You’ve got to be kidding me? This is why actor Jussie Smollett reportedly staged his own hate crime. Apparently, Smollett was the recipient of a racist letter containing a white powder, later determined to be aspirin, on January 22 that didn’t get enough attention. So, he reportedly orchestrated his own assault in sub-zero temperatures that was executed on January 29. He allegedly hired two Nigerian brothers to do it. They bought the rope that was tied around his neck (allegedly). They even held rehearsals…allegedly. But seriously, this reportedly was over a letter?

Via Daily Beast:

Empire” actor Jussie Smollett reportedly staged an attack against himself in late January after a “racist” letter sent to the TV show’s studio, which contained a white powder, did not get a “bigger reaction,” according to a local Chicago news station. A source told CBS Chicago the actor allegedly “concocted” the “staged” Jan. 29 attack and paid his “acquaintances”—brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo—over $3,000 to carry it out. Smollett reportedly opened the letter on Jan. 22 at Chicago’s Cinespace Studios, and the white powder prompted a HAZMAT team to respond. Chicago Police Department told the news station that the substance turned out to be asprin. Cinespace Studios would not comment to The Daily Beast about the incident. Fox, "Empire's" network, also declined to provide comment or confirmation. […] The Osundairo brothers’ attorney, Gloria Schmidt, said “all the facts will reveal themselves” in due time. “At the end of the day my clients are honest and credible,” she told CBS Chicago. Initially, Smollett claimed two white men attacked him on the streets of Chicago in the early morning hours of Jan. 29. One attacker allegedly wore a red hat while yelling racist and homophobic slurs at him, and the other poured bleach and tied a rope around Smollett’s neck. On a Feb. 14 appearance on “Good Morning America,” Smollett reiterated the racial overtones of the alleged attack “They called me a f-----t, they called me a n----r,” he said. “There's no which way you cut it. I don't need some MAGA hat as the cherry on some racist sundae.” It was previously reported by CBS Chicago at least one of the brothers allegedly purchased a rope “at Smollett’s request” from a hardware store on Jan. 25, and the brothers rehearsed the attack with Smollett days before it took place. The news station also reported that a red hat was also purchased at a neighborhood beauty supply store.

“The brothers said Jussie chose the spot because he believed a camera would have captured the action. ... What he didn’t know was the camera faced the other direction.” https://t.co/4QW62wy3D0 — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 19, 2019

NEW: A law enforcement official briefed on Smollett investigation tells @ABC during interrogations, police were told by the two brothers Smollett was upset a threatening letter sent to Empire’s Chicago studio on January 22 did not get enough attention. 1/2 — Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) February 18, 2019

The brothers knew Smollett. One was an extra on Empire and the other was his former personal trainer. Smollett allegedly offered them least $3,500 to partake in this…scheme. As stated, the initial report was that Smollett was attacked by two white men, who punched him, poured bleach on him, and placed a rope around his neck while hurling racist and homophobic slurs at him.

What a mess. What a grade-A mess. We’ll see how this angle pans out, but it does play into the ethos of liberal America.

They will make you care. Just remember that. There is no neutral faction in the war against America. They will make you care, force themselves into whatever politically neutral space you adore and poison it to force your hand. Given how anti-Trump hysteria has doled out some serious insanity since 2016, this wouldn’t shock me if it turns out to be true. At the same time, we can all marvel in how pathetic this whole affair has become. It’s sad. And we can thank the anti-Trump, opposition media for spreading it like the measles. Oh, and now it's horrible that those evil conservatives are celebrating...that a hate crime didn't happen. This is America in 2019.

It is with absolutely no glee in my heart and the greatest respect for the journalistic profession that I ask the Associated Press to kiss my ass, you hacks. pic.twitter.com/lZkdjdgiJd — Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) February 18, 2019

The guy framed conservatives for a crime, members of Congress responded that “The dangerous lies spewing from the right wing is killing & hurting our people.” I reserve the right to be gleeful it didn’t happen, ffs. — Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) February 18, 2019