger’s cousin goes elsewhere. Would love to say I’m wrong, but highly doubt it.

Right, to be fair. I just went back and wanted to see what the comment was. It’s a bit dicier than I remember but i still believe he was going for guerrilla, not gorilla.

There was a tennis announcer that had to step down because he used the term guerrilla to describe one of the WIlliam's sisters style of play. Of course, many were adamant he was using the word gorilla. But if you go back and listen to the audio, grammatically you can tell 100% he was using guerrilla. So much so that ESPN settled with him out of court, since he was terminated immediately. Edit: not to mention Nike ran a guerrilla tennis campaign in 95, apparently the phrase was in the lexicon of most tennis professionals.

Feel like it is political grandstanding. Nothing more, nothing less.

Agreed. I'm not saying there aren't racist out there - obviously there are. But it takes a special kind of person to be this big of a jackass in person. Lot easier to be a tough guy/gal when hiding behind a keyboard.

And the smollett saga will live on. Always best to tread lightly and use reason when seeing these attention grabbing headlines. Esepcially given the fact he has already taken down the original post.

Lawyered up. https://mobile.twitter.com/RaferWeigel/status/1096589512568844288

Once LSU offers, I'll go ahead and place my vote. lol.

Mosaic theory here, but the two individuals were extras on the show Empire. I highly doubt that two men from Nigeria would be staunch supporters of Trump. However, I now read that they have been released, based on new evidence from the interviews, and this investigation will now turn to a line-up. Seems highly unlikely that Smollett will be able to accurately pick out people from a lineup if he couldn't give a great description from the get-go. Again, don't want to assume, but based off all the facts provided so far this seems more hoax like/ nefarious than an actual event.

Two men that are brothers, one of which is an extra on the show. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. This whole thing was staged from the get go.

And now he’s settled. His agent was trying to do god’s work.

Here we go again!

Je-sus. The hoops people will jump through to get some attention. Carving into her own skin? No thank you.