Fear is a powerful tool and weapon. It has been used for centuries to control people, ranging from one person scaring someone else into doing something to world leaders creating hysteria to push an agenda.

The day and age we live in is no different.

On Jan. 29, television star Jussie Smollett alleged to be the victim of a hate crime in downtown Chicago. Smollett said that two men yelled racial slurs at him, put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical on him. Later on, Smollett would also claim the attackers shouted “this is MAGA country,” in reference to President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

Notable people from all across the country came out in support of Smollett. For example, Cory Booker, a Democratic candidate for president and current senator from New Jersey, said in a tweet, “The vicious attack on actor Jussie Smollett was an attempted modern-day lynching. I’m glad he’s safe.”

Almost a month later, it was revealed that Smollett paid two men $3,500 to stage the attack. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson revealed that Smollett used the “advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.”

This type of stunt has huge ramifications.

To start, by staging this attack, Smollett has cast a shadow of doubt onto every hate crime case in recent memory. Regardless of if those attacks were staged or not, people will now have to ask themselves, “well, it was faked in Chicago, could this be faked too?”

Next, this staged attack does not help the current political divide in America. Whether or not it was Smollett’s original intent, he made Trump supporters seem like the type of people who would attempt hate crimes and delegitimized the actual crimes being perpetrated against marginalized communities.

Smollett staged an attack based on a real fear many Americans have. In 2017 alone, there were 7,175 hate crimes nationwide — an increase from 6,121 in 2016, sccording to the FBI. Fear is a powerful tool, and Smollett’s case shows what kind of damage it can do.