Tea at Trianon: Hate Hoax? The Omar Attack and the Case for a Federal Investigation

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Hate Hoax? The Omar Attack and the Case for a Federal Investigation

From Alexander Muse on Amuse on X:

A hate hoax, properly defined, is not a mere misunderstanding or a mistaken report. A hate hoax is a false or staged claim of a hate crime or bias motivated incident, in which the alleged victim fabricates, exaggerates, or materially misrepresents events to suggest they were targeted because of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or political identity. Unlike misreporting caused by confusion, a hate hoax involves intentional deception and is often revealed through evidence such as surveillance footage, digital records, forensic analysis, or confessions. The concept matters because it names a distinct phenomenon, one that has predictable features and predictable effects.
One defining feature of hate hoaxes is immediate media amplification. Allegations of hate crimes fit powerful moral and political narratives, so major outlets often report them rapidly and uncritically, framing claims as established facts before investigations conclude. This amplification creates instant reputational harm to accused individuals or groups and embeds the story in public consciousness. Closely tied to this is the political utility of the allegation. Hate claims are frequently used to validate broader arguments about systemic oppression, political movements, or social decay. This gives activists, institutions, and commentators incentives to promote the story quickly. When evidence later contradicts the narrative, coverage is often delayed, muted, or buried. By that point, the correction rarely travels as far as the original claim. Accountability is minimal, and the original targets of the accusation often suffer permanent damage that is never repaired.
These dynamics are not theoretical. They have played out repeatedly in recent American history. In January 2019, actor Jussie Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault in downtown Chicago. He alleged that attackers yelled ‘this is MAGA country’ while beating him and placing a noose around his neck. The story dominated national headlines and was framed as proof of rising hate crimes. Within weeks, Chicago police concluded the attack was staged by Smollett himself, who had paid two acquaintances to carry it out. Prosecutors argued the motive involved career leverage and attention. The case became the most notorious modern hate hoax, and it permanently altered public trust in high profile hate claims.
In June 2020, NASCAR announced that a noose had been found in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway. Media outlets and political leaders treated it as a modern lynching symbol. The FBI later determined the rope was a garage door pull that had been in place since 2019, before Wallace was assigned the stall. No criminal intent existed, but the narrative had already traveled the world. The episode demonstrated how institutional panic and narrative momentum can outpace evidence. (Read more.)