Jussie Smollett: Go Away

Prior to January 29, 2019, Jussie Smollett was a little-known actor. Had you ever heard of him? I hadn’t. After January 29, 2019, Smollett became very well known indeed. Which was the whole point. He wanted to be well known. He wanted to be a national symbol. He got what he wanted.

And yesterday he was sentenced to 150 days in prison for the utterly ridiculous stunt he staged to increase his profile, and raise his wages, on . . . whatever that show was that he used to be on. According to his accomplices, eleven days prior to the hoax, which I venture to say is today the most notorious fictitious hate crime in American history, Smollett mailed himself a cartoonishly threatening letter (the return address, in felt-tip pen, read, “MAGA” and appeared to have been scrawled by a toddler, which it was). The letter, organized like one of those kidnappers’ missives from 1930s Hollywood, featured cut-up letters from magazines spelling out the legend, “YOU WILL DIE FAG.” Smollett even took care to add a dangerous-looking white powder (crushed-up Tylenol) to the envelope. The world shrugged. People in the public eye get hate mail all the time (ask anyone at NR). It doesn’t mean much, even if you’re black. Even the stick-figure drawing of a lynching on the letter didn’t deliver massive fame, or a raise, to Smollett.

About the Author

Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is the film critic for the Wall Street Journal.

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Prior to January 29, 2019, Jussie Smollett was a little-known actor. Had you ever heard of him? I hadn’t. After January 29, 2019, Smollett became very well known indeed. Which was the whole point. He wanted to be well known. He wanted to be a national symbol. He got what he wanted.

And yesterday he was sentenced to 150 days in prison for the utterly ridiculous stunt he staged to increase his profile, and raise his wages, on . . . whatever that show was that he used to be on. According to his accomplices, eleven days prior to the hoax, which I venture to say is today the most notorious fictitious hate crime in American history, Smollett mailed himself a cartoonishly threatening letter (the return address, in felt-tip pen, read, “MAGA” and appeared to have been scrawled by a toddler, which it was). The letter, organized like one of those kidnappers’ missives from 1930s Hollywood, featured cut-up letters from magazines spelling out the legend, “YOU WILL DIE FAG.” Smollett even took care to add a dangerous-looking white powder (crushed-up Tylenol) to the envelope. The world shrugged. People in the public eye get hate mail all the time (ask anyone at NR). It doesn’t mean much, even if you’re black. Even the stick-figure drawing of a lynching on the letter didn’t deliver massive fame, or a raise, to Smollett.