You took an interesting oblique angle to that, how should we judge those seeking victimhood status. On the "why".

As you suggested, society has shifted from hero-worship to victim-worship. Most TV shows don't have strong heroes anymore; they're ensemble casts of victims, from "This Is Us" to "Succession", which just wrapped up season 3 in perfect victimhood fashion.

Actors don't perform actual scenes of victimhood or heroism, they play them. Smollett played a part in the media. He's actually a bit of hero to me because he exposed what REALLY sells to closet racists--the story that racism is simple, which it isn't, and you have covered so well, so I won't here ;)

The victim is the hero these days. Smollett understands that all TOO well. He only erred in acting out the part in public where some people were able to sneak backstage and look at the fakery involved.