Thread by @robbystarbuck

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I’ll add later to this thread, send the worst examples & I’ll include those when I have time later. For now all that’s been confirmed by multiple reporters is his "attackers" are not white MAGA Guys, they’re Nigerian actors from Empire & caution only @ABC7 says Jussie staged it.

Hi @oliviamunn Chicago PD currently have 2 Nigerian actors who appeared on Empire being questioned. Would you like to retract this and wait until there is a conclusive resolution? Even if @ABC7 is wrong and Jussie is in fact the victim, the perpetrators are not white MAGA guys.

Hi @KamalaHarris Chicago PD currently have 2 Nigerian actors who appeared on Empire being questioned. Would you like to retract this and wait until there is a conclusive resolution? Even if @ABC7 is wrong and Jussie is in fact the victim, the perpetrators are not white MAGA guys.

For those reading along I have not called Jussie a liar or a hoaxer as there is no conclusive evidence of that at this point. I’m criticizing a rush to accept a narrative this was perpetrated by white MAGA guys which is not true as we know the men in custody are Nigerian actors.

Latest update from @RobElgasABC7:

Chicago police told ABC News "Police are investigating whether the two individuals committed the attack - or whether the attack happened at all."

Either way the white MAGA narrative is wrong and needs to be corrected by everyone who spread it.

Jussie Smollett Update — Attorney for the two men in custody being questioned says:

"They know Jussie. They worked with him on Empire. My preliminary investigations show that on set it's very tight. They're all very cordial with each other, so they're baffled why they’re POI’s."

Jussie Smollett Update: The two Nigerian men who were interviewed yesterday as Persons of Interest are now being called potential suspects. Detectives have probable cause to indicate they committed a crime. This is a photo of the suspects.

Jussie Smollett update: Jussie followed the 2 men who are now being called suspects on Instagram. They worked together on Empire.

Not White MAGA attackers.

These are the men Chicago PD have in custody that Jussie Smollett would have had to fight off if his story is accurate about being beat and then fighting off his attackers. That’s a red flag to police along with the fact they know each other.

Jussie Smollett update: The two Nigerian men who knew and worked with Jussie have been arrested and are still being questioned. No longer potential suspects, they’re now suspects and formally under arrest.

Now that we know these two men are under arrest in connection with the Jussie Smollett case it feels safe to say the original story media was pushing is at least inaccurate and irresponsible. It’s time for media to take accountability & apologize for pushing a divisive narrative.

TMZ is confirming that Jussie said the attackers were white initially and "this raises a potential problem" as the two men arrested right now are black and knew Jussie Smollett from their time on Empire. Their original reporting on Jussie’s claims are in the 2nd screenshot.

All of this is in the interest of showing that media is sick (which many of us know) and desperately need to get better, quickly. The claim shouldn’t have inspired think pieces, op-eds, celebs saying everyone in a MAGA hat is racist, etc.

Irresponsible & divorced from reality.

Lesson for all from the Jussie Smollett case:

If it had been two white MAGA guys, it would NOT have meant all MAGA folks are racist and it being allegedly two black men does NOT mean all black men are to blame for it.

Hold individuals accountable, identity politics are toxic.

Hi @RashidaTlaib do you have an apology to make and a retraction? The police just arrested two black men in connection to the Jussie Smollett case. Those "dangerous lies" that it was not perpetrated by white MAGA guys are now proven to be true. Will you take accountability?

Jussie Smollett update: The brothers from Nigeria, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, have been charged with battery. Still a lot of questions.

Only thing for sure is it appears the narrative of a white MAGA attack spread initially by TMZ (who claim Jussie as source) is WRONG.

HUGE Jussie Smollett update: Upon release of Nigerian brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo we find out Jussie Smollett has hired a defense attorney, Michael Monico, who also represents Michael Cohen. That seems significant...

These developments seem like bad news for Jussie Smollett. This case has been incredibly weird so I urge people to wait until something solid is out but... 2 suspects released after threat of charges + Jussie hiring a top shelf defense attorney sounds like VERY bad news for him.

Jussie Smollett update: Jussie hired a high end defense lawyer because Chicago Police are now investigating if he staged the attack with the men they had in custody yesterday. The investigation is now looking at him. Multiple outlets sourcing this report as coming from Police.

Jussie Smollett update: Police seized bleach from Jussie’s apartment as part of their investigation. Previously he claimed that bleach was poured on him in the "attack" — This gives you a good idea of the direction that the investigation is going.

Jussie Smollett update: Fox News is reporting via @MattFinnFNC that they have Chicago Police sources saying the Jussie Smollet attack is a HOAX. Fox is the largest outlet to claim sources within investigation saying that this is a hoax scripted by Jussie.

When the national reporters descend on Chicago for the Jussie Smollett case they better give credit to the people like @CWBChicago @RobElgasABC7 and @RaferWeigel who have been instrumental in breaking the latest news with real sources from the investigation.

HUGE Jussie Smollett update: Now @RaferWeigel reports that Nigerian brothers who knew Jussie bought the "rope" from Ace Hardware (it was actually a clothesline). CPD reached out to Jussie’s lawyers and told them they need to speak to Jussie now. Jussie hired defense attorney.

I feel comfortable with the news that came down today and will be coming in next 48 hours saying that this is trending heavily toward proving that Jussie Smollett did commit a hoax.

A lot of Democrats in Hollywood owe MAGA voters an apology. It had a lot of them chastising me for not buying Jussie’s story. Those of us who were skeptical were right. Now @CNN reports Jussie paid the two Nigerian brothers to stage the attack.

This is such an amazing Fake News lesson for America, specifically the left. You all bought Jussie’s story hook, line and sinker. Mainstream media was so PC they feared even questioning the narrative despite massive holes in the story. Real reporting questions the holes.

Don’t accept the next fantastical story you read or see on TV. Wait & verify before you react or virtue signal. That next thing could be a new Jussie Smollett. The media fears violating the law of identity politics. Embrace personal responsibility & reject identity politics.

If the Jussie Smollett hoax was a show it’d be cancelled after its 1st episode. Production design couldn’t be bothered to get a real noose, wardrobe didn’t care enough to get real MAGA hats, casting went with 2 Nigerians to play white guys and the creator left major plot holes.

So who gets the Oscar for best hoaxer with political intent, Jussie Smollett or Nathan Phillips?

Oh yes... There is something called Justice Jussie Smollett and you’re experiencing it now... You really shouldn’t have done the GMA interview.

In hindsight it might have been a tip off that Jussie Smollett had to read off of notecards to tell the audience at his show what he experienced only days after it happened... Whoops!

Hi @billyeichner are you gonna retract this absolute bigotry? Looks like Jussie hoaxed a hate crime to inspire bigotry toward Republicans. You fell for it and did exactly what he hoped you’d do. Sad!

Hi @jmrivera02 — about this piece you wrote... you might want to add an update...

Just watch the narrative is going to shift into a "well Chicago Police are racist and unfair so why should we believe them" narrative. Irony: Jussie just hired a lawyer that represented a Chicago cop in the Laquan McDonald case.

Jussie Smollett update: Friends of Jussie, Abimbola 'Abel' and Olabinjo 'Ola' Osundairo, are cooperating with investigators and @cbschicago says they reportedly told detectives that they did a practice run a few days before. They are claiming this was premeditated and rehearsed.

What’s really crazy about this Jussie Smollett story is that Jussie had a good career in front of him as an actor. The why behind this is likely some combination of it not being enough, wanting to be more widely known, pure narcissism and severe hatred for Republicans + Trump.

What could be the motive for Jussie Smollett to commit such a hoax? Trump Derangement Syndrome. He was radicalized by the media to believe the very worst things. No facts, all driven by emotion.

https://twitter.com/jussiesmollett/status/951681671027404800?s=21

Hi @Jack @TwitterSupport are you gonna allow this? A verified account is out here tweeting to incite violence against a specific race all due to a hoax perpetrated by Jussie Smollett. It’s sad that some sick people think like this but the 19,000 likes on this are disgusting.

Hi @Travon are you gonna retract this nonsense now that it’s clear there were no "white terrorists”? Will you be more careful next time you hear an unbelievable story? Will you keep that same energy to call out Jussie Smollett?

52,000 likes on this lie.

https://twitter.com/travon/status/1090322063045189632?s=21

Jussie Smollett update: @TMZ is reporting a grand jury will hear the Jussie Smollett case next week and that Police say they were suspicious from the start about the alleged "This is MAGA Country" line because "Not a single Trump supporter watches Empire."

For anyone hearing from media that they were just reporting facts when the Jussie Smollett hoax happened, they are lying. Media ran stories like this that almost never qualified the "attack" as alleged even when while it was unraveling.

Jussie — I have a feeling that’s not going to work out well for you. 😂

"This is MAGA Country"

Jussie Smollett update: @cbschicago is reporting that the two Nigerian brothers involved told police Jussie Smollett had a role in creating the threatening MAGA letter and Jussie was reportedly upset he didn’t get more attention from the letter which led to doing the hoax attack.

The MAGA letter is a much bigger problem for Jussie than the hoaxed attack because the FBI is involved & he could face stiff federal charges for the hoaxed letter with fake threatening powder in it. The more we learn the more idiotic this becomes. Pure Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Now @NBCLA is reporting that Jussie Smollett has a history of lying to police. He pleaded guilty to DUI & providing false information to law enforcement in 2007. Not looking great for him...

Jussie Smollett update: Chicago PD sources have told multiple media outlets that an indictment against Jussie Smollett is coming within hours.

More than 20 detectives were forced to work on the hate crime hoax that Jussie Smollett perpetrated. It’s very difficult to quantify how destructive, insane, dangerous and hateful his crime was.

In a city where murder and gang activity runs rampant, the damage he did is immense.

Even if Jussie Smollett faces justice, one thing is true: The initial sympathetic, unquestioning, gullible reaction from our media, celebrities and politicians when he claimed this occurred will only inspire more of these hate crime hoaxes. They’ll just be more careful next time.

Jussie Smollet hoax lessons:

• National media is biased against Republicans, they WANT stories like this to be true
• Celebrity worship is unhealthy
• Trump Derangement Syndrome is real
• Identity politics perpetuated by the left is the most destructive force against unity

HUGE Jussie Smollett update: Now @CBSChicago says that brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo are in a Grand Jury room right now for the Jussie Smollett case. Indictment likely coming shortly after they’re finished.

Jussie Smollett has officially been named a suspect by Chicago Police. An indictment against him is likely imminent.

Hey guys any guesses why Jussie Smollett isn’t a trending topic despite the fact he’s being tweeted about far more than other trending topics?

An important question I haven’t seen the media ask since we found out Jussie Smollett perpetrated a hoax hate crime: Who is the victim of a hoaxed hate crime like this? Trump voters are but to a lesser degree, everyone is.

We must act in opposition of his intention to divide us.

Breaking News: Jussie Smollett has officially been indicted for filing a false police report. He planned and perpetrated a hate crime hoax.

Hey @kathygriffin do you want to retract these tweets now that Jussie Smollett has been indicted & charged for committing a monstrous hoax in hopes of blaming MAGA voters & dividing people? He played you for fools because he knew you’d react emotionally, not logically.

20+ investigators worked the Jussie Smollett case. In the time between his mail threat & being charged for his hoax there were 23 murders and 104 shot in Chicago but only 6 arrests.

Jussie’s hoax may mean murderers literally got away with murder. He deserves a maximum sentence.

Chicago PD Superintendent Eddie Johnson says that Jussie Smollett “slapped everybody in the face to promote his own public profile.”

Want evidence of how broken and biased our media is? All of these self described “journalists" posted their support for Jussie Smollett TODAY. Between them they have written for @NBCNews @BuzzFeed @etnow @TeenVogue @TheRoot @theGrio @thinkprogress.

This is why we have Fake News.

"As far as we can tell the scratches and bruising that you saw on Jussie Smollett’s face was likely self inflicted." - Chicago Police Dept.

Sounds like Jussie did it like Edward Norton in Fight Club & beat himself up. What an embarrassment.

Exclusive footage of Jussie Smollett creating the scratches and bruises we all saw on his face. Incredible.

It’s been 23 days since @oliviamunn claimed without reservation that Jussie Smollett was violently beaten by 2 white men who poured bleach on him & put a noose around his neck. 40,000 likes, 8,600 RT’s and she hasn’t deleted it despite knowing it’s a hoax.

https://twitter.com/oliviamunn/status/1090342691030806528?s=21

I don’t think Chicago felony charge sentencing will produce the justice many feel would be appropriate in Jussie’s case. I predict restitution, therapy & very little if any jail-time but I think feds will charge him too and he’ll get real jail-time from the federal charge(s).