The Jussie Smollett Episode of <em>Law & Order: SVU</em> Was Surprisingly Nuanced
The show turned a sensational real-life case into a story about the rarity of false reporting and the importance of having compassion for victims.
It’s been nearly nine months since the Empire actor and singer Jussie Smollett first told Chicago police that two strange men had slipped a noose around his neck while calling him racist and homophobic slurs. The incident was quickly revealed to be a hoax, reportedly staged by Smollett himself, with the help of two men he knew. The reversal caused an uproar: Smollett was arrested and indicted on multiple (); celebrities (including those who had initially supported him) ; President Donald Trump .
