Tina Knowles-Lawson, superstar Beyoncé’s mother, is calling for “compassion” for Jussie Smollett after the former “Empire” actor was found guilty on several charges related to him lying about staging a hate crime against himself.
Knowles-Lawson thinks that Smollett deserves “compassion” because teenager Kyle Rittenhouse “walked free after killing two people.”
Knowles-Lawson Wants ‘Compassion’ For Smollett
“We will see the outcome of this for this Black man,” Knowles-Lawson posted to Instagram alongside a CNN article about Smollett’s conviction.
“I am not condoning what Mr. Smollet was found guilty of, I am just asking will he get the same compassion and understanding of knowingly lying to police,” she wrote, according to Daily Wire. “Kyle Rittenhouse walked free after killing two people because the jury had compassion?”
Knowles-Lawson also brought up the case of Amy Cooper, a white woman who called the police after she said she felt threatened by a black man in Central Park.
Related: Black Lives Matter Throws Support Behind Jussie Smollett – ‘We Can Never Believe The Police’
Knowles-Lawson’s Full Post
View this post on Instagram
Here is the full caption Knowles-Lawson posted:
The article goes on to say both were wrong but Jussie faces possible prison time and Amy Cooper The woman who called the police and lied about the black man that was Bird watching in Central Park was trying to attack her. Leading to the potential arrest of the man where in the history of black men In Custody could have led to his death !!
Amy Cooper got off with public service . We will see the outcome of this for this Black man . Will he get the same compassion as Amy Cooper? I am not condoning what Mr Smollet was found guilty of . I am just asking will he get the same compassion and understanding of knowingly lying to police . Kyle Rittenhouse walked free after killing two people because the jury had compassion ?
Related: Mike Rowe Reveals Why He Left Fox News Set As Soon As Jussie Smollett Verdict Came Out
Smollett’s Alleged Crime
In January of 2019, Smollett claimed that he was attacked by two men who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him while also shouting “this is MAGA country.” He also claimed that they tied a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him.
After police investigated, however, they found that Smollett had paid two men, brothers, to attack him in the hopes of garnering himself publicity that would land him a higher salary on “Empire.”
Last Thursday, a Chicago jury found Smollett guilty of five of six counts of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report after testimony from 13 witnesses, according to The New York Times.
Rittenhouse was found not guilty of killing two people and injuring a third during the riots that took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year. A jury found that Rittenhouse had acted in self defense, as he had valid reason to think his life was in danger when he was attacked by the two men he ultimately killed.