The Controversial Case of Jussie Smollett
The unsettling case of Jussie Smollett first gained coverage in the early morning of January 29th. News broke that Empire television star was attacked while walking through the 300 block of East Lower North Water Street, in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago. It was reported that two masked men attacked the actor, tied a noose around his neck, and spilled an unknown liquid over him. Allegedly, the attackers were screaming homophobic and racial slurs, including “this is MAGA country” – a reference to the President Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan and the racial tension surrounding his administration.
As news of the attack spread throughout the nation, many people were disturbed and voiced their concerns on social media. Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and other political figures commended Smollett’s bravery and supported his call for a thorough investigation. Unfortunately for Smollett, that’s exactly what happened. Not only did the detectives uncover the identities of his attackers, but they unveiled a hoax perpetrated by the victim himself.
Smollet’s plan was thwarted when Chicago police found security footage of Nigerian brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundario catching a cab down the street from where the attack was said to have taken place. After they were identified and brought into custody, it was revealed that the brothers were not only extras on Empire, but one was Jussie’s close friend and personal trainer. According to the brothers, Smollet approached and offered them $3,500 to carry out the choreographed attack on himself.
Joellyn Swope works as a home health services provider in the Houston area. One of her patients was in a semi-comatose state, and “lacked conscious control over her physical movement,” according to Swope. She was assisting this immobile patient by herself, with no other coworkers in the home.
In 2015, Forbes named Elizabeth Holmes the youngest and wealthiest self-made billionaire in America. The title was given based on the $9 billion valuation of Theranos — a now defunct company that has been exposed for its false claims to have devised revolutionary blood tests that used very small amounts of blood obtained by a finger prick. As founder and CEO, Holmes is the mastermind, or rather master con-artist, behind Theranos.