So I admit that I was duped into believing actor Jussie Smollett’s apparently made up assault story. I even penned a column, about the issue which has since been deleted. However, over the last two weeks, the Chicago Police Department’s investigation turned in on Smollett and his story fell apart.

Although the story sounded believable, hate crimes are up in America inspired by President Donald Trump’s white nationalist policies, there were holes in Smollett’s tale. Who goes to buy a Subway sandwich at 2. a.m. on a snowy night, how many homophobes watch “Empire,” and how many Trump fans are in liberal Chicago? Still, I only wrote my story after the police had released a report backing Smollett’s claim, and he appeared with injuries on his face. Also, I cited the fact the studio that produces “Empire” said a death threat had been sent to the actor. (Apparently, this letter was sent by Smollett himself.) He also appeared on “Good Morning America” in a tearful interview.

But now, even though it has been exposed as a grand hoax, Smollett is still claiming he’s telling the truth. According to CNN, Smollett recently apologized to the cast and crew of “Empire,” but still insisted he was innocent. On Thursday he was arrested on felony charges for filing a false police report.

In a press conference, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Smollett staged the attack to boost his profile and try to negotiate a better salary. Apparently, he was unhappy at receiving $65,000 per episode on “Empire.” Johnson also lambasted Smollett for taking attention away from real crime victims.

“I just wish that the families of gun violence in this city got this much attention because that’s who really deserves the amount of attention that we are giving to this particular in this distinct,” said Johnston.

I’m also angry at Smollett for several other reasons:

His stunt only gives fuel to the MAGA hats and their war on the media. Trump supporters like to brand the mainstream media as “fake news,” and this only gives them more ammunition. Actually, this isn’t fake news, this was a mistake and most members of the media are apologizing or deleting their Smollett articles. We were duped and we fixed the problem. That’s what members of the real media do. People like FOX News, which is real fake news, spew out incorrect information and never fix it. Real fake news is deliberately incorrect information. This is what Trump does. For example, earlier this week he released footage of heavy equipment doing construction work, and claimed it was signs of progress on his border wall. It wasn’t. The footage he released was actually replacement work that came from money budgeted in 2017. That’s propaganda, or real fake news!

Trump supporters like to brand the mainstream media as “fake news,” and this only gives them more ammunition. Actually, this isn’t fake news, this was a mistake and most members of the media are apologizing or deleting their Smollett articles. We were duped and we fixed the problem. That’s what members of the real media do. People like FOX News, which is real fake news, spew out incorrect information and never fix it. Real fake news is deliberately incorrect information. This is what Trump does. For example, earlier this week he released footage of heavy equipment doing construction work, and claimed it was signs of progress on his border wall. It wasn’t. The footage he released was actually replacement work that came from money budgeted in 2017. That’s propaganda, or real fake news! Trump has tried to paint his supporters as the real victims. On Thursday, the leader of the free world somehow found time to criticize Smollett and the media’s smearing of his MAGA lords. But he said nothing about Lt. Christopher Hasson, a Trump supporter, who had an arsenal of weapons and a hit list of Democratic politicians and media figures!

On Thursday, the leader of the free world somehow found time to criticize Smollett and the media’s smearing of his MAGA lords. But he said nothing about Lt. Christopher Hasson, a Trump supporter, who had an arsenal of weapons and a hit list of Democratic politicians and media figures! Smollett’s stunt only fueled conspiracy theorists who doubt everything and claim there’s a secret agenda behind all news stories. When Smollett’s story first appeared, some people doubted it and they turned out to be right. Other people questioned the leaks coming from the Chicago PD, that has a well-deserved reputation for lying and corruption. Even now, with all the revelations about the Smollett-led conspiracy, some people still believe him and think he’s the victim of a police-led smear campaign. Smollett’s family have also blamed “the media.” By the way, getting people to doubt everything is a classic Russian disinformation tactic. Why believe the news, when everything is a lie?

When Smollett’s story first appeared, some people doubted it and they turned out to be right. Other people questioned the leaks coming from the Chicago PD, that has a well-deserved reputation for lying and corruption. Even now, with all the revelations about the Smollett-led conspiracy, some people still believe him and think he’s the victim of a police-led smear campaign. Smollett’s family have also blamed “the media.” By the way, getting people to doubt everything is a classic Russian disinformation tactic. Why believe the news, when everything is a lie? Smollett has made it more difficult for real victims of hate crimes. Attacks against people of color and members of the LGBTQ community are a real problem. A recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center showed that membership in hate groups is at a 20-year high. We see a new attack directed at minorities almost every week. But Smollett’s stunt makes it easy for the far-right to dismiss these attacks as “fake news.” Also, will victims of real violence come forward now they know their cases will be questioned for fraud? Victims of hate crimes are already traumatized, the last thing they want is to be accused of lying.

Even though I’ve seen the evidence against him, I’m still having a hard time understanding why Smollett would try to pull off this poorly-planned stunt. The truth was bound to come out. Now it has, the only thing he’s done is ruin his career and given more fuel to people who hate him and his community.