horrifying attack on Jussie Smollett

[lionking]

The kids these days use Bluetooth earbuds or those apple thingies. Phone remains safely in pocket. Come on.

Good pick up. I’m wearing ear pods now and have been answering calls with them, but I didn’t think to make your obvious point.

 

[sadhatter]

So many suspect things in this story.

I'm guessing there was a confrontation, and someone, possibly 2 people said some things the actor didn't like possibly in an aggressive manner. I wouldn't even be overly surprised if a shove happened. Then wanting to get a bit of revenge the actor reports the incident as a violent attack, knowing there would be likely some footage of them together.

At this point he is realizing that while that footage of the arguement may or may not exist there isn't enough non accounted for time for his story to make sense as anything more than a brief verbal or mildly physical (shoving at worst) encounter and is being as unhelpful as possible in the hopes the police will give up.

Not a perfect theory but it makes more sense than. ..
Someone being so shook up they forget to take off a noose but remembers their sandwich.

Someone getting covered in bleach, but the sandwich remaining unscathed.

The attackers not destroying the sandwich.

The attackers not using the noose.

The attackers not noticing the victim was in mid phone call.

Among the many more questionable elements of the story.

 

[Jimmy9]

You can tell the story is real because it sounds so fake.

 

[Foolmewunz]

I didn't say racists don't exist. Racists most certainly do exist. There are over 7 billion of them, in fact.

What I'm saying is that the type of racists described in this hoax, in the area it's claimed to have happened in, do not exist.

This event did not happen.

I take it in your assiduous attempts to avoid mudbloods and minorities, you haven't actually spent a whole lot of time with the homeless.

Many of the homeless, unfortunately, are predatory. The only groups they can pick on without drawing massively unwanted attention or their fellow homeless. If you don't think there are an equal number of hateful homophobic racists homeless to that in the general population, you're (yet again) sadly mistaken in your assessment of America. And the number one reason that LGBT people stay out of the shelters is the predatory violence, not just by callous staff but by their fellow homeless!

Meadmaker was offering a hypothetical equal to the many offered here by people who are dying to believe that this is all made up. I'm particularly fond of the magic-scooters-that-don't-exist and that have thus morphed into pedal bikes, but others have their favorites. Is Meadmaker's hypothetical any less possible than the "bar fight" proposed by one poster? The lover's tiff proposed by another. The infamous vanishing scooters?

 

[lionking]

Jeez, if only a professional group of, say, the police could investigate this event and come to a conclusion.

Never mind, this will never happen and we have to rely on an Internet forum which includes self-confessed racists and “skeptical” fellow travellers to get to the bottom of this. I can now sleep safely at night.

 

[baron]

#ChicagoPolice source tells @fox32news that #JussieSmollett was seen on surveillance still holding his #Subway sandwich when he returned to the building after the alleged attack.

I guess he beat them off with his foot long club!

Can a brother get a laughing dog?

If that's a valid leak then



However, at this stage no additional absurdity increases the unlikelihood of the scenario.

No, I would expect it to have been a planned attack, like many attacks on celebrities are.

I've already dealt with that. According to his own testimony the two ninja Trump supporters were surprised to see him and recognise him from the show. If they had been tracking him why on earth would they need to check his identity?

Jeez, if only a professional group of, say, the police could investigate this event and come to a conclusion.

Happily they will do (see my earlier quote). According to the cops, there are so many cameras in that area that if the attack did happen, they are guaranteed to find the culprits. It follows that if they do not find the culprits, the attack certainly did not happen. Do you want to make a bet?

 

[lionking]

If that's a valid leak then



However, at this stage no additional absurdity increases the unlikelihood of the scenario.



I've already dealt with that. According to his own testimony the two ninja Trump supporters were surprised to see him and recognise him from the show. If they had been tracking him why on earth would they need to check his identity?



Happily they will do (see my earlier quote). According to the cops, there are so many cameras in that area that if the attack did happen, they are guaranteed to find the culprits. It follows that if they do not find the culprits, the attack certainly did not happen. Do you want to make a bet?

Yes i will make a bet that you are full of it.

 

[baron]

Yes i will make a bet that you are full of it.

That's not much of a bet, but it will do.

 

[Mike!]

I take it in your assiduous attempts to avoid mudbloods and minorities, you haven't actually spent a whole lot of time with the homeless.

Many of the homeless, unfortunately, are predatory. The only groups they can pick on without drawing massively unwanted attention or their fellow homeless. If you don't think there are an equal number of hateful homophobic racists homeless to that in the general population, you're (yet again) sadly mistaken in your assessment of America. And the number one reason that LGBT people stay out of the shelters is the predatory violence, not just by callous staff but by their fellow homeless!

Meadmaker was offering a hypothetical equal to the many offered here by people who are dying to believe that this is all made up. I'm particularly fond of the magic-scooters-that-don't-exist and that have thus morphed into pedal bikes, but others have their favorites. Is Meadmaker's hypothetical any less possible than the "bar fight" proposed by one poster? The lover's tiff proposed by another. The infamous vanishing scooters?

If you're homeless, at 2 am, in 5 degree weather, and you are going through the trouble of assaulting a sandwich packing celebrity, isn't it reasonable safe to assume you'd be hungry? I always thought hunger and homelessness went pretty much hand in hand, so I'd also assume, if you are going though the trouble of knocking him down, yelling this is MAGA country, dousing him with your last cup of bleach, and leaving behind your best belt, that you might just go ahead and relieve your victim of their Subway fresh sandwich in the process. Pure speculation on my part, as I've never been outright homeless in sub freezing temperatures, mind you. But it seems like something even a crazy homeless person or two would do, given the opportunity.

 

[alfaniner]

One crucial piece of evidence has not been reported in all this.
What kind of sandwich was it?

Especially taking into account he was on the phone with his manager when the attack happened.

I am skeptical that even this is true. His manager would have good reason to cover for him if he knows the real story.

 

[Athyrio]

One crucial piece of evidence has not been reported in all this.
What kind of sandwich was it?

Come on you guys. I thought surely someone was gonna say "baloney"

 

[The Big Dog]

One crucial piece of evidence has not been reported in all this.
What kind of sandwich was it?

Given that he beat off his attackers, I am guessing a couple of six inchers with plenty of hot mayo.

 

[Meadmaker]

The more I think about this, the more I'm leaning toward his story being true. There's a lot of suspect things about it, but there are a lot of suspect things about any scenario. Here's the scenario I've concocted as a hypothesis.

The attackers knew exactly who he was, and knew he was a successful, black, homo. I've never seen "Empire" and didn't even recognize it as the name of a show, but apparently he plays a gay character, so would it be possible that it could be described as a "liberal" show? So he's a successful, black, liberal, homo. He's exactly the sort of person that they really hate.

The goal of the attack was pure ethnic/homophobic intimidation. They weren't trying to kill him or even cause injury. Just threaten, maybe slap around a bit. Throw a noose on him, yell some taunts, and get the hell out of there before getting caught.

The live or work in the area, so they are familiar with his habits. My first guess would be people who work late hours in either food service or sanitation, people who are used to using bleach to clean up filth, and who would have some of it right at hand as an extra symbolic gesture.

The bitterly cold night really throws a lot of things into question for me, but maybe even that played into the attackers' plans. On such a night, two guys in full facemasks wouldn't look out of place. It is conceivable that, working in the area, they even knew of a concealed spot that wasn't covered by surveillance cameras.

So, it's kind of a planned attack, but more of a fantasized one than actual planned. They talk about, "Back in the good old days, we would know exactly what to do with a ****** like that.", said while fashioning a noose, because cool people know how to tie noose. Then, the opportunity arises to actual turn the fantasy into reality. They jump him, tie their noose, and run like hell.

From the victim's perspective, he gets his sandwich, is talking on the phone to his friend/manager, when he gets blindsided and knocked to the ground. His phone is knocked out of his hand. Two crazy guys yelling Trump slogans are putting a noose around his neck and he's afraid. They run away. He's left dazed and angry. He has to spend a couple of minutes finding his phone.


Call the cops? Maybe he hates cops. Maybe he's drugged up. His injuries aren't so bad that he needs immediate attention. The attackers are long gone because he spent a few minutes looking for his phone (and he of course picked up his sandwich) There are all sorts of reasons he might not feel like making the immediate call. And why leave the noose? Hmmm.....it isn't tight. It wasn't actually a weapon. He's planning on calling the cops and doesn't want to disturb it? He wants to tell someone and show them what was done? (I'm reminded of Jackie Kennedy not washing off the blood so she can show the world what "they've" done.)


So, that's my leading theory right now.


An alternative theory is that it was pure politics and publicity. That also fits the evidence, sort of.


Well, sorting it all out is what detectives do for a living, so hopefully they will catch a perpetrator, whether the crime was assault or whether it was filing a false police report.

 

[baron]

If you're homeless, at 2 am, in 5 degree weather, and you are going through the trouble of assaulting a sandwich packing celebrity, isn't it reasonable safe to assume you'd be hungry?

To be fair, the homeless guy was so eager to get back to his TV under the railway bridge and watch 'Empire' that he totally forgot to pick up the sandwich. Doh!

 

[sadhatter]

The more I think about this, the more I'm leaning toward his story being true. There's a lot of suspect things about it, but there are a lot of suspect things about any scenario. Here's the scenario I've concocted as a hypothesis.

The attackers knew exactly who he was, and knew he was a successful, black, homo. I've never seen "Empire" and didn't even recognize it as the name of a show, but apparently he plays a gay character, so would it be possible that it could be described as a "liberal" show? So he's a successful, black, liberal, homo. He's exactly the sort of person that they really hate.

The goal of the attack was pure ethnic/homophobic intimidation. They weren't trying to kill him or even cause injury. Just threaten, maybe slap around a bit. Throw a noose on him, yell some taunts, and get the hell out of there before getting caught.

The live or work in the area, so they are familiar with his habits. My first guess would be people who work late hours in either food service or sanitation, people who are used to using bleach to clean up filth, and who would have some of it right at hand as an extra symbolic gesture.

The bitterly cold night really throws a lot of things into question for me, but maybe even that played into the attackers' plans. On such a night, two guys in full facemasks wouldn't look out of place. It is conceivable that, working in the area, they even knew of a concealed spot that wasn't covered by surveillance cameras.

So, it's kind of a planned attack, but more of a fantasized one than actual planned. They talk about, "Back in the good old days, we would know exactly what to do with a ****** like that.", said while fashioning a noose, because cool people know how to tie noose. Then, the opportunity arises to actual turn the fantasy into reality. They jump him, tie their noose, and run like hell.

From the victim's perspective, he gets his sandwich, is talking on the phone to his friend/manager, when he gets blindsided and knocked to the ground. His phone is knocked out of his hand. Two crazy guys yelling Trump slogans are putting a noose around his neck and he's afraid. They run away. He's left dazed and angry. He has to spend a couple of minutes finding his phone.


Call the cops? Maybe he hates cops. Maybe he's drugged up. His injuries aren't so bad that he needs immediate attention. The attackers are long gone because he spent a few minutes looking for his phone (and he of course picked up his sandwich) There are all sorts of reasons he might not feel like making the immediate call. And why leave the noose? Hmmm.....it isn't tight. It wasn't actually a weapon. He's planning on calling the cops and doesn't want to disturb it? He wants to tell someone and show them what was done? (I'm reminded of Jackie Kennedy not washing off the blood so she can show the world what "they've" done.)


So, that's my leading theory right now.


An alternative theory is that it was pure politics and publicity. That also fits the evidence, sort of.


Well, sorting it all out is what detectives do for a living, so hopefully they will catch a perpetrator, whether the crime was assault or whether it was filing a false police report.

I read your post and I hear a parson so afraid of sounding bigoted they can't stand behind the statement that the evidence doesn't fit the story. Instead concocting a very unique racially motivated attack to explain some of many inconsistencies.

 

[carlitos]

Good pick up. I’m wearing ear pods now and have been answering calls with them, but I didn’t think to make your obvious point.

I'm still having a hard time adjusting. They all look like crazy people talking to themselves to me. Side note, but why do so many people want to be in animated telephone conversations in public? Really, the bus, sidewalk and grocery store does not want to hear about your drama.

 

[Elvis666]

I read your post and I hear a parson so afraid of sounding bigoted they can't stand behind the statement that the evidence doesn't fit the story. Instead concocting a very unique racially motivated attack to explain some of many inconsistencies.

I don't have a solid opinion either way but I do appreciate Meadmaker's attempt to formulate a possible scenario that covers most of the reported details of the incident. I'm reminded of the concept that defense attorneys must always do the same for their clients.

I'd say Meadmaker's attempt to apply logic to the situation is in the true spirit of skepticism. It seems like he's not putting it forward as the truth, only as a way the various claims could fit together to be true.

 

[LTC8K6]

The kids these days use Bluetooth earbuds or those apple thingies. Phone remains safely in pocket. Come on.

I haven't seen a BT earpiece in a long while. They used to be popular, though.

 

[LTC8K6]

None of the scenarios I can come up with make any sense to me.

For all the reasons others have posted, the idea that he is telling the truth is at best suspect. It could be. It has been said that there are some homeless dudes around. Imagine (it's not much of a stretch) that a couple of them are racists. They learn that the guy they see sometimes is an uppity ****** queer guy. (Counting on autocensor) They decide to beat him up and show him who's boss. That isn't too much of a stretch. But in the middle of a very cold night, and they just happen to conduct the attack in an area that isn't covered by cameras? And the sandwich....? Seems weird.


But.....it's fake? What? A publicity stunt? That seems weird.



I keep trying to come up with something that happened, and he needed a cover story. In the middle of some kinky sex game, and requires medical attention, so they make up a story about MAGA hat wearers? Unless the kinky sex games required a sandwich, it doesn't seem good, and although he was treated, it doesn't sound like his wounds were all that sever that he absolutely had to go to the hospital.


I even wondered if maybe a suicide attempt. But.....sandwich?


No. I can't come up with anything. Nothing fits. What's the frequency, Kenneth? By default, I'll assume he's telling the truth, and figure that there are professonals following up on this to reveal what really happened.

Smollett isn't normally there, I think, so the homeless probably rarely see him.

He only arrived that night.

It seems like the single digit (F) temps probably kept the homeless off the streets.

I still don't think he really needed medical attention.

But yeah, the whole thing is an odd puzzle.

 

[Elagabalus]

Smollett isn't normally there, I think, so the homeless probably rarely see him.

He only arrived that night.

It seems like the single digit (F) temps probably kept the homeless off the streets.

I still don't think he really needed medical attention.

But yeah, the whole thing is an odd puzzle.

From what I've read Empire is suppose to be in New York but is filmed in Chicago. So I think Smollet is in Chicago on a predictable timeline.