Stars, pols eat their own words
It’s time to eat crow for the hordes of politicians and celebrities who rushed to condemn the Jussie Smollett “hate attack.”
Some walked back their words or deleted tweets this week, while others turned silent:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
Jan. 30: “The racist, homophobic attack on @JussieSmollett is an affront to our humanity. No one should be attacked for who they are or whom they love. I pray that Jussie has a speedy recovery & that justice is served. May we all commit to ending this hate once & for all.”
Monday: The tweet was deleted. Her rep said, “Given the turn in the investigation, we decided to no longer amplify the original accusation.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Jan. 29: “The vicious attack on actor Jussie Smollett was an attempted modern-day lynching. I’m glad he’s safe. To those in Congress who don’t feel the urgency to pass our Anti-Lynching bill designating lynching as a federal hate crime — I urge you to pay attention.”
Sunday: “I’m gonna withhold [comment] until all the information actually comes out from on-the-record sources.” No comment since.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)
Jan. 29: “@JussieSmollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know. I’m praying for his quick recovery. This was an attempted modern day lynching. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate.”
Thursday: Asked about Smollett, she said only, “I love Harlem.” She later tweeted, “Like most of you, I’ve seen the reports about Jussie Smollett, and I’m sad, frustrated, and disappointed . . . At the same time, we must speak the truth: hate crimes are on the rise in America.’’
The Rev. Al Sharpton Jan. 30: The attack is a “reminder of the times we live in.”
Thursday: “Whoever is wrong should pay the maximum. If Smollett is wrong, he ought to face accountability to the maximum.”
Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (D-NY) Jan. 30: After “Entertainment Tonight” reported the “possible homophobic and racially charged attack,” she tweeted, “There is no such thing as ‘racially charged.’ This attack was not ‘possibly’ homophobic. It was a racist and homophobic attack . . . It is no one’s job to water down or sugar-coat the rise of hate crimes.” No comment since.
Singer Katy Perry Jan. 29: “Standing with and sending love to @JussieSmollett today... this is a racist hate crime and is disgusting and shameful to our country.”
She hasn’t walked back that statement. Director Rob Reiner Jan. 30: “The horrific attack on Jussie Smollett has no place in a decent human loving society. Homophobia existed before Trump, but there is no question that since he has injected his hatred into the American bloodstream, we are less decent, less human, & less loving. No intolerance! No DT!” Has since deleted the tweet.
Actor Billy Eichner Jan. 29: President Trump and “all MAGA lunatics” should “burn in hell.”
The tweet has been deleted.