Charles Barkley says Jussie Smollett caused severe damage to black causes and LGBT

EXCLUSIVE

Charles Barkley seemed shot down Friday night on Jussie Smollett, lamenting having betrayed the black and LGBTQ communities.

We had the famous commentator at the 1818 Club in Atlanta on his departure from Ric Flair70th birthday party, and he had sober thoughts about the actor "Empire" … that he calls talented but also someone who has gone astray, causing "immeasurable damage".

Charles was much more serious than Friday. was joking about Jussie on "Inside the NBA", when he suggested that if the Jussie really wanted to be a victim of a hate crime, he should simply have gone to Liam Neesonthe neighborhood of.

As for Barkley's serious comments, he's part of a growing group of people who think Jussie has done big damage. As we reported, Jussie vehemently denies concoct the story.