“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett and HBO’s John Oliver are the latest celebrity activists to be publicly mocked in Los Angeles by conservative artists.
The scenery for morning commuters in the City of Angels was decidedly right-wing Monday, with new pieces by “The Faction” and the artist known as Sabo.
The former lampooned the “Last Week Tonight” host’s rote criticism of President Trump while the latter likened Mr. Smollett’s claims of a “MAGA” attack in Chicago to an Academy Award-worthy performance.
The Hollywood Reporter and Los Angeles locals covered the various pieces of street art, which were found at the corner of La Cienega and Pico and along bus stops and Redbox kiosks.
“A faux ad features Smollett as the Black Panther — sort of,” THR’s Paul Bond wrote. “In the Marvel film distributed by Disney, Chadwick Boseman plays the superhero, though in Sabo’s version of the poster Smollett looks a lot like the real thing only he’s called ’Black Prankster.’
“In another faux ad that Sabo distributed throughout the Hollywood area Sunday night, Smollett is seen on the poster of BlacKkKlansman, director Spike Lee’s film from Focus Features about two cops, one black and one Jewish, who infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan,” the reporter added.
One fake ad reads: “For your consideration — Jussie Smollett for best actor in a drama.”
Mr. Smollett claims he was attacked early Jan. 29 by Trump supporters carrying rope and bleach in sub-zero weather.
Chicago police want to meet with the actor now that detectives have questioned two brothers, Ola and Abel Osundairo.
One of the individuals is Smollett’s personal trainer. The pair reportedly told detectives that they rehearsed the attack for three days and were given $3,500 by the actor.
Street art targeting Mr. Oliver required turning a giant billboard into a “Matrix”-inspired piece for “The Orange Man Bad Show.”
Lol. These are going up in LA. pic.twitter.com/ic5vIq7krw
— Chet Cannon (@Chet_Cannon) February 18, 2019
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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