In the early morning hours of January 29, 2019, actor Jussie Smollett claimed he was violently attacked in frigid downtown Chicago while returning from a Subway restaurant with a sandwich. He was attacked by two men shouting racist and homophobic slurs, referencing “MAGA country,” pouring a chemical substance on him, and placing a noose around his neck. Surprisingly, his sandwich remained intact and in his possession.
The alleged assault—framed as a hate crime by white, Trump-supporting racists—dominated headlines for days. CNN, MSNBC, and other left-leaning outlets rushed to amplify the story, while progressive politicians and celebrities flooded social media with condemnation. However, the narrative quickly unraveled. Investigations revealed that Smollett had staged the attack using two Nigerian-American brothers he knew.
The event, intended to stir racial outrage and blame Trump supporters, became one of the most glaring and unlikely media hoaxes of the decade. What’s often overlooked, however, is that powerful political figures—including former First Lady Michelle Obama—used backchannel influence to intervene in the case on Smollett’s behalf. This post explores the layers of deception, media complicity, and political favoritism that made the Smollett saga a perfect case study in how identity politics can be weaponized to manipulate public perception.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Hoax: A deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth.
- Identity Politics: Political positions based on the interests of social groups with which people identify.
- Victimhood Culture: A moral culture in which individuals gain status by claiming oppression.
- Intersectionality: A framework that analyzes how aspects of a person’s identity combine to create unique modes of discrimination.
The Hoax Unraveled
Initial media coverage painted Smollett as a courageous survivor of modern American hate. Outlets like CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, and NPR accepted the story without critical scrutiny. Yet within days, inconsistencies emerged. Smollett’s phone records were incomplete. Surveillance footage failed to corroborate his story. And most telling of all, two brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo—acquaintances of Smollett—admitted they were paid by the actor to fake the attack.
Chicago police eventually charged Smollett with multiple counts of disorderly conduct for filing false police reports. Although the evidence was overwhelming, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped the charges in March 2019—just weeks after Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, Tina Tchen, had contacted Foxx to advocate on Smollett’s behalf.
Michelle Obama’s Advocacy
Michelle Obama herself did not publicly comment at length on the matter, but her inner circle played a key behind-the-scenes role in Smollett’s preferential treatment. Tina Tchen, a close Obama confidante and former top White House aide, reached out to Foxx while claiming to represent Smollett’s family. Text messages and emails later revealed Tchen asked Foxx to convince the Chicago Police Department to hand off the investigation to the FBI, allegedly to ensure a “less biased” outcome. This communication, undisclosed to the public at the time, exposed troubling signs of political influence in the justice system.
Foxx eventually claimed to have recused herself—though her office maintained authority over the case. After widespread outrage and accusations of impropriety, a special prosecutor was appointed. Smollett was re-charged, convicted on five counts, and sentenced to 150 days in jail, though he served only a few days pending appeal.
Media Amplification and Progressive Rhetoric
Progressive media framed the hoax as confirmation of Trump-era racial animus. Pundits blamed conservative rhetoric for creating an environment that could make such an attack plausible—even when the story fell apart. Even after Smollett’s conviction, outlets like CNN downplayed his deceit, suggesting he had “already suffered enough.”
Celebrities including Ellen Page, Ava DuVernay, and Trevor Noah initially condemned the “attack” in righteous anger. Politicians such as Kamala Harris and Cory Booker called it “an attempted modern-day lynching,” and used the incident to promote anti-lynching legislation.
Yet almost none of these figures offered retractions or apologies once the hoax was revealed. The narrative mattered more than the truth.
Christian and Conservative Reflections
From a Christian perspective, the ninth commandment—”You shall not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16, ESV)—is central to the moral failure of this event. Smollett’s lie exploited serious issues like racism and homophobia for personal and political gain. It placed unjust suspicion on political opponents, harmed public trust, and trivialized real victims of hate crimes.
Conservatives rightly criticized the media’s double standard and the corrosive effect of identity politics. The hoax illustrated how quickly progressives are willing to believe the worst about conservative Americans, even in the absence of evidence. Worse, it showed that political connections—especially those tied to the Obamas—could influence legal processes in favor of the politically connected.
The Legacy of the Smollett Hoax
The long-term effects of the hoax were severe:
- Public Distrust: Faith in the media, celebrities, and prosecutors diminished.
- Damage to Real Victims: Future hate crime victims may now face increased skepticism.
- Political Weaponization of Victimhood: Smollett’s actions emboldened the trend of using perceived oppression as a political weapon.
Despite these effects, progressive institutions have shown little desire to reflect on their complicity. The focus remains on narrative over truth, symbolism over substance.
Conclusion
The Jussie Smollett hoax was not merely a publicity stunt—it was a politically charged deception amplified by a compliant media and quietly supported by powerful political allies. Michelle Obama’s inner circle engaged in advocacy that blurred the line between justice and favoritism. This influence was exerted during the Trump presidency, and it raises concerns that the Democrat elites maintained considerable influence over federal agencies through the Deep State (embedded bureaucracy). The mainstream press revealed its ideological bias. And identity politics once again proved to be a destructive force, willing to sacrifice truth to maintain the illusion of systemic oppression. Christians and conservatives must respond not with cynicism but with discernment, truthfulness, and a commitment to justice rooted in Scripture—not in narrative.
Regards,
Robert Sparkman
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
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