Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah try to make sense of Jussie Smollett's bizarre escape from prosecution

Trevor Noah and Stephen Colbert on Jussie Smollett
(Image credit: Screenshots/YouTube/The Daily Show, The Late Show)

Prosecutors in Chicago on Tuesday dropped their fake-hate-crime case against Empire actor Jussie Smollett, and everyone's confused. At this point, "no one is exactly sure what happened or why it happened," Stephen Colbert shrugged on The Late Show. Smollett "said it was a hate crime, and I believe it, because I hate talking about this story. Smollett has maintained that he is a victim and said that today's decision vindicates him, but other people," like Chicago's police superintendent and mayor, "are not so sure."

Letting Smollett walk free "is wrong," Colbert said. "But on the other hand, isn't it a hopeful sign for America that regardless of your race or sexual orientation, all rich, famous people get off easily?"

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.