Plausible?

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/16/entertainment/jussie-smollett-attack/index.html

Best proof so far. I had no idea who the guy was.

I didn't even know what Empire was about or who any of the people in it were until this whole fiasco lol

I still don't. All I know is some queer black dude lied about getting lynched to get sympathy for an anti-lynching bill. Oh, and his sandwich remained unharmed during the beating.