Jaboukie, you've been following this story from the start,
and now that it looks like it may have been staged,
-are you surprised? -I'm not surprised,
but I'm disappointed, you know?
This story's been weird for me, Trevor.
As a gay person, I'm used to speaking on gay issues.
As a black person, I'm used to speaking on black issues.
But I'm not used to them intercepting.
Except when, like, someone... someone's like,
"As a gay black person,
do you think I could pull off these shoes?"
Or, like, if RuPaul robbed a bank,
that'd be the only other time.
That ac... that actually is true.
You're looking at this as a gay person and as a black person.
And I'm also a part of a third community
that has been... devastated by this:
the ac-tor community, Trevor.
Because of Jussie,
everyone's gonna think actors are liars now,
which technically we are, because, like, that's our job.
Bit still, you know?
And on top of that, I look like him.
Well, actually, I don't really think you look like him.
-Mm, to white people, I do. -(laughter)
And hopefully, to whoever is casting
the Jussie Smollet Lifetime movie.
(laughter)
(applause)
-(cheering) -Because...
this story was made for Lifetime.
You know? We're still piecing together leaks
from the Chicago Police Department
and more reliable sources like TMZ.
But you couldn't have written a crazier plot.
I mean, Trump supporters who watch Empire?
A death threat letter made out of magazine clippings?
That's so dated, you know?
Everyone knows if you're sending a death threat
-you post that shit on Twitter. -Well, Jaboukie,
I think you're getting ahead of yourself, though.
The big question now is, like, why?
Why would Jussie Smollett do something like this?
(affected tone): Why does an actor do anything, Trevor?
Wait, hold on. Let me do that again.
Why do actors do anything, Trevor?
That was it. Use that one. Use that one.
I don't know why he did it, man.
I mean, if he wanted to raise awareness for LGBTQ rights,
he should have just donated money.
If he wanted attention, he could have just leaked his news.
And if he wanted to hang out with two guys at 2:00 a.m.,
Grindr is right there.
Okay, but-but here's what I'm worried about, though.
Won't this make it harder for victims of real hate crimes
to come forward and get justice?
Not really, because that would have required people
to have cared about queer people,
specifically, queer black people,
in the first place.
Well, Jaboukie, that's a strong statement.
I think most people do care.
Trevor, you clearly haven't heard
of the gay/trans panic defense.
It's a totally admissible legal defense
where someone can get a lighter sentence
for killing a gay or trans person
by claiming the victim hit on them.
-Wait, are you... are you being serious? -Yes.
No, in 47 states, including New York,
someone could beat a gay person, like me, to death
and then go, "Well, I don't know,
he wanted to suck my dick."
And you know what? Maybe I did.
(laughter)
But that's still not a good reason, you know?
I mean, imagine if women could use that defense.
-There'd be no men left. -(laughter)
-(applause, cheering) -None.
None! And then...
I don't know, who would be left
to buy all the three-in-one body wash, shampoo and conditioner?
Well, some of us are busy--
we don't have time for lots of products, okay?
But with... Anyway, this is... this is obviously unfortunate
on so many levels.
What is your takeaway going forward?
Honestly, Trevor...
I think that this is a teaching moment for us all,
and personally, I've learned one really valuable lesson,
which is that actors should not write their own projects.
I mean, this thing had way too many plot holes.
He totally miscast the villains.
I mean, two Nigerian Trump supporters?
(laughter)
Like, you can't just cast black people as racist white people.
-This isn't Hamilton. -(laughter)
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got an audition to prepare for.
I hear there's a new role that might be opening up
-on Empire. -And scene!
Jaboukie Young-White, everybody.