THE THIN LINE BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA SYMPATHY AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTRAGE-A LOOK AT THE CASE OF JUSSIE SMOLLETT

When the story of the attack on Empire star, Jussie Smollett broke on January 29, social media went berzerk as everyone rallied around the gay actor. The attack was reported as a racist and homophobic attack which made the reactions more intense.

The actor, 35-year-old Jussie Smollett, had flown into Chicago from New York on the night of the attack to continue filming the new season of “Empire.”

“The alleged assailants made racially charged comments to the victim implying that they knew he was a star from the show,” police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. From celebrities to civil right activities and the LGBTQ community offered their support to Jussie Smollett after being hospitalised following the attack.

The outrage as a result of the attack was deafening and perhaps Smollett was basking in the euphoria of the many reactions. However, as they say in Nigerian parlance, kasala don burst!

Smollett is now in the soup as reports have emerged that he allegedly staged the attack because his character is gradually being phased out of Empire. To remain relevant, he decided to stage the attack. But before the report that he orchestrated the attack surfaced, some people express doubt about the story after he redacted some content of his phone record he submitted to the police.

And the solidarity/sympathy began to crumble like a pack of cards… The frenzy the media used in reporting the attack is the same frenzy they reported the arrest of two Nigerian- Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo. Their arrest shattered all that Smollett claimed about the attack.

The brothers were reported to have told Chicago Police that Smollett paid them $3,500 to stage the attack adding that a further $500 will be paid later on. They presented the receipt for buying the noose used in the attack to the police. They were subsequently released.

Since then, everything changed has those who previously supported him either deleted their tweet or requested that everyone should wait for the police to finish their investigation before casting doubt on the story. Smollett himself hired high-profile lawyers as police are investigating if the attack was a hoax or not.

Jussie Smollett is an outstanding actor and superb singer. However, with the way the case is going and the stories being told online, there is more to the Smollett attack. The first blow for Smollett is that his role in Empire has been slashed. The lesson is that there is just a thin line between social media sympathy and social media outrage and condemnation. People will always support on social media but the turn around will be swift if they smell any iota of doubt in your story. Hence, be careful with your actions when as social media can be sympathetic and at the same time unforgiving! Beware.

Source: https://innovation-village.com/the-thin-line-between-social-media-sympathy-and-social-media-outrage/