The Jussie Smollet Case Shows How We Jump On Cancel Culture | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Jussie Smollett Case Shows How Quickly We Jump Onto Cancel Culture

How quick are we to take sides when the news breaks?

28
The Jussie Smollett Case Shows How Quickly We Jump Onto Cancel Culture

The developing news that has built over the last few days is not a new revelation to the idea of how quick we are to cancel people over social media. Sometimes it is within reason, and other times, we just want to follow the latest social bandwagon. We are seen as "woke" if we put down everyone who is unfavorable to the public eye.

Jussie Smollett is the latest victim of cancel culture.

If you are unfamiliar with the Jussie Smollett controversy, here's the short version: Jussie Smollett is a black gay actor who stars on the Fox show "Empire." On January 29, Smollett reported to Chicago Police that he was attacked by two men in MAGA hats who spewed racial and homophobic slurs at him while they poured bleach on him, beat him, and put a noose around his neck. (Read the full timeline/details here.)

Of course, social media rushed to his side, defending Smollett and denouncing his attackers and the infamous slogan that they stood for. Some were skeptical about his attack, considering they didn't have any corresponding evidence to back the "Empire" star up.

Sure enough, news broke that the Chicago Police were "thoroughly investigating" his claims. This showed that police are not rushing anytime soon to get justice for Smollett.

We've seen this situation many times, where the police have treated black people as "guilty until proven innocent."

Unfortunately, this happens way too many times to count. When news came that Smollett had allegedly falsified a police report, I witnessed social media begin to bash Smollett and make all of these pernicious claims about false accusers, among other most horrible things.

This 180-flip showed me how quickly we are to go against something or someone whenever we hear news about it.

Knowing the history of the Chicago Police and its corrupt nature, I kept quiet through the ordeal. Many of us pointed out that "there isn't enough evidence, we need to wait." I wasn't ready to believe someone could create a lie so elaborate.

Now we find out that all 16 felony charges against Smollett have been dropped without any explanation. There are still many naysayers, but others believe that the police was negligent in their investigation and only rushed to charge Smollet on the basis to smear his reputation through the tabloids.

I think it's important to question the police's hand in this.

Why did they abandon this investigation after only five weeks? Why use up taxpayers' dollars to make no progress or leads and essentially waste everyone's time? I hate to make this a race thing right now, but should we question whether or not they were quick to accuse Jussie because he was a Black man? Or even a gay man?

So where does this leave us, the public?

Should we believe Smollett or the police? Should we forgive him or stand with him? How quick are we to take sides without sufficient evidence again, or take the word of news outlets? Only time will tell.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
student sleep
Huffington Post

I think the hardest thing about going away to college is figuring out how to become an adult. Leaving a household where your parents took care of literally everything (thanks, Mom!) and suddenly becoming your own boss is overwhelming. I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job of being a grown-up, but once in awhile I do something that really makes me feel like I'm #adulting. Twenty-somethings know what I'm talking about.

Keep Reading...Show less
school
blogspot

I went to a small high school, like 120-people-in-my-graduating-class small. It definitely had some good and some bad, and if you also went to a small high school, I’m sure you’ll relate to the things that I went through.

1. If something happens, everyone knows about it

Who hooked up with whom at the party? Yeah, heard about that an hour after it happened. You failed a test? Sorry, saw on Twitter last period. Facebook fight or, God forbid, real fight? It was on half the class’ Snapchat story half an hour ago. No matter what you do, someone will know about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Chandler Bing

I'm assuming that we've all heard of the hit 90's TV series, Friends, right? Who hasn't? Admittedly, I had pretty low expectations when I first started binge watching the show on Netflix, but I quickly became addicted.

Without a doubt, Chandler Bing is the most relatable character, and there isn't an episode where I don't find myself thinking, Yup, Iam definitely the Chandler of my friend group.

Keep Reading...Show less
eye roll

Working with the public can be a job, in and of itself. Some people are just plain rude for no reason. But regardless of how your day is going, always having to be in the best of moods, or at least act like it... right?

1. When a customer wants to return a product, hands you the receipt, where is printed "ALL SALES ARE FINAL" in all caps.

2. Just because you might be having a bad day, and you're in a crappy mood, doesn't make it okay for you to yell at me or be rude to me. I'm a person with feelings, just like you.

3. People refusing to be put on hold when a customer is standing right in front of you. Oh, how I wish I could just hang up on you!

Keep Reading...Show less
blair waldorf
Hercampus.com

RBF, or resting b*tch face, is a serious condition that many people suffer from worldwide. Suffers are often bombarded with daily questions such as "Are you OK?" and "Why are you so mad?" If you have RBF, you've probably had numerous people tell you to "just smile!"

While this question trend can get annoying, there are a couple of pros to having RBF.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments