[PJ] Over the weekend, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted its 50th annual Image Awards. At the awards, comedians Chris Rock and Trevor Noah slammed Empire star Jussie Smollett, who was nominated for an Image Award but did not win. Smollett did not show his face, but the NAACP did not rescind his nomination for the award. The NAACP has not spoken about the Smollett case since blaming President Donald Trump for it, and the group asked Chris Rock not to joke about Smollett.All of this suggests a disgusting cowardice on the part of the NAACP. The organization rushed to champion Smollett when he claimed that masked white attackers wearing MAGA hats had screamed, "This is MAGA country!" before seizing him, putting a noose around his neck, and pouring an unknown bleach-scented liquid on him.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the "racist and homophobic attack," and alleged that the "rise in hate crimes is directly linked to President Donald J. Trump’s racist and xenophobic rhetoric."
Smollett's claims are far from the whole story, however. In February, police announced that they had begun investigating Smollett upon discovering evidence that suggested the Empire actor had paid Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo and his brother Abimbola "Abel" Osundairo to attack him. Unearthed evidence included receipts showing the brothers buying the rope used in the attack and a check Smollett gave them.