After Jussie Smollett said he was attacked by two men in red hats yelling “this is MAGA country” along with slurs, actress Ellen Page clearly took the “Empire” star’s claims at face value, and went on television to blame Mike Pence:
Actress Ellen Page is ‘really fired up’ about Mike Pence causing alleged attack on Jussie Smollett https://t.co/Hy3AiT5VON
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) February 1, 2019
wherein Ellen Page blames the alleged attack against Jussie Smollett on Mike Pencepic.twitter.com/Vy3MJC0DBn
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) February 1, 2019
Page now has a column at The Hollywood Reporter that has glossed over what’s happened since Smollett first said he was attacked:
Guest column: @EllenPage on Jussie Smollett Fallout — hate violence is not a hoax https://t.co/lGFLNgsPlq pic.twitter.com/RfY6msw8ov
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 27, 2019
Is something missing there?
I can't find her apology to @vp anywhere in this
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) February 27, 2019
Sounding off and blaming someone who has nothing to do with the situation before all the facts are out, exacerbate the problem. There’s nothing in this article that shows she would change if this happened again.
— justin (@jus71in) February 27, 2019
she forgot "I'm sorry"
— Colin Lundstrom (@ColinLundstrom) February 27, 2019
Here’s what Page now says about Smollett:
It’s the fear that makes us pause before grabbing the hand of our loved one in public. It’s the fear that makes us consider whether or not we are in physical danger before we lean in for a kiss on the cheek. The conversation around Jussie Smollett has led us all to examine hate violence and its implications and aftermath. I had no reason to doubt Jussie. My work on Gaycation — the docuseries I produced to chronicle LGBTQ+ stories from around the world — introduced me to many survivors of hate violence. I know how prevalent and pernicious it can be. If this situation was staged, it could make victims even more reluctant to report these crimes. Very real crimes.
While the media and public debate the case and await more information, we must not lose sight of the very real, endemic violence that LGBTQ+ people, people of color and other underrepresented communities face every day.
And that’s the only mention of Smollett in her entire column, with no expression of regret for slamming Pence on national television for Smollett’s hoax.
No, but what Jussie Smollett did was a hoax, and you used it to lash out at your enemies. https://t.co/7kTArlmVtU
— Free Jussie Smollett (@jtLOL) February 27, 2019
To late Ellen, you played your hand before all the chips were on the table.
You lose.
— Steve Hurley (@shurleyphoto) February 27, 2019
The angle is always "but hate crimes are still a thing that exists" instead of "why is it that so many people think faking hate crimes will benefit them in this country?" https://t.co/D1lCoVi9z7
— neontaster (@neontaster) February 27, 2019
No apology for jumping to conclusions, no apology for using it to defame people she doesn't like, no self-awareness, and when this happens again she'll act exactly the same as before.
— Elenti (@ScarletElenti) February 27, 2019
She is a fraud… She should start by apologizing. https://t.co/qzhrvDQEbo
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) February 27, 2019
"I just got duped by a hoax, so believe me when I say something isn't a hoax."
Not the brightest.
— Learn to Code (@GSD_SteVB) February 27, 2019
I guess writing an article full of denial is easier than simply apologizing? She may no longer look like a teenager, but she sure behaves as one.
— Jerrett Farmer (@JerrettFarmer) February 27, 2019
Someone should let @ellenpage know that in the Jussie Smollett case, it was, in fact, a hoax.
And that she should apologize for blaming it on Pence. https://t.co/u4SpBQ3tnr
— RBe (@RBPundit) February 27, 2019
An apology doesn’t appear to be imminent. Judging from her article, quite the opposite seems to be the case.
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