Jussie Smollett’s victim story is almost at an end, thanks to two Nigerian brothers who have been singing like birds.

As you recall, Chicago Police held the brothers — Asa and Ola Osundairo — due to their possible involvement with Smollett’s alleged “hate crime” attack on January 29th. So, in exchange for their freedom, they spilled the beans on Jussie. And boy, did they talk.

Now Chicago Police believe that Jussie Smollett staged his own assault.

Let me show you my shocked face.

Those doubting Smollett’s tall tale are no longer some tenacious Chicago reporters or a local crime blog. Nope, you pretty much know that his hate crime story is toast when places like CNN, ABC News, and even The Hill are announcing that the jig is up for Jussie.

Here’s how the CBS Evening News reported the story:

Moreover, Chicago’s CBS affiliate offered up even more juicy tidbits of how Jussie lured the brothers into doing his dirty work.

For example, before the brothers fled to Nigeria after the “attack,” Smollett paid the Nigerian brothers $3500 for helping him stage the event. They also procured rope, bleach, and even red ball caps (for that “MAGA” touch), while Smollett promised them another $500 after they returned to Chicago. Some payoff, right?

And how did the brothers commit the assault? One of them held a rope and poured bleach on Smollett, while the other wore a red hat and yelled slurs. To make sure that everyone played their parts correctly, the three of them even rehearsed days before the “attack.”

Apparently the Nigerian brothers didn’t think a measly $4K was worth possible prison time. So they sang like canaries to the Chicago Police, whose spokesman issued this statement:

“We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation. We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview.”

And yep, Jussie has lawyered up. His attorneys released a statement on Saturday night, which reads in part:

“As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation. . .”

So says the “victim” who at first refused to give his cell phone to the police.

“He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack.” 

It’s Jussie v. the Nigerian brothers. And the Nigerian brothers just knocked out Jussie in the first round.

“Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.” 

And if anyone believes that, could I interest them in this bridge. . .

Meanwhile, the memes at Twitter have been coming fast and hard.

Like this one by Trump spokesperson Katrina Pierson:

.@JussieSmollett @EmpireFOX pic.twitter.com/RBP2rmqGwY

— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) February 17, 2019

And this one from a black activist:

Black Community looking at @JussieSmollett like… pic.twitter.com/6eaGOJY5VT

— Mr. Smith (@TerrellSmith93) February 17, 2019

And finally this gem:

Screenshot from @riel at Twitter.

Meanwhile, I wonder what’s going through the heads of celebrities who swallowed Jussie’s claims — hook, line, and sinker.

Like singer Ariana Grande, who has difficulty with basic writing skills:

“what happened to jussie makes me really fucking sick to my stomach. i can’t believe shit like this is really still happening everyday. what kind of world ?”

Or actress Viola Davis:

“OMG!! THIS is why the LGBTQ community continue to fight to be seen and PROTECTED against hate!”

“We ALL have to take this racist and homophobic act of violence very personally!”

Or TV producer Shonda Rhimes:

“We ALL have a responsibility to rise up against the ignorance and hate out there. If you know who did this, REPORT THEM TO THE POLICE.”

Yeah, about that “report them to the police” thing . . .

Even President Trump — whom Jussie Smollett despises with the heat of a thousand suns — called the attack “horrible:”

“That I can tell you is horrible . . . I think that’s horrible. It doesn’t get worse, as far as I’m concerned.”

However, while Rep. Nancy Pelosi called the assault “an affront to our humanity,” her daughter Christina feels a bit more — shall we say — betrayed? 

“Sigh. Chicago police say Jussie Smollett staged his attack. Having taken him at his word, I feel taken for a ride.”

“He owes us the truth. Will await his response to these charges but feel heartbroken for victims of hate crimes whose real experiences must not be diminished.” 

I don’t know how many true “victims of hate crimes” are really out there — I’m suspecting far less than Pelosi thinks there are — but you know whom I feel sorry for?

How about all the good people of Chicago who’ve been victims of crime the past two weeks? Whose stories have been ‘diminished’ while the CPD focused on this snipe hunt?

Like the pregnant woman who was punched and kicked on a Red Line rapid transit train last Wednesday? Or the gas station attendant who was slashed during an overnight robbery?

Or little Dejohn Irving, a one-year-old who was shot in the head while he was in a car with his mother and grandmother?

Those folks are the true victims of Chicago’s mean streets. Not some B-list actor who brags that he’s the “gay Tupac” because he speaks out “really, really hard against 45” (Trump), and says “I don’t hold my tongue.”

But now everyone will remember this ‘gay Tupac’ as the dimwit who tried to fake a hate crime attack and failed miserably. Way to go, Jussie.

Featured image: cropped free image from pixabay.