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Don Henley and Glenn Frey were writing about cheating wives, but "Lyin Eyes' might as well been about Empire actor Jussie Smollett.
Early this morning, the 26-year-old turned himself in to the Chicago Police after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Smollett was arrested for allegedly filing a false police report claiming he was a victim of a hate crime late month.
If these allegations end up being true, Smollett will be known as an adversary to everyone who is a target of a legitimate hate crime.
If these charges stick, Smollett will owe countless people an apology.
Although the Chicago PD did a phenomenal job in finding out what happened that night, those resources could have used more productively in a city that is known for having some of the worst crime statistics in the country. Actors, entertainers, athletes, and politicians have spent the last couple days walking back comments defending the Empire actor.
Along with marginalizing victims of hate crimes, Smollett forced people from all walks of life to apologize for being compassionate about what they thought was actual tragdity. No one is a fan of having to admit they're wrong, especially when their error was showing basic empathy for someone trying to live their life.
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