Initially, the two men were considered potential suspects because they admitted to police that they were at the scene, that they were the men in the images and because police had probable cause they could be the attackers. Based on the video evidence that police discovered, it did not indicate anyone else was there at the scene of the alleged incident, police say.
While police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Saturday that he could not speak on what the new information was, he said that the break from detectives has “shifted the trajectory” of the investigation. Though he did not say whether Smollett spoke to the men that night — one of them had previously appeared on “Empire” — he said it will also be central to the investigation whether they spoke to or saw Smollett.
So the initial trajectory was these men were the attackers. No video evidence of other people. After the interview, new information shifts the trajectory. Again, using as little mental gymnastics as possible, these men probably witnessed other people on the street that were not picked up on camera.
I saw this deteriorate on Twitter the day it was reported. It was ugly and felt mob-like. I hope the police are able to solve this, not just to bring criminals to justice, but so that the gross speculation can be put to rest.
I am late to the party for today but even before they cleared the two brothers, why couldn’t the racist poster also consider that it could have been a hate crime because the victim is gay? That could also have been the issue, by itself.
There are multiple reasons the guy could have been targeted. To refuse to consider those options points to bigotry in one form or another - or multiple.
The desire to discredit the victim and dig in one’s heels in that regard is gross.
Post by RoxMonster on Feb 16, 2019 19:51:43 GMT -5
The defense attorney they had on CNN just discussed that possibly people admitted to doing it but lied and said "Oh but he paid us to do it." He said he is interested to see what evidence comes forth and emphasized not jumping to conclusions.
I’m also kind of blown away that hiring a defense attorney is being read as a signal of guilt in this situation. He is a celebrity who is being publicly accused of faking a hate crime committed against him. Why in the world wouldn’t he hire an attorney?
I've heard enough police interrogations to think anyone should get an attorney whether they did something or not.
I’ve told DH several times that if anything were ever to happen to the other, to hire an attorney immediately and we are white. I do not blame him for hiring an attorney at all!
Um, this actually suggests that the police think it was staged. News reports say that new evidence obtained during their interrogations led to them being released. I’m guessing they told the police that Smollett was in on it. No attack = no charges for these guys.
Oof, your lack of understanding on how this would work is embarrassing for someone who’s talking like they know something. I just can’t figure out why you would be twisting so hard not to see him as the victim. It sure is a mystery! I wonder what the possible reason for your seeming certainty that he is guilty of being in on his own violent attack could possibly be! Hmmmmmmmmm.
Post by turnipthebeet on Feb 16, 2019 22:45:41 GMT -5
If he did lie, and the evidence bears that out, his lie doesn’t negate the fact that hate crimes occur with alarming frequency and victims should always be believed.
Oof, your lack of understanding on how this would work is embarrassing for someone who’s talking like they know something. I just can’t figure out why you would be twisting so hard not to see him as the victim. It sure is a mystery! I wonder what the possible reason for your seeming certainty that he is guilty of being in on his own violent attack could possibly be! Hmmmmmmmmm.
Yet it seems I was exactly right. How embarrassing for you.
You’re still not getting it. You were very happy to jump to this conclusion without any actual evidence to support the claims, if it turns out that he did set this attack up you wouldn’t be any less of an asshole for those assumptions. And, if it does turn out that these two men are telling the truth, then we would all condemn such actions as it allows people like you to point at any other act of bigotry and violence and say “Well, how do we know they’re telling the truth?”
ETA: it’s not embarrassing for me. I will never be embarrassed to believe people from marginalized communities who speak out about assaults, attacks, harassment, etc. So, you go on patting yourself on the back- which, gross that this situation is something you’re taking pleasure in, you might want to think about yourself there for a bit- but I’ll wait until everything is out and clear before I rush to say a black, gay man is faking a violent assault.
Yet it seems I was exactly right. How embarrassing for you.
You’re still not getting it. You were very happy to jump to this conclusion without any actual evidence to support the claims, if it turns out that he did set this attack up you wouldn’t be any less of an asshole for those assumptions. And, if it does turn out that these two men are telling the truth, then we would all condemn such actions as it allows people like you to point at any other act of bigotry and violence and say “Well, how do we know they’re telling the truth?”
I didn’t jump to any conclusion. I listened to his story, determined it didn’t make any sense, eventually read that his “attackers” were black and friends of his (he implied they were white) and used common sense to come to the conclusion that he was not telling the truth. Why were you so happy to set aside critical thinking to come to the conclusion that he was telling the truth? His story never made sense.
Just because these guys say he paid them doesn't make it true. That's a great story for a guilty party to tell, too. I don't know what's true and what's not, but the perpetrator isn't exactly a reliable source in any kind of attack. Why are people assuming they are telling the truth and not just lying to get out of being punished?
Kind of like when a murderer says "I didn't do it". Does that make them innocent? I bet nearly every guy sitting in jail has a story about why he's not guilty.
You’re still not getting it. You were very happy to jump to this conclusion without any actual evidence to support the claims, if it turns out that he did set this attack up you wouldn’t be any less of an asshole for those assumptions. And, if it does turn out that these two men are telling the truth, then we would all condemn such actions as it allows people like you to point at any other act of bigotry and violence and say “Well, how do we know they’re telling the truth?”
I didn’t jump to any conclusion. I listened to his story, determined it didn’t make any sense, eventually read that his “attackers” were black and friends of his (he implied they were white) and used common sense to come to the conclusion that he was not telling the truth. Why were you so happy to set aside critical thinking to come to the conclusion that he was telling the truth? His story never made sense.
I didn’t set aside critical thinking. I left the possibility open. I said we really didn’t know. It could have been staged or not.
But you still based your belief on the fact that all three were black. Which was a racist assumption.
This is just a weird argument. We all lose it. If he has told the truth, then we have a hate crime. If he has not told the truth, then the cause of making hate crimes and their victims taken seriously is damaged. I don't understand taking satisfaction in this, and I feel shitty that someone seems to be.
You’re still not getting it. You were very happy to jump to this conclusion without any actual evidence to support the claims, if it turns out that he did set this attack up you wouldn’t be any less of an asshole for those assumptions. And, if it does turn out that these two men are telling the truth, then we would all condemn such actions as it allows people like you to point at any other act of bigotry and violence and say “Well, how do we know they’re telling the truth?”
I didn’t jump to any conclusion. I listened to his story, determined it didn’t make any sense, eventually read that his “attackers” were black and friends of his (he implied they were white) and used common sense to come to the conclusion that he was not telling the truth. Why were you so happy to set aside critical thinking to come to the conclusion that he was telling the truth? His story never made sense.
Critical thinking tells me that statistically hate crimes aren’t faked. Critical thinking tells me I should wait until all the evidence is laid out before making a judgement.
Oof, your lack of understanding on how this would work is embarrassing for someone who’s talking like they know something. I just can’t figure out why you would be twisting so hard not to see him as the victim. It sure is a mystery! I wonder what the possible reason for your seeming certainty that he is guilty of being in on his own violent attack could possibly be! Hmmmmmmmmm.
Yet it seems I was exactly right. How embarrassing for you.
It’s pretty shitty to derive pleasure out of this.
Either he is legitimately a victim of a hate crime - something that happens every single fucking day, or he made things exponentially harder for people who are marginalized every single fucking day in multiple ways.
Yet it seems I was exactly right. How embarrassing for you.
It’s pretty shitty to derive pleasure out of this.
Either he is legitimately a victim of a hate crime - something that happens every single fucking day, or he made things exponentially harder for people who are marginalized every single fucking day in multiple ways.
There is no happy ending here.
You misunderstand. I take no pleasure in the fact that Smollett did this. I will admit to taking a little pleasure in meganew making a fool of herself with this “oooh that’s not how this works, you must be so embarrassed” nonsense.
It’s pretty shitty to derive pleasure out of this.
Either he is legitimately a victim of a hate crime - something that happens every single fucking day, or he made things exponentially harder for people who are marginalized every single fucking day in multiple ways.
There is no happy ending here.
You misunderstand. I take no pleasure in the fact that Smollett did this. I will admit to taking a little pleasure in meganew making a fool of herself with this “oooh that’s not how this works, you must be so embarrassed” nonsense.
You misunderstand. I take no pleasure in the fact that Smollett did this. I will admit to taking a little pleasure in meganew making a fool of herself with this “oooh that’s not how this works, you must be so embarrassed” nonsense.
It’s pretty shitty to derive pleasure out of this.
Either he is legitimately a victim of a hate crime - something that happens every single fucking day, or he made things exponentially harder for people who are marginalized every single fucking day in multiple ways.
There is no happy ending here.
You misunderstand. I take no pleasure in the fact that Smollett did this. I will admit to taking a little pleasure in meganew making a fool of herself with this “oooh that’s not how this works, you must be so embarrassed” nonsense.
You misunderstand. I take no pleasure in the fact that Smollett did this. I will admit to taking a little pleasure in meganew making a fool of herself with this “oooh that’s not how this works, you must be so embarrassed” nonsense.
I still think you’re embarrassing yourself.
Lol. Impossible to do with this group.
Anyway, I’m out. I will leave you guys alone, but it will be interesting to see how many GBCNers show up in this thread today to express the sadness and outrage they’re feeling, and say how they’d rather believe victims and end up looking like a fool (and trust me, you do), anyone who didn’t is racist, etc.
Psst...if a poster comes in to this thread today and didn’t post in it yesterday (assuming she posted in other threads yesterday), that’s how you can tell that she’s a racist. Because she didn’t believe Smollett’s story either but she didn’t want to expose herself. Now that it’s all but confirmed, she’ll feel safer commenting.
Anyway, I’m out. I will leave you guys alone, but it will be interesting to see how many GBCNers show up in this thread today to express the sadness and outrage they’re feeling, and say how they’d rather believe victims and end up looking like a fool (and trust me, you do), anyone who didn’t is racist, etc.
Psst...if a poster comes in to this thread today and didn’t post in it yesterday (assuming she posted in other threads yesterday), that’s how you can tell that she’s a racist. Because she didn’t believe Smollett’s story either but she didn’t want to expose herself. Now that it’s all but confirmed, she’ll feel safer commenting.
Anyway, I’m out. I will leave you guys alone, but it will be interesting to see how many GBCNers show up in this thread today to express the sadness and outrage they’re feeling, and say how they’d rather believe victims and end up looking like a fool (and trust me, you do), anyone who didn’t is racist, etc.
Psst...if a poster comes in to this thread today and didn’t post in it yesterday (assuming she posted in other threads yesterday), that’s how you can tell that she’s a racist. Because she didn’t believe Smollett’s story either but she didn’t want to expose herself. Now that it’s all but confirmed, she’ll feel safer commenting.
Peace.
It’s not the fact you found his story suspect that makes you a racist.
It’s the other comments you’ve made in support of your opinion that do.
Anyway, I’m out. I will leave you guys alone, but it will be interesting to see how many GBCNers show up in this thread today to express the sadness and outrage they’re feeling, and say how they’d rather believe victims and end up looking like a fool (and trust me, you do), anyone who didn’t is racist, etc.
Psst...if a poster comes in to this thread today and didn’t post in it yesterday (assuming she posted in other threads yesterday), that’s how you can tell that she’s a racist. Because she didn’t believe Smollett’s story either but she didn’t want to expose herself. Now that it’s all but confirmed, she’ll feel safer commenting.
Peace.
Not posting yesterday and then posting today in and of itself doesn’t make someone a racist. It simply means that despite what her gut might be telling her, she isn’t one to jump to conclusions without all the information.
Anyway, I’m out. I will leave you guys alone, but it will be interesting to see how many GBCNers show up in this thread today to express the sadness and outrage they’re feeling, and say how they’d rather believe victims and end up looking like a fool (and trust me, you do), anyone who didn’t is racist, etc.
Psst...if a poster comes in to this thread today and didn’t post in it yesterday (assuming she posted in other threads yesterday), that’s how you can tell that she’s a racist. Because she didn’t believe Smollett’s story either but she didn’t want to expose herself. Now that it’s all but confirmed, she’ll feel safer commenting.
Peace.
Not posting yesterday and then posting today in and of itself doesn’t make someone a racist. It simply means that despite what her gut might be telling her, she isn’t one to jump to conclusions without all the information.
Or that she had shit to do yesterday and isn’t following. What the fuck happened in here??
Not posting yesterday and then posting today in and of itself doesn’t make someone a racist. It simply means that despite what her gut might be telling her, she isn’t one to jump to conclusions without all the information.
Or that she had shit to do yesterday and isn’t following. What the fuck happened in here??
Go to page 1. Stella maintained that because all three men were black and two knew each other this was so obviously staged. And she can’t understand why people on CEP think she is racist.
And dig and dig and dig
Then “I was right I was right!” And then “and you are still racist!”
Or that she had shit to do yesterday and isn’t following. What the fuck happened in here??
Go to page 1. Stella maintained that because all three men were black and two knew each other this was so obviously staged. And she can’t understand why people on CEP think she is racist.
And dig and dig and dig
Then “I was right I was right!” And then “and you are still racist!”
Can’t edit. Correct that to:
“And you are still racist Stella!” Stella: “Nuh uh!!”
This thread is a mess and you all have officially jumped the shark. I need a commitment that you all will never attempt to opine on what is or isn’t racist, or what constitutes quality black television again. Oh, and the reading list was just...
Please help me stop cringing. It’s not good for my blood pressure.
And sorry, but finding Jussie’s story to be suspect, and finding that the alleged perpetrators were Nigerians to be even more suspicious is not racist. Good grief. Did you all even follow his “detailed” account? It made no sense.