Of course it was a hoax because the story was so ridiculous on its face and now Smollett needs a defense attorney[1]. Not quite as outrageous as 2017 Jewish Community Center bomb threats [2] which were also blamed on "the rise of white nationalism in Trump's America." yet serving the same political purpose: demonizing republicans, conservatives, whites and unifying groups on the left as they feel they are under attack.
Chicago PD is investigating it as a hate crime. Maybe they're in on the conspiracy.
Or maybe you're imagining a lie because you can't accept that it is true.