Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett

A cranky opinion for

Cranky Opinion Saturday

The following is the opinion of a cranky old man with little expertise on the topic opined.  Opposing opinions are welcome, but they are wrong!  As always, no name calling, and that means you, you big stupid-head!

I really didn’t want to comment on this Jussie Smollett thing.  First of all, I don’t really care all that much.  I’ve never watched his show, and never heard of him until this whole bru-ha-ha hit the news.  But I did post on his guilt a few weeks ago, so I guess I need to post on this new turn of events.

https://joeh-crankyoldman.blogspot.com/search?q=Jussie+Smollett

OK, in a nutshell, this actor claimed he was a victim of a racist homophobic attack which he said was committed by two white guys wearing red MAGA hats.

It turned out that the whole thing was a hoax and Jussie was looking at serious charges and possible jail time.

The other day, out of the blue all charges were dropped.  There is more evidence on his guilt than against OJ, but the charges were dropped.  The Chicago Police and the Mayor are livid.

Why were the charges dropped?

One theory was some very powerful political arm twisting.

Another theory was the Police by having a public airing of the evidence and forcefully declaring Jussie’s guilt they poisoned the jury pool and any trial would be very difficult.

My position?  I don’t care that this is not going to trial.  It was a hoax, and Jussie is now and will continue to pay a price.  He may still appear on his TV show, he might bring extra curiosity seekers to the show for an episode or two, but when that show is done, I suspect his career is toast.

What really fries my buns, is after all charges were dropped, and everyone knows it is BS, Jussie went before the cameras and proclaimed his innocence.  He was very convincing, except we now know what a skilled actor he is and it was clear he was acting again.  It was not only incredibly nervy, it was also stupid.

If Jussie wanted to save his career, he should have shown some remorse.

“I want to thank the DA for dropping this case, I am grateful to having been spared the expense and embarrassment of a trial.  I am not admitting guilt, but I do want to apologize for all the people I have hurt through my bad judgement.  Let me just leave it at that.  False claims of injustice only serve to incite injustice, making a false claim for any purpose is counterproductive.

I hope I can eventually put this incident behind me and move forward.  That is all I can say at this time without jeopardizing the decision of the DA.

Thank you very much and I ask for everyone to understand and forgive.”

OK, maybe this would have incriminated him and would have been stupid, but then he should have just said nothing other than “I’m glad this has been settled.” Reasserting his innocence was pouring salt in the wound of public opinion when contrition might have started the healing.

People in this country are generally very forgiving.  If you are perceived as genuinely contrite, you will be forgiven.

The stance Jussie took guarantees that he will never be forgiven.  His name will be associated with this hoax.  It will become a verb for any future hoax.  

“I don’t believe you, I think you’re Jussieing us.”

I think you Lewinskied it Jussie, you are cleared by law, but as guilty as OJ in the court of public opinion and that will be your own private prison, a prison that carries a life sentence.

The preceding was the opinion of a cranky old man, and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky.