Jussie smollett is gay
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Smollett says getting to play his character is one of the most beautiful experiences of his life.
“You don’t always get these experiences as an artist of [playing] roles where you feel the impact of what you’re doing, but I do. But honestly, we're human and we love and we do all that good stuff. In a statement released on Instagram, the actor said he would pay $50,000 to a local nonprofit.
"What I have to do now is move forward," he said.
You know? "But I didn't know it was going to be the crazy phenomenon that it's become in the last eight weeks."
Following the episode when his character came out, Smollett received hate online, but it didn't deter him from moving forward with the storyline or in revealing he's also gay in real life.
"I get some ignorant tweets every once in a while … and I know you're not supposed to respond, but sometimes you got to clap back!" he exclaimed.
"I'm a firm believer that people cannot get away with murder ...
But it is in no way to hide or deny who God made me. I just don't choose to talk about my personal life."
Smollett's co-star Malik Yoba made headlines last week when several media outlets and fans accused him of inadvertently outing the actor during an interview with BlackFilm.com.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Yoba denied that he had outed Smollett and was instead just referring to his character, Jamal.
Smollett's other co-stars, Oscar-nominated actresses Henson and Gabourey Sidibe, tweeted their support of his decision to share his private life with the world.
I just can't wait for that to happen because I have a life to live.
I live my life.
Jussie Smollett reveals he's engaged to actor Jabari Redd: 'He said YES'
Jussie Smollett celebrated his birthday as an engaged man.
The former "Empire" star, 43, revealed in an Instagram post that he is engaged to actor Jabari Redd. I'm Jamal Lyon in more ways than one.'"
"It made him pay attention," DeGeneres said of Smollett's persistence.
While Smollett doesn't peg his online outreach to Daniels as the sole reason behind landing the audition, he admitted that it didn't hurt.
But in November 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction, determining that he should not have been charged a second time for the same incident after charges against him were initially dropped in 2019.
Smollett has repeatedly denied staging the hate crime and has maintained that the attack was real.
Smollett reached a civil settlement with the city of Chicago earlier this year, according to NBC News.
Smollett shared a gallery of photos showing himself down on one knee and presenting a ring to Redd, who looked elated.
"I'll be spending my birthday with my Fiancé … He said YES. 💍," Smollett, who turned 43 on Saturday, June 21, wrote in the caption.
Redd has appeared on shows like Showtime's "The Chi" and starred in "The Lost Holliday," a 2024 film directed by and starring Smollett.
Smollett's sister Jurnee Smollett celebrated his engagement in the comments of the Instagram post, writing that she was "screaming with tears of joy!" She added that "my whole heart loves both of you" and welcomed Redd "to the family." Smollett's sister Jazz Smollett also commented, "Yaaaass!!!
And that's where I'm at. So it was really important to me to make sure that it got across that there is no closet," Smollett continued.
"There is without a doubt, no closet that I've ever been in," he said. And that as an artist, as an activist, as a man, it’s feeding my soul.”
Watch Jussie’s conversation with Ellen below:
Empire actor Jussie Smollett reveals he is gay on Ellen
The actor told Ellen DeGeneres backstage "there's never been a close that I've been in"
19:11, 09 Mar 2015Updated 19:11, 09 Mar 2015
Jussie Smollett is "Jamal Lyon in more ways than one."
The 31-year-old "Empire" star came out on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" after his character from the hit Fox series revealed he's gay.
"There's never been a closet that I've been in," Smollett told DeGeneres backstage after filming their interview for the episode that airs Monday.
"I don't own a closet, I got a dresser, but I don't have a closet," he added.
"And I just wanted to make that clear, but it was most important for me to make that clear to you on your show at this time in the world."
This time in Smollett's world has been a highlight of his career as an indie musician. "I live my life, and if you really want to know about me, just watch, because I don't hide anything.
“But at the same time I do understand why it is something to talk about.”
Smollett said he hopes to use the platform as a way to make other people feel less alone, and re-emphasized that his personal life is off-limits.
“I didn’t talk to Ellen so that people could, be like ‘oh my God, let’s see what Jussie does in his bedroom in his private life.’ But I did talk to her so that people understood that they’re not alone.
... But there is without a doubt, no closet that I've ever been in, and I just wanted to make that clear, but it was most important for me to make that clear to you on your show at this time in the world. That’s all.”
Smollett’s character on “Empire,” Jamal Lyon, who is also gay, explores the issues associated with being homosexual, including his tense relationship with his father.
But it most certainly didn't make landing the role any easier.
"Seven times," Smollett told the daytime talk show host about how many times he had to audition.
He went through the grueling process and eventually became Jamal Lyon, the middle son of high-powered music mogul Lucious Lyon played by Terrence Howard on the breakout hit series.
"I knew it was going to be acclaimed in some way because it's Lee Daniels," he said.
Welcome to the family Jabari!!!