However, the plot thickens even more. According to Page Six, the two men arrested for the alleged attack against Smollett have spoken out. The Nigerian brothers stated that Smollett paid them $4,000 to carry out the attack prior to their temporary departure from the United States. Moreover, the ‘Empire’ actor reportedly bought rope and rehearsed the attack beforehand.
The Response from the American People
Many of the individuals who initially rallied behind Smollett are now silent; this comes in light of the real possibility that the attack is a hoax. Other Americans, however, are not as silent and are speaking out.
Some people have real concerns that the ‘Empire’ actor orchestrated the alleged attack in order to vilify Trump supporters. Interestingly enough, Smollett has actively spoken out against the president and Americans who support him.
First son Donald Trump Jr. addressed this point in a tweet this weekend:
It appears that Jussie Smollett tried to manufacture a hate crime to make Trump supporters look bad and most of the media not only uncritically accepted his lies as facts for weeks, but attacked those who questioned the validity of his false story.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 17, 2019
Other individuals have also taken to social media to express their thoughts in light of the latest developments:
