As Twitchy told you, 20th Century Fox recently released a statement to confirm that Jussie Smollett is not being written off “Empire,” despite, you know, almost certainly faking a hate crime and obstructing justice.
And now, some tweeters can’t help but notice a difference in the way Smollett’s being dealt with and the way another popular TV star’s racial run-in was handled:
Now do @therealroseanne.
— Nathan Hendrickson (@adminnathan) February 20, 2019
What Roseanne said was awful and disgusting, but it didn’t go any further than ugly words. Her offense absolutely pales in comparison to what Smollett has done. So why did ABC give Roseanne the steel-toed boot while Fox is standing by Smollett?
Roseanne was fired for 100x less
— RPK (@RPK_) February 20, 2019
Roseanne Barr did 1/10,000th of the damage, and her entire lifetime of good work was kicked to the curb. https://t.co/Y3lv7SmnuN
— Patrick Courrielche (@courrielche) February 20, 2019
To be clear, these are two different networks we’re dealing with. But the double standard at play is still pretty glaring. Hollywood’s earned a reputation for hypocrisy, and this won’t do them any favors.
@therealroseanne confused how you get fired – Your show gets canceled and and your livelihood taken away overnight yet @JussieSmollett hasn't been fired from @EmpireFOX yet for faking a hate crime !!!! Such a double standard!!!!! #bringrosannebacktotv
— S T E V E N D A N N (@STEVENDANN) February 20, 2019
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She made a tasteless, racist joke. Smollett committed crimes & hurt REAL victims of hate crimes by creating more room for doubt. ??♀️?
— misuyase (@misuyase) February 20, 2019
So to be clear Jussie Smollett is so racist against white people he literally faked a hate crime. But he’s still an asset so who cares right? And Roseanne was axed because of a tweet. Wow.
— CJ (@nfltexanchick) February 20, 2019
Shouldn't he be @EmpireFOX?@therealroseanne made some dopey comment on Twitter and lost everything.@JussieSmollett fabricated a hate hoax and made a terroristic threat through the USPS to your offices, and you can't make a stand?
Cowards.
— Rusty Weiss ??? (@rustyweiss74) February 20, 2019
The backlash against Roseanne was fueled in no small part by media firefighters. The same ones who bent over backwards to defend Smollett despite his story being full of holes from the start.
I wanna know why @JussieSmollett hasn't been blasted all over the news like they did with @therealroseanne. It is like the news is scared to offend a liar that is making up hate crimes. Why aren't more people who have seriously been treated maliciously speaking out? Very wrong!
— Jessy Evans (@plainoljessy) February 19, 2019
Something certainly smells rotten.
Why isn’t anyone boycotting @EmpireFOX and exile his guy like they did to @therealroseanne ?????? I’m sick of double standards
— MommaBee (@LeeLee9708) February 20, 2019
Dear @therealroseanne the hypocrisy is real. It will never end. I’m so sorry.
— t2fridas (@t2fridas) February 20, 2019
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