One detail stuck out to some people in the police press conference over Empire actor Jussie Smollett. Cops claimed he used a check to pay two men $3,500 to help him stage an alleged racist, homophobic attack, sparking a steady stream of commentary on social media.
Here’s this exchange between Washington Examiner Executive Editor Seth Mandel and Princeton University history Professor Kevin M. Kruse.
Mandel replied with a gif of Heath Ledger‘s Joker that said, “This town deserves a better class of criminal.”
New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman had this speechless take.
Let’s wrap this up strong with a post from Penthouse columnist Sydney Leathers.
Smollett has been charged with disorderly conduct, a class 4 felony, for allegedly filing a false report. He previously denied suggestions that he staged a January 29 attack, and said such claims angered him.
The actor insisted that two men assaulted him, yelled racist and homophobic slurs (Smollett is black and gay), put a rope around his neck, and poured on him what he thought to be bleach. Police on Thursday, however, said Smollett staged the incident with the help of two men because he was unhappy with his salary on the show Empire.
Note: Others have weighed in.
[Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images]