Empire alum Jussie Smollett is off the market, recently proposing to partner Jabari Redd.
“I’ll be spending my birthday with my fiancé,” Smollett, 43, wrote via Instagram on Friday, June 20. He said YES 💍.”
In images captured by professional photographer @artbyalyx, Smollett got down on one knee in front of an outdoor café to Redd’s surprise. After Redd said “yes,” Smollett slipped a silver band with a single diamond on his left hand. The couple celebrated the occasion with glasses of champagne.
Jussie’s sisters were among the couple’s biggest supporters.
“Happy birthday to my heart!!! My big brother, this picture makes me so happy!!!” Journee Smollett wrote via her Instagram Stories. “Congratulations @jussiesmollett @jabariredd ❤️.”
Jazz Smollett, for her part, noted via Instagram comment that she was also thrilled about the news.
“Yaaaass!!! Welcome to the family, Jabari!!!” Jazz, 45, wrote. “Love y’all!! Sooooo happy for you both! 🥰🥰🥰.”
Jussie Smollett. Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Fashion Trust U.S.)
Jussie publicly came out as gay in 2015 during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, who is also a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“It was very, very important to me that, as my first performance and talk show that it was with you. You’ve been such an inspiration to so many, but also to me,” Jussie said at the time. “What you’ve done in the LGBT community is very much, in my opinion, kind of like what Michael Jackson did with the Black community, just that you are who you are. And he was just Michael and you’re just Ellen, so it was really important to me to make sure that it got across that there is no closet.”
He added, “There’s never been a closet that I’ve been in. 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.”
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At the time, Jussie stressed that he often chose “not to talk about [his] personal life.”
“There is, without a doubt, no closet that I’ve ever been in, and I just wanted to make that clear,” he said. “It was most important for me to make that clear to you on your show at this time in the world. And that’s where I’m at.”
Four years later, Jussie was arrested for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack. He had claimed that he was targeted by two men in Chicago before being accused of staging the incident. He was charged with felony disorderly conduct for making a false police statement.
Smollett, for his part, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“Let me start by saying that I’m OK. My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly, I want to say thank you,” Smollett said in a February 2019 statement. “The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words. I am working with authorities and have been 100 percent factual and consistent on every level. Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served.”
Jussie was initially found guilty of felony disorderly conduct before the charges were dropped. A special prosecutor indicted him one year later, claiming that Jussie knew “he was not the victim of a crime.” Jussie continued to maintain his innocence.
He was ultimately convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct during his December 2021 trial. Jussie was sentenced to 150 days in jail, serving five before being released amid an appeal. The conviction was overturned in November 2024.
