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New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Delusional Jussie Smollett remains as shameless as ever as he points the finger of blame at everyone else
Don't call it a comeback. Call it another shameless and truth-challenged stab at relevancy. Hate-crime hoaxer extraordinaire Jussie Smollett wants to return to show biz. And with the unmitigated gall of O.J. Simpson claiming he's still looking for the real killer, the disgraced 'Empire' actor wants everyone to know who the real bad guys are. 'The villains are the two people who assaulted me, the Chicago Police Department and, if I may be so brave, the mayor [Rahm Emanuel],' Smollet told Variety in a fluff piece meant to smooth the road for his imminent reboot. 6 Jusse Smollett is trying to reboot his career with a stint on Fox's 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' and shameless, continued claims that he was the victim of a race attack and a corrupt mayor and police force. FOX Yes, the perpetual victim is sticking to his infamous story about a 2019 'beatdown' — and channeling the great modern philosopher Shaggy, who once said, 'It wasn't me.' Smollett has a new R&B album to promote and will be competing on Fox's reality show, 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' Plus, he was interviewed for the documentary 'The Truth about Jussie Smollett?' premiering August 22 on Netflix. But it matters not which projects he has in the pipeline or in his past. The greatest performance of the actor's life will always be playing the role of an innocent and wronged man. According to Smollett, he was assaulted for his skin color and sexuality — and tossed to the wolves by a corrupt mayor and law enforcement attempting to shift attention from their botched handling of a police-involved fatal shooting in 2014. 6 In a 2019 interview with Robin Roberts, Smollett complained that some folks doubted his story about being attacked in Chicago. ABC News It's simply too rich for words. But shame has never been his strong suit. 'We're living in a world where the higher-ups, their main mission, in order to do all of the underhanded things that they're doing, is to distract us with the shiny object,' Smollett told Variety. I would say he's living in a bubble of delusion if he thinks anyone is buying the baloney he's peddling. Smollett's concocted MAGA fantasy was truly something. He claimed to have left his Chicago apartment at 2 a.m. — during a polar vortex — to grab a delicacy from Jared Fogle's preferred sandwich shop. 6 Brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo said that Smollett paid them to choreograph the attack on him. Suddenly, Smollett alleged, a masked man screamed, 'Empire!' followed by a gay slur, another 'Empire' and then an anti-black slur. The attacker screamed 'This is MAGA country' and punched him in the face. Then a second man joined, and the pair worked him like a tag team on 'Monday Night Raw.' Only after they left did Smollett realize they had placed a noose around his neck and doused him in bleach. The tale was so insane, he should be banned from ever touching a script with his own pen. Still, sympathy poured in from boldface believers. After all, it was 2019, a time when the truth mattered less than the perception of victimhood. On Twitter, then-Sen. Kamala Harris called it 'an attempted modern day lynching.' Robin Roberts landed an exclusive interview with Smollett on 'Good Morning America,' where he cried and shook his fists at the doubters. If only his attackers were 'Muslim or Mexican or someone black,' he would have more support, dammit. 6 Smollett was arrested less than a month after claiming he was attacked in 2019. CPD He declared himself the 'gay Tupac.' Most sensible people smelled a rat. Then a pair of Nigerian-American siblings, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo — who had been extras on 'Empire' — were busted. During questioning, the brothers Osundairo said Smollett had planned and paid for the beatdown. They even claimed there had been a dress rehearsal. Smollett was arrested for filing a false police report. Charges were initially dropped in exchange for community service and bond forfeiture. The city of Chicago sued him for reimbursement of the money wasted investigating his hoax — and he had the stones to sue right back, claiming he was the victim of 'mass public ridicule and harm.' 6 In his 2019 special 'Sticks & Stones,' Dave Chappelle mocked Smollett's account, calling him 'Juicy Smollye.' Netflix He was indicted again, found guilty, and his conviction was upheld on appeal. In 2024, the verdict was tossed on a technicality. He was not exonerated. Back in May, he soft-launched his return on instagram, writing, 'This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear.' Subtract the word 'false' and this is the most honest statement the man has ever made. He's a spotlight-craving fabulist who exploited racial tensions to increase his fame and, apparently, his 'Empire' paycheck— with no regard for the tax-payer resources he wasted. Or the public trust he broke. 6 Back in May, Smollett soft-launched his return on instagram, writing, 'This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear.' FOX In a 2019 bit about the hoax, comedian Dave Chappelle repeatedly called him 'Juicy Smollye' the 'famous French actor,' while 'The Daily Show' put out a hilarious Lifetime movie-style spoof. In 2023, Fox News released a documentary where the Osundairo brothers recreated the choreographed fight at the scene of the crime, leaving no doubt that they were far more entertaining than Smollett. But America is a forgiving place. Just ask Al Sharpton, who weathered the fallout from a disgusting race and rape hoax in the 1980s — and is now treated as a respectable commentator on MSNBC. What a great country. Not that Smollett will ever admit that fact. Or the real truth about what happened that freezing night in 2019.
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘He starts pinching me…': Rachel Gupta gives up Miss Grand International crown, organisers say title ‘revoked'; signs one might be trapped in toxic environment
Rachel Gupta, the 21-year-old model from Jalandhar who made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Miss Grand International title in 2024, has now relinquished her crown — just seven months into her reign. However, the organisers mentioned that her title has been revoked, adding that 'the crown be returned to the MGI Head Office within 30 days from the date of this notice.' On May 28, Rachel announced her resignation on Instagram, citing 'broken promises, mistreatment and a toxic environment.' The following day, she released a YouTube video titled 'The Truth about Miss Grand International — My Story,' in which she offered an unfiltered account of her experience, levelling disturbing allegations against the pageant's organisers. 'Frankly they don't care if I live or die. As long as I'm there to smile at their events, as long as I keep my body super skinny, the way they like, they don't care if I live or die,' she said in the video. 'They just want me to be there, to go on TikTok Live and make money for them and show up at their events. That's it, that's all they want from me… I realised they would never, never support me, and I was completely on my own… they made us sell. You guys know they made us sell these cheap, tacky products on TikTok like we were salesgirls. You've crowned queens, girls who have careers in our country, we do things, we're well respected, and they're making us sell cheap products on TikTok because it makes them money and you can't say no.' Rachel also described feeling physically humiliated and body shamed, saying, 'I remember one time, they sent their representative to me and he just comes up to me and he starts pinching me in different places and he's like 'Oh you need to lose weight here, you need to lose weight here'. What am I supposed to say to that? It's so embarrassing. It makes you feel so small and so bad. I understand, obviously I have to stay fit for the job I have, and have to stay in shape, but it's so difficult when you don't have access to anything and you're just locked in a house, basically all day long.' However, on its official Instagram page, Miss Grand International released a statement mentioning that Rachel's title was revoked due to 'her failure to fulfill her assigned duties, engagement in external projects without prior approval from the organization, and her refusal to participate in the scheduled trip to Guatemala.' 'Miss Rachel Gupta is no longer authorized to use the title or wear the crown associated with Miss Grand International 2024,' it added. Gurleen Baruah, existential psychotherapist at That Culture Thing, tells 'In such environments, a woman's body becomes a product to be displayed, measured, and controlled. Over time, this relentless pressure can lead to internalised perfectionism, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and a haunting belief that love, success, or safety depends entirely on how you look.' What makes it even more harmful is the emotional isolation. Baruah explains that when you're surrounded by glamour but deprived of real support or autonomy, self-doubt turns into quiet self-rejection. One of the clearest signs of a toxic or exploitative environment is the loss of personal autonomy. Baruah states, 'When adults are denied access to essentials, and expected to perform happiness while privately struggling, it starts to mirror cult-like dynamics. Subservience is rewarded, dissent is punished, and over time, the person may begin to question their own judgement.' Seeking help in these situations is hard, especially when power dynamics are steep and isolation is enforced. But even the smallest act of reaching out — whether it's talking to a trusted family member, quietly messaging a friend, or contacting a support organisation — can begin to break the silence.
