Look, if “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was attacked for any reason, that’s a terrible thing. But his family, in a statement, escalated things pretty quickly by calling the alleged attack an act of “domestic terrorism,” and news outlets like the New York Daily News ran irresponsible headlines like the one claiming, “Chicago police confirm they’ve found surveillance video of the homophobic, racist assault of ‘Empire’ star Jussie Smollett,” which turned out to be … this:

BREAKING: Chicago police have released these surveillance images that show persons of interest in the alleged racist and homophobic attack on "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett. https://t.co/JQ6QigszNT pic.twitter.com/7kfz7EBOHm — Nader Issa (@NaderDIssa) January 31, 2019

So far we have two persons of interest and surveillance video showing Smollett still clinging onto his sub even after the attack but no video of the assault, despite police having reviewed hundreds of hours of video from the area.

Again, we’re not saying Smollett wasn’t attacked, but there sure are of a lot of media outlets out there writing headlines as if the police had found the attackers and wrung out a confession. Forbes, for one, thinks the hate attack against Smollett is “emblematic of our time.”

If “emblematic of our time” means the media rushing to judgment without all the facts, then yes, it’s emblematic of our time.

The hate crime attack against Jussie Smollett is emblematic of our time https://t.co/nY7JXcdFgn pic.twitter.com/ZU5rsO9KVy — Forbes (@Forbes) February 4, 2019

“Alleged hate crime” — Sky (@SkylerCFelix) February 4, 2019

You know, in a way, you're right.

…

Just not the way you think you're right. — VirginiaValuesFalcon ~ [ ✝ ?? ☕ ] (@d4v1d5m1t6) February 4, 2019

Ruth Umoh, a Forbes staffer who writes about diversity and inclusion, writes:

Smollet told police in a follow-up interview that the suspects screamed, “This is MAGA country,” referring to President Donald Trump’s contentious campaign slogan. … “Throughout American history, there have been spikes in hate crimes when political rhetoric is racist and hateful,” says Jeffery Robinson, an ACLU deputy legal director and director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality. “When you see racist rhetoric emanating from the leader in the White House, don’t be surprised when you see these acts,” he adds. “They are a symptom of something uglier and deeper in American society.”

Blaming President Trump regardless? That too is emblematic of our time.

In a weird way this is true but not in the way @Forbes intended… It’s true because nobody can agree on facts, it isn’t independently corroborated thus far, it’s rife with politics and the media reported everything with wild irresponsibility & misinformation. https://t.co/KBETFhQptV — Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 4, 2019

Fake hate crimes are pretty emblematic of our time, unfortunately. — John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) February 4, 2019

Agreed. We’ve seen a LOT of faked hate crimes by leftists desperate to provide evidence for their bullcrap narratives. — Lady L. North (@LadyLNorth) February 4, 2019

Agree. 90% of the reported hate crimes turn out to be hoaxes. That's very emblematic of our times. — Willie Vanderbrink (@OilFart1) February 4, 2019

Emblematic of the death of journalism. No investigation. No gathering of facts. Just following Twitter and sharing opinions. — Tim Dotterweich (@Timd66md) February 4, 2019

Jumping to conclusions without evidence of wrongdoing, even after 5 days, can go wrong. #becareful — J Kiernan (@jimkiernan2) February 4, 2019

According to the Chicago Police there is no evidence to back his claim but keep up the narrative! — LH (@DreamerinMaking) February 4, 2019

Word is he wouldn’t turn his phone over to police, even though he claimed he was on the phone with his music manager during the attack.

Can’t even prove this happened — Jose Perez (@jamesmack2988) February 4, 2019

where have all the good journalists gone? no investigating, just clickbait and political bias. — Fake Economy (@maniac_mantis) February 4, 2019

Hey Forbes. This never happened. You should probably have realized that days ago like the rest of us with a brain. — Lee Runestad (@Lee_Runestad) February 4, 2019

Alleged hate crime with no conclusive evidentiary support or a complete investigation by Chicago PD. #whereisjussie — Daya Rajyalakshmi El (@DayaTennille) February 4, 2019

Here for the ratio ??? — treski (@Nach0_M0mma) February 4, 2019

Wow even Forbes is chiming in on this farce. — AmandaBlue (@CassyBlue3) February 4, 2019

Did i miss something? What hate crime happened? — Mr.Charlie (@TonyRVD3) February 4, 2019

Forbes, you have always been a respectable company. Your focus in the past has been on investments and technology. Please don't stoop to this level. We have no idea if this true at this point, as the Chicago PD still have no evidence of a crime. — Tra (@tk97275) February 4, 2019

But their diversity and inclusion writer has to write about something.

What attack? — Matthew Skora (@Skora_Matthew) February 4, 2019

Also.. the story makes no sense on its face anyway.. you honestly think that not 1 but 2 conservatives are lying in wait in hostile territory to ambush an actor that many conservatives haven’t even heard of! Like how much do you want us to suspend our disbelief! — Pete Sheffer (@PeteSheffer) February 4, 2019

In sub-zero temperatures, no less. I could go on… — Sean Curtis (@SeanRCurtis1) February 4, 2019

Hate hoaxes happening more often than ever before because leftists have lost their fool heads? Yep. It is emblematic of our time. A time when people want to create narratives they will file false police reports. Not enough real hate crimes so they make them up and media bites — Justin Bernard (@JustinJBernard) February 4, 2019

Staging hate crimes in order to make a comment about “Trump’s America” defines this moment in time. Seriously, Forbes, do a follow-up on all the stories this alludes to. There’s no excuse anymore for falling for this, unless it’s that you *want* to. — David (@David_____1) February 4, 2019

The local Fox reporter is about the only one still keeping in touch with Chicago police as they continue the investigation. We’ll take his reporting over a Forbes think-piece any day.

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