Hate inspired crimes which involve people who know each other are not so unheard of.
What I find odd are the posters who are so sure that because these men are Nigerian they couldn't be Trump supporters. Why is that?
That said, there is no shortage of homophobia in Nigeria. Same sex relations are illegal there, it is rare for people to be openly gay and violence against gay people is common.
As for the racial element, the use of the 'n' word could have been the variant ending in "a". Or it may have been a racial insult. Animus from African immigrants towards African American descendents of slaves is a real thing.
I have yet to see anything that really contradicts the initial read. Supposed major contradictions are mostly based on things neither Smollett nor the police said. Neither said the assailants were white. Neither said there was a broken rib etc etc.
Its only if you take the media statements using non quoted, leaked and unofficial statements and speculation that much is changing. If you look at the official statements and don't make weird assumptions this is unfolding in a fairly linear way.
I suppose it could still be a hoax, but it would have to be a pretty wacky one to conspire to have two people fake a beating but purposefully do it out of camera shot. Why have any people there at all? This would have had to be planned days in advance if not weeks, so details like having the manager actually on the phone would be easy. The hoax version of this is so bizarre that i would need a lot more evidence in favor to consider it. I'm up to 70/30 that this was an actual attack. Could still be wrong but I'm finding it less likely.
