Jussie smollett is gay

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I just can't wait for that to happen because I have a life to live. So I'm honored for this opportunity and I'm honored to be here with you."Need a news break? You know? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!

Until his conversation with DeGeneres, Smollett consistently refused to discuss his sexuality in interviews, telling Sway on his radio show a few weeks ago that fans shouldn't assume that he's gay.

"I'm not willing to confirm or deny anything.

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. But honestly, we're human and we love and we do all that good stuff.

jussie smollett is gay

Welcome to the family Jabari!!! My mama likes me a lot. 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.

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.

‘Empire’ Actor Jussie Smollett Gets Why His Sexuality Is Something to Talk About

Earlier this week, “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett confirmed that he’s gay in a backstage interview with Ellen DeGeneres, saying, “There’s never been a closet that I’ve been in.” Smollett told Variety that the reaction since that moment has been great.

“It was a bigger deal to everyone than it was for me,” he said.

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. I don't own a closet, I got a dresser, but I don't have a closet, but I have a home and that is my responsibility to protect that home. And that's where I'm at. 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.

I just feel that, as tenants of this Earth it's our job to make a difference and make the world better and we can't just sit around and let people spew nasty things and just think that's OK. It's not OK."

'Empire' star Jussie Smollet confirms he's gay

Actor and singer Jussie Smollett is one of the breakout stars of Fox's hit drama Empire, and while much of the buzz surrounding him has focused on his talents, there's also been plenty said about his sexuality.

Henson) battling his father's homophobia.

In real life, Smollett's sexuality has been a topic of conversation, and now he's setting the record straight.

In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres conducted backstage at Ellen, he confirmed that he is gay and explained why he's never felt the need to discuss his personal life.

"There's never been a closet.

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.

Love y'all!! 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 it is in no way to hide or deny who God made me. "But I have a home and that is my responsibility, to protect that home."

Questions about his sexual orientation have come up for a while.

He claimed at the time that he was attacked by men who yelled homophobic slurs at him in Chicago.

Jussie Smollett says he has 'to move forward' after alleged hate crime hoax

Smollett was charged with lying to police about the attack, and he was convicted of felony disorderly conduct in 2021. I live my life. But the world is going to fix it all."

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

‘There is no closet’ -Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett reveals he’s gay on ‘Ellen


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, yes, I take her to the Sound of Music sing-along every single year.