It’s been days since a Chicago jury handed down a guilty verdict to Jussie Smollett in the wake of him filing false police reports over an alleged homophobic hate attack, but the singer-actor’s legal woes are still very much a hot topic.
As he is in the throes of mounting an appeal to the decision (as we reported here), many on social media – including celebrities – continue to discuss the impact of his pending sentence for the crime. Among them is businesswoman/fashion designer Tina Knowles-Lawson.
Look inside to see how her weigh-in got people talking over the weekend.
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Taking to Instagram, Knowles-Lawson questioned if the former ‘Empire’ star would get the lenient penalty afforded to American investment portfolio manager Amy Cooper. Infamously known as ‘Central Park Karen,’ Cooper gained notoriety in May 2020 after a video of her calling police to make false claims against a Black man in New York’s Central Park went viral (as we reported here).
Sharing a screen shot of a CNN opinion piece written by Issac Bailey, Tina echoed the writer’s sentiment about what Smollett’s forthcoming could say about race relations and inequity in punishments by the legal system (for very similar crimes).
Her post was captioned:
“The article goes on to say both were wrong but Jussie faces possible prison time and Amy Cooper The woman who called the police and lied about the black man that was Bird watching in Central Park was trying to attack her. Leading to the potential arrest of the man where in the history of black men In Custody could have led to his death !! Amy Cooper got off with public service . We will see the outcome of this for this Black man . Will he get the same compassion as Amy Cooper? I am not condoning what Mr Smollet was found guilty of . I am just asking will he get the same compassion and understanding of knowingly lying to police . Kyle Rittenhouse walked free after killing two people because the jury had compassion ?”
*****
As debate about her stance continues under her post, we turn to you to ask…
![Chance the Rapper's Wife Officially Files for Divorce After Months of Separation [#ICYMI]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/chance-rapper-divorce-kirsten-conley-bennett-2024-thatgrapejuice-464x260.png "Chance the Rapper's Wife Officially Files for Divorce After Months of Separation [#ICYMI].")
He doesn’t deserve jail time but he brainstormed, planned, hired, bought supplies and acted out a whole hate crime that could jeopardize future black people who actually experience hate crimes.
Black people already step outside with their life at risk – any once of belief we can get was put on the line when he lied.
As for Karen, she would have gotten worse, but the victim forgave her. her victim gave her sympathy and then spat in his face afterwards by going back on her apology and saying he harassed her.
The court system is unfortunately not responsible when you don’t pursue charges. This was handled outside of court.
Amy confessed that she laid, Jussie is still laying and he made the police spend millions.
This lady lives in space and just want to defend this stupid guy … Oh he is racial discriminated
Tina knowles can’t even tell us why her first husband cheated.
She got the facts allllll wrong. Rittenhouse was clearly self defense. And Jussie set black people, Democrats , and gays all back with his selfish lies for attention.
Tina – anybody that defends him is a gullible fool. His story from the beginning didn’t make sense, there was so many holes in his story of recounting left unexplained that he himself couldn’t fill in or clarify. The truth will always remain and prevail, however for him that wasn’t the case 💯 his story has changed drastically and has now given more unhelpful revelations furthering the public and industry itself to not trusting him. Even shortly after this alleged attack he proclaimed himself the “ Gay Tupac “ 🙄 like gtfoh it’s no brainer everything hiding in his closet has come to light and he gotta deal with it. Lies can only take you so far but the truth it remains and stands supported by facts and evidence which are none in his regards.
He doesn’t deserve any compassion
This won’t go away lightly. He chose to carried out this fake hate crime in a bad political climate and in Chicago of all places. They won’t let him go so lightly. He has cost the police and the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in investigation costs.
It will be a miracle if he doesn’t serve jail term. And he’s not even helping himself by sticking to his lies. The only thing that can save him right now is coming clean and claiming mental health issues. At least then, the public can have some sense of pity for him.
Ms Knowles-Lawson needs to be silent. The jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse case did not show him compassion. They found him not guilty on the basis of self-defence. It was a legal decision and nothing to do with compassion.
shut up koon
If Jussie had admitted guilt, or at the very least, kept quiet, this would’ve died a while ago. But he chose to keep publicly claiming his innocence AFTER he had been given a slap on the wrist. So the prosecutors showed no mercy. If he gets jail time it will be his own fault. Not the fault of a racist justice system. He was shown mercy but was too arrogant to accept it. Where was his compassion for his former cast mates who’ve lost their jobs due to his stupidity? Where’s his compassion for his family and friends who’re standing by him at the risk of their own reputation. He’s a special type of stubborn and selfish.
The head witch of the coven would cape for this idiot. She has years of shadiness to account for so i would shut up if i were her before kelly drops that tell all book on their arses
Tina… Your face is quite scary. No wonder Beyonce is fighting like hell to stay looking young.