Almost three years ago, the world got a first-hand glimpse into just how devastating the effects of cancel culture can be and its glaring hypocrisy for Black, queer people. On Jan. 29, 2019, Jussie Smollett, award-winning actor and former star of Empire
reported his assault to the Chicago police, citing racist and homophobic slurs being hurled at him while being physically beaten.

Prior to this incident, Smollett, an openly queer and Black man, would captivate audiences week after week in his role as fictional musical legend Jamal Lyon on Empire. Slowly making his rounds to becoming a legend in his own right via his promising music career, Smollett quickly found himself on the other side of public scrutiny. His swift transition from America’s golden boy to alleged criminal mastermind gave the country a masterclass on cancel culture and its brutal take on the Black queer community. 

Smollett would soon face allegations of orchestrating a hate crime for attention which led to him being charged with 16 felony counts including filing a false police report.

The allegations and social media chatter were loaded to the brim with homophobic and racist undertones, proving what many of us suspected from the jump—Smollett was being persecuted in real-time because of who and what he identified as.

What's most saddening out of all of this is that Smollett was never afforded the grace that has been shown to others, time and time again. The stark differences are deafening. 

Smollett falls along the unique intersection of Blackness and queerness, adding an entirely different layer of unwanted scrutiny to an already sensitive case.

It is no secret that Boosie is a cultural terrorist, having perpetrated the most homophobic and transphobic rhetoric on a number of occasions to tear down children like Zaya Wade or the obsessive harassment inflicted upon Lil Nas X. Let’s not forget his orchestration of the sexual assault of his son and nephew to secure their “manhood.”

Despite his track record of setting the culture back a few decades through his literal criminal behavior, he is still afforded grace. The fledgling rapper is still praised for these antics even if they cause harm to people and communities. Where was that same show of support for Smollett? Why wasn’t he shown compassion for enduring this horrific incident and having his integrity dissected apart like some sick, high school experiment? This rigid dichotomy insinuates that being an abuser is lauded over being a victim. The lack of sympathy that Smollett received can even be compared to the outpouring of love that his non-Black peers receive in times of duress.

When Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in 2016, the world stopped immediately. Jumping to the rescue of the reality show princess-turned-mogul, people across the world instantly responded with an abundance of support and love. I, in no way, am suggesting that they shouldn’t have but, again, where was that support for Smollett? Why wasn't there an influx of allegations of Kardashian fabricating this robbery? While she should have been believed and treated with the utmost respect, one must acknowledge her proximity to whiteness by way of ethnicity and how it plays a role in Smollett not receiving that same empathy. What’s most peculiar out of all of this, is the Black community’s sudden faith in the Chicago Police Department.

The charges against Smollett were eventually dropped but the situation itself illuminated another deep issue— the problematic undertaking within the Chicago Police Department.

The Chicago Police Department is notorious for employing racist employees, policies, and methods at the detriment and even death of Black people. Whether it was allegedly covering up the death of teenager Laquan McDonald or failing to hold R. Kelly accountable for his pedophilic crimes against young, Black girls, this police department is sorely lacking in credibility.

It seemed as if Black people immediately jumped from a severe mistrust in this shoddy police department to this unfounded trust, based on nothing except the commonality of discriminatory behavior and ideals. 

The Chicago Police Department’s sordid history of enabling the abuse of the Black community should be reason enough for disbelief in the validity of their claims against Smollett. This particular police department’s history of perpetuating the literal torture of Black bodies and enabling abusers should stay at the front of our minds.

While the court of law, in Chicago, isn’t known to exude fairness or equity, the court of public opinion could change the tides by offering up a key ingredient that is still missing from all of this—grace. None of us truly know what transpired on that awful night or in the events leading up to it but what we should be able to agree on is that Smollett deserves the same grace that we’d want for ourselves.

As we close out 2021 and enter into a new year, January of 2022 will mark the third anniversary of Smollett’s ill-treatment and the ensuing damage, left in the aftermath. He may have been cleared of his charges but he is still owed an apology by so many. True vindication lies in addressing the very obvious elephant in the room, people felt more comfortable turning him into a scapegoat because of who he is.

It’s because he lives his life unapologetically as a Black, queer man that many tried to silence his cries for help and gaslight him. Regardless of what happens with this case, there needs to be real dialogue around not only eradicating biases so that everyone receives just treatment but discovering what it means to hold someone accountable while showing empathy, despite personal beliefs.

As this case continues to unfold two years later, the latest update finds the actor’s request to have the case dismissed due to his cooperation in paying the $10,000 bond and completion of community service hours. While it is unclear what exactly happened and whether he is (or isn’t) telling the truth, one must acknowledge the painstaking reality of it all.

The mere suggestion that any survivor of assault would lie about moments in which their bodies were violated is not only ludicrous, it’s dangerous. That kind of rhetoric is rooted in stale, old-guard societal norms that have prohibited people of color from having autonomy over their bodies in lieu of whiteness designating what it means to infringe upon their bodies and space.