Robin Roberts is once again speaking out about her controversial interview with actor Jussie Smollett.
In case you forget, the GMA host interviewed Smollett on February 14, shortly after the Empire star reported being the victim of a homophobic, racist hate crime. It was also right around the time questions began to emerge regarding his account of the assault.
Just two days later, Chicago Police arrested two men who claimed Smollett paid them to stage the attack. Then a grand jury subsequently indicted the actor for filing a false police report.
As the situation became clearer, Roberts came under fire for not grilling Smollett harder on his account of the assault. Now, she is reflecting on the interview with frustration.
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“I’m a black gay woman, he’s a black gay man,” she told her GMA co-hosts this week. “He’s saying that there’s a hate crime, so if I’m too hard, then my LGBT community is going to say, ‘You don’t believe a brother.’ If I’m too light on him, it’s like, ‘Oh, because you are in the community, you’re giving him a pass.”
“It was a no-win situation for me,” Roberts said. “I pride myself in being fair. I know how much work went into being balanced about what had happened and to challenge him on certain things.”
Roberts went on to explain that she had hesitations over doing the interview, but she agreed to do it after Smollett claimed he would reveal thereto unspoken information regarding the attack.
She further complained that the actor arrived more than two hours late for their recording session.
Smollett is scheduled to appear in court March 14, and has been released from jail on bail. Prosecutors allege that he faked the attack, as well as several threatening letters mailed to the Empire offices as a way to boost his profile for a pay raise.
Though Smollett denies any involvement in the attack, producers have cut his role from the remaining episodes of Empire this season.
Related: Brothers involved in Jussie Smollett attack finally speak out
Rock-N-RollHS
Please. bitch didn’t do her homework. Shady story from the start. Take some responsibility.
DCguy
I wish every interviewer would reveal that the celeb was late or rude for every interview rather than only doing it if the celeb falls from grace.
Xzamilloh
Girl, bye. Where was this energy during the interview? You don’t have to berate him or hold his hand… just press him on inconsistencies that were apparent.
piriblue
He was two hours late? That should have been a sign to you. He has no respect for you. He felt he was a very important person and you would have to wait. If I had to defend myself I would be there on time. As a matter of fact I would be mad early since i would have been so angry and wanted to prove my point. I am just disappointed at the whole thing and the interview was real shit. You didn’t ask the right questions. We tend to give to many passes to star and let them get away with their bullshit.
Black Pegasus
This is what happens when you place your identity politics ahead of your responsibility as a journalist. If you were so damned worried about how the black and LGBT communities would react to you doing your job then you’re in the wrong career! Smollett’s story was full of hot shit from the start and you smelled it long before hair and makeup was done with his face powder. Just shut up already! Your credibility left you and it’s not coming back.
DCguy
Do you think it was her identity, or was she just doing what so many interviewers do now….which is, never EVER ask a tough question to preserve their access to celebrities?
Black Pegasus
@DCguy
Robin said it herself. She felt pressured to softball the interview because of the LGBT and Black community. Go back and read the quotes. She is immersed in identity politics which makes her useless as a journalist.
DCguy
@Black Pegasus
You may be right, I’m thinking it might be the other only because I never hear media folks ask tough questions anymore. They’re all too afraid of upsetting anybody.
CobraPowers
Where are the apologies from these people who maligned 60+ million people?
Paulie P
For the very reason she states she was the wrong person to interview him.
Terrycloth
Rips into jussie ? Hardly..she basically sat there and let him speak..no follow up questions .if he was 2 hours late thats more time to add more questions to ask.she was too soft and her expressions would lead you to belive she wasnt buying what he was saying..she had time to ask hard questions..she didnt have to be there just point a camera let jussie speak. Done. Waste of interview although will probably get played in court not looking good for mr Smollett the tears were a bit much
Ronbo
I’m sure that Robin Roberts was ONCE a very nice person. But… millions of dollars later and she has turned into a rich person… self-important, egotistical, certain of her superiority and arrogant.
Excess money rots the human brain… study after study show it. Never vote for a rich person; chances are that they will attempt to rob you of wealth and/or opportunity. Their money tells them that they are superior… don’t believe it.
corestrength
Puh-leeze.
It was obvious from the start that the interview was a puff piece designed to put him in the best light possible.
Roberts tried to paint him as a saint (or was told to.)
Any attempt to back track on that underlying intention comes off as phony.
dean089
Many of these comments prove that Robin is 100% correct. It’s great to pass judgement after the fact but, despite the gossip, at the time of this interview it was still believed that a hate crime had occurred. Just like she says, had she been tough with him she would have gotten the “You betray our people!” nonsense — no doubt from many of the same people who are now saying she should have been tougher on him.