He is not suicidal. Also, he did not do what he did. (Image via video still)
In a bid to compare himself to Sandra Bland, stunt queen Jussie Smollett continued to do himself and his communities no favors at his sentencing Thursday, declaring:
I am not suicidal. That's what I would like to say. I am not suicidal. I am not suicidal. I am innocent, and I am not suicidal. If I did this, then it means that I stuck my fist in the fears of Black Americans in this country for over 400 years and the fears of the LGBTQ community. Your honor, I respect you and I respect the jury, but I did not do this and I am not suicidal. And if anything happens to me when I go in there, I did not do it to myself, and you must all know that. I respect you, your honor, I respect your decision — jail time ... I am not suicidal.
He was reacting to his sentence:
- 150 days in jail
- 30 months of probation
- $25,000 in fines
- $120,000+ in restitution to the city of Chicago
This case has garnered outsized attention, but how could it not? A hoax hate crime involving a Black queer celebrity with bizarre details was never not going to attract notice. It's also true that white people are doing less time right now for similar or worse crimes. It is also true that Black people in this country are far too often held to a higher standard in the justice system.
But none of that should be discussed before we acknowledge that what he did was disgusting. It spits on victims of actual hate crimes, and makes it harder for them to be believed. And worse, he fucking lied about it until the bitter end, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence that he was lying.
I hope I never have to hear about him or his case again, but I'll tell you what — him proclaiming over and over that he is not suicidal makes me think maybe he is.
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