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Jussie Smollett Recently Hosted Doc[umentary] on Lynching, Filmmaker Talks ‘Coincidence’
variety.com ^ | 02/22/2019 | By Will Thorne

Posted on 02/22/2019 8:34:00 AM PST by Red Badger

In May 2018, Jussie Smollett appeared as the narrator and correspondent in an episode of the Epix documentary series “America Divided” that explored the subject of hate crimes, specifically lynching, in the state of Tennessee.

Now that the “Empire” actor has been charged with filing a false police report and Chicago police are convinced he staged his own hate attack because he was “dissatisfied with his salary,” Smollett’s involvement in the show is cast in a different light.

“When the news initially came out, we were horrified by the story and for myself, it’s hard to get away from the coincidence,” the series’ director Lucian Read told Variety. “Of course in this country we believe in innocent until proven guilty, but assuming the allegations are true, I wonder whether coincidence is the right word — to take this truth about hate crimes and turn it into a fiction like that, it’s remarkable.”

“It seems both an incredible coincidence and also proof of the terrible things that happen in this country,” Read added.

Smollett initially described how he was attacked by two men in masks who threw bleach on his clothes and put a rope around his neck. However, prosecutors are now alleging that Smollett paid two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, to help him stage the attack.

Read said that Smollett was “a pleasure to work with,” and that despite the “crazy, strange” recent developments, he and the producers are still “very proud” of the episode and “think the best of Jussie.” He continued, “We really believed it was the strongest episode in the season and explored issues that need to be discussed in this country. … Jussie and all of us were extremely committed to making a great show.”

Epix has since pulled the episode from its network and released the following statement:

“In light of – and with respect to – the sensitivities around recent events, we can confirm that Epix is no longer making available the episode of ‘America Divided’ featuring Jussie Smollett.”

Each episode of the show consists of a celebrity host (everyone from Norman Lear to America Ferrara) exploring important narratives such as inequality, education, healthcare, and criminal justice through expert interviews and the testimonies of locals across America.

In episode four of Season 2, Smollett visits the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Ala., which is “dedicated to the legacy of enslaved black people, people terrorized by lynching,” according to its website. He talks with its founder, Bryan Stevenson, about the lack of recognition for this terrible part of American history in a moving segment, and later sits down for a tense conversation with the local spokesperson for the family of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general whose statue was removed from a park in Memphis last year.

During an interview with 98-year-old Charlie Morris, whose older brother Jesse Lee Bonds was the victim of a lynching in Arlington, Tenn., in 1939, Smollett discovers that the men who committed the hate crime were briefly charged with murder, but then acquitted.

“I pray that in your lifetime you see justice, but I promise you that in mine, we will,” the actor says to Morris.

Later, Smollett visits a general store in the middle of town, the site where Bonds’ murder allegedly occurred.

“You can almost feel like a … just what (Bonds) must have been feeling,” Smollett says, shivering.

“Who knows how many other bodies were never found. It was inhumane then, and for anybody that does not want to acknowledge what happened, it’s inhumane now,” he says near the end of the episode, kneeling on the river bank where Bond’s body was found.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Business/Economy; Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: americadivided; demokkkraticparty; demokkkrats; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; empire; epix; hoax; jussie; jussiesmollett; kameltoe; lucianread; lynching; mediawingofthednc; partisanmediashills; presstitutes; rumprangernews; smearmachine; smollett
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Well, well, well........................
1 posted on 02/22/2019 8:34:00 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

These shows sound like the kind of thing that high school students are forced to see in American History class.


2 posted on 02/22/2019 8:36:48 AM PST by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
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To: Red Badger
"...“It seems both an incredible coincidence and also proof of the terrible things that happen in this country,” Read added..."

What a flaming jackass.

3 posted on 02/22/2019 8:38:47 AM PST by rlmorel (Leftists: They believe in the "Invisible Hand" only when it is guided by government.)
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To: rlmorel

Fake, but accurate.


4 posted on 02/22/2019 8:40:00 AM PST by tcrlaf (They told me it could never happen in America. And then it did....)
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To: rlmorel
What a flaming jackass.

Yet another Dunning–Kruger poster child.

5 posted on 02/22/2019 8:43:15 AM PST by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
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To: Red Badger

Democrats have opposed federal antilynching legislation for 100 years.

http://www.blackpast.org/aah/dyer-anti-lynching-bill-1922

“Federal efforts to enact anti-lynching legislation date to at least 1901.
During that period and for much of the first half of the 20th Century
Southern Democrats in Congress maintained a solid front against
the Dyer Bill each time it reached the floor of the House.”


6 posted on 02/22/2019 8:43:32 AM PST by syriacus
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To: Red Badger

It appears this man is literally ate up with all things racial. That is very sad.


7 posted on 02/22/2019 8:43:52 AM PST by V_TWIN
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To: Red Badger; All

Jussie Smollett's mother, ex Black Panther, remains "dear friends" with Angela Davis

Various sources (links provided) | Feb 22, 2019

Posted on 2/22/2019, 10:44:18 AM by ETL

https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3729770/posts

8 posted on 02/22/2019 8:44:20 AM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
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To: Red Badger
There are no coincidences at this level!
9 posted on 02/22/2019 8:44:59 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Stop Medieval Diseases With A Medieval Wall: Illegal migration is leading to a wave of outbreaks!!!!)
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To: Steely Tom

Yes, they are really indoctrination propaganda films...................


10 posted on 02/22/2019 8:45:07 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: V_TWIN

His mother is a former BLACK PANTHER and lifelong friend of Angela Davis.............................


11 posted on 02/22/2019 8:46:56 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: Red Badger

Not a coincidence.

Part of a coordinated campaign to support Harris.


12 posted on 02/22/2019 8:47:30 AM PST by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: Red Badger

I’m getting a little Jussie-ed out. Park his azz in court and let’s hammer this thing out.


13 posted on 02/22/2019 8:48:30 AM PST by BBQToadRibs
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To: V_TWIN

I think we now know just who the racist is


14 posted on 02/22/2019 8:48:44 AM PST by digger48
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To: V_TWIN

“However, prosecutors are now alleging that Smollett paid two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, to help him stage the attack.”

“alleging”

OH, NOW they all wanna use that word.

Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t the two brothers admit he paid them? In front of a GRAND JURY! with a check no less? That would make that statement a complete falshood IMO.


15 posted on 02/22/2019 8:49:01 AM PST by V_TWIN
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To: BBQToadRibs

This is the new OJ Trial...........................


16 posted on 02/22/2019 8:50:04 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: ifinnegan
Part of a coordinated campaign to support Harris.

I think you're right, and I also think "that blowed up real good!"

17 posted on 02/22/2019 8:57:16 AM PST by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
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To: Red Badger

“Each episode of the show consists of a celebrity host (everyone from Norman Lear to America Ferrara) exploring important narratives such as inequality, education, healthcare, and criminal justice...”

Sounds like a marathon crappathon.


18 posted on 02/22/2019 9:06:58 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: V_TWIN

One or both was/were also his paid personal trainer(s), so he might go that route...


19 posted on 02/22/2019 9:18:50 AM PST by gloryblaze
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To: Red Badger
"“In light of – and with respect to – the sensitivities around recent events, we can confirm that Epix is no longer making available the episode of ‘America Divided’ featuring Jussie Smollett.”"

Why pull the episode?

smollett did his lowly best to make the title of the show appropriate.

20 posted on 02/22/2019 9:20:04 AM PST by chief lee runamok (expect nothing)
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