Earlier this week, "Empire" actor Jsie Smollett nfirmed that he's gay a backstage terview wh Ellen DeGener, sayg, "There's never been a closet that I've been ." Smollett told Variety that the reactn sce that moment has been great.
Contents:
- 'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY
- ‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’
- JSIE {MARG-TOP:1.25REM;MARG-BOTTOM:1.25REM;}{DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;GAP:1REM;MARG:0REM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));OVERFLOW:TO;PADDG:0REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{MARG-LEFT:3.4375REM;}}{DISPLAY:NONE;}{LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JSIE SMOLLETT STARTED OUT SUCH 1990S FILMS AS 'THE MIGHTY DUCKS,' BEFORE FDG FAME AS JAMAL LYON ON THE H TV DRAMA 'EMPIRE.'{MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}BY WENDY {DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: OCT 7, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PRCE WILLIAMS/{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1983-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JSIE SMOLLETT?BORN 1983, JSIE SMOLLETT WAS JT A CHILD WHEN HE LNCHED HIS ACTG REER. ALONG WH APPEARG THE MIGHTY DUCKS (1992) AND NORTH (1994), HE -STARRED WH HIS OWN SIBLGS THE MID-1990S S ON OUR OWN. AFTER A BREAK, SMOLLETT RURFACED AS A SGER WH THE 2012 EP POISONED HEARTS CLUB AND AS AN ACTOR WH THE FILM THE SKNY. IN 2015, HE BUTED HIS ROLE AS JAMAL LYON ON THE TV SHOW EMPIRE, A NAWAY RATGS SUCCS, AND ALSO LAND A RERDG NTRACT WH COLUMBIA RERDS. THE ACTOR WAS ARRTED EARLY 2019 AFTER ALLEGEDLY ARRANGG TO BE ATTACKED BY TWO MEN AND FILG A FALSE REPORT, THOUGH THE CHARG WERE SOON DROPPED.EARLY CAREERBORN ON JUNE 21, 1983 SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA, ACTOR AND SGER JSIE SMOLLETT STARTED PERFORMG AT AN EARLY AGE. ONE OF HIS FIRST ROL WAS THE 1992 POPULAR KIDS HOCKEY MOVIE THE MIGHTY DUCKS, STARRG {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}E ESTEVEZ AND JOSHUA JACKSON. AS HE LATER TOLD PEOPLE MAGAZE, WORKG ON THE FILM "WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE." SMOLLETT THEN APPEARED THE 1993 TV MISERI QUEEN, BASED ON A BOOK BY ALEX HALEY, PLAYG THE SON OF THE TLE CHARACTER (HALLE BERRY).IN 1994, SMOLLETT STARRED WH HIS REAL-LIFE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THE S ON OUR OWN. HE AND HIS FIVE SIBLGS PLAYED CHILDREN WHO WERE ORPHANED AFTER THE ATH OF THEIR PARENTS AND RALPH LOUIS HARRIS PLAYED THEIR OLST BROTHER WHO TRIED TO LOOK AFTER THEM. THAT SAME YEAR, SMOLLETT HAD A ROLE NORTH, AN ADVENTURE EDY STARRG ELIJAH WOOD. MIC AND RETURN TO THE SCREENSMOLLETT DISAPPEARED OM THE ENTERTAMENT WORLD FOR QUE A WHILE AFTER ON OUR OWN END 1995. IN 2012, HE RETURNED WH TWO MAJOR PROJECTS. SMOLLETT RELEASED THE EP POISONED HEARTS CLUB AND STARRED THE PENNT FILM THE SKNY. HE ALSO APPEARED ON THE POPULAR MDY KALG S THE MDY PROJECT. WH HIS REER PICKG UP MOMENTUM, SMOLLETT LAND ROL THE ACTN MOVIE BORN TO RACE: FAST TRACK (2014) AND DRAMA ASK ME ANYTHG (2014) AS WELL AS A GUT SPOT ON THE TV SHOW REVENGE. 'EMPIRE'THE FOLLOWG YEAR, SMOLLETT MA HIS BUT HIS GREATT ROLE TO DATE, PLAYG JAMAL LYON THE MIL DRAMA EMPIRE, WHICH BEME A RATGS GIANT. JAMAL IS THE GAY MIDDLE CHILD OF AIN-AMERIN MIC TAN LUC LYON (TERRENCE HOWARD) AND HIS EX-N EX-WIFE COOKIE (TARAJI HENSON). WHILE SUPPORTED BY HIS TENAC MOTHER, HE HAS A DIFFICULT RELATNSHIP WH HIS FATHER BEE LUC DON'T ACCEPT JAMAL'S SEXUAL ORIENTATN. BUT VIEWERS HAVE HAD QUE A DIFFERENT REACTN TO THE CHARACTER, WHO'S SERVED AS AN SPIRATN TO MANY.AS SMOLLETT TOLD VANY FAIR, "I RECEIVED A LETTER OM A KID THAT SAID JAMAL GAVE HIM THE URAGE TO E OUT TO HIS PARENTS. IT TOUCHED ME EPLY AND 'S AN HONOR TO HELP PEOPLE." ADDNALLY, SMOLLETT WAS ABLE TO SHOWSE HIS OWN TALENTS AS A SGER AND SONGWRER ON THE SHOW. HE NTRIBUTED SEVERAL SONGS TO THE EMPIRE SOUNDTRACK, WHICH BEME A HUGE H. THE SUCCS OF EMPIRE HAS ALSO HELPED SMOLLETT SRE HIS OWN AL WH COLUMBIA RERDS.JAMAL WAS WRTEN OUT OF THE SHOW AT THE BEGNG OF SEASON 6, FOLLOWG SMOLLETT'S HIGH-PROFILE BSH WH THE LAW OVER HIS ALLEGED ASSLT EARLY 2019. COMG OUTWHILE PREVLY AVOIDG QUTNS ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE, SMOLLETT DID E OUT AS GAY AN TERVIEW WH ELLEN DEGENER ON HER DAYTIME TALK SHOW. HE TOLD HER WASN'T TENTNALLY WHHOLDG HIS SEXUALY, JT GUARDG HIS OWN PRIVACY. SMOLLETT SAID THAT "THERE'S NEVER BEEN A CLOSET THAT I'VE BEEN " BUT HE HAS A "RPONSIBILY TO PROTECT" HIS OWN "HOME."{--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}JSIE SMOLLETT AT THE "EMPIRE" LOS ANGEL PREMIERE 2015. (PHOTO: DFREE / )ATTACK, INVTIGATN AND ARRT IN JANUARY 2019, SMOLLETT CLAIMED HE WAS ATTACKED DOWNTOWN CHIGO BY TWO MEN WHO POURED A CHEMIL SUBSTANCE ON HIM, PUT A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK AND MA HOMOPHOBIC MENTS. HE WAS BETTER SHAPE AFTER A BRIEF HOSPALIZATN, AND APPEARED ON GOOD MORNG AMERI TO DISCS THE EXPERIENCE. THE VTIGATN TOOK A TURN BY MID-FEBARY, WHEN POLICE RELEASED TWO BROTHERS NNECTED TO THE CINT AND BEGAN LOOKG TO THE POSSIBILY THAT THE ACTOR HAD ORCHTRATED THE ATTACK. ON FEBARY 20, FOLLOWG THE NVENG OF A GRAND JURY TO HEAR EVINCE, SMOLLETT WAS CHARGED WH A CLASS 4 FELONY FOR FILG A FALSE REPORT. SMOLLETT WAS ARRTED THE NEXT MORNG AND RELEASED AFTER POSTG A $10,000 BOND AND SURRENRG HIS PASSPORT. THAT DAY, HE DREW A STERN REBE OM CHIGO POLICE SUPERTENNT EDDIE JOHNSON, WHO SAID THE ACTOR PAID THE BROTHERS $3,500 TO STAGE THE ATTACK AND "TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE PA AND ANGER OF RACISM TO PROMOTE HIS REER." ON MARCH 7, A COOK COUNTY GRAND JURY RETURNED A 16-UNT DICTMENT AGAST SMOLLETT, THE CHARG RELATED TO FALSE STATEMENTS GIVEN OVER TWO SETS OF TERVIEWS WH POLICE. HOWEVER, ON MARCH 26, THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THAT ALL CHARG WERE BEG DROPPED, CG SMOLLETT'S PERFORMANCE OF MUNY SERVICE AND AGREEMENT TO FORFE THE $10,000 BOND AS NTRIBUTG FACTORS. THE CISN WAS BLASTED BY THE CHIGO POLICE SUPERTENNT AND MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, WHO LLED "A WHEWASH OF JTICE." THE ISSUE NOT ENTIRELY SETTLED, SMOLLETT WAS SLAPPED WH A $130,000 LAWSU BY THE CY OF CHIGO APRIL TO VER THE ST OF VTIGATG A FALSE HATE CRIME REPORT. THE FOLLOWG MONTH, A COOK COUNTY JUDGE ORRED THE CRIMAL SE FILE AGAST SMOLLETT BE UNSEALED. RPONDG TO THE ACTOR'S REQUT TO KEEP THE RMATN PRIVATE, THE JUDGE NOTED THAT SMOLLETT WAS NOT BEHAVG LIKE SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO KEEP THGS PRIVATE DUE TO HIS REPEATED PUBLIC MENTS ON THE SE.THAT AUGT, ATTORNEY DAN K. WEBB WAS APPOTED AS A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO REEXAME THE SMOLLETT VTIGATN AND THE CISN TO HAVE THE CHARG DROPPED. IN FEBARY 2020, WEBB ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD FURTHER PROSECUTE SMOLLETT AFTER ANOTHER GRAND JURY HAD RETURNED A SIX-UNT DICTMENT AGAST THE ACTOR FOR MAKG FALSE REPORTS TO POLICE.ON DECEMBER 9, 2021, A JURY NVICTED SMOLLETT ON FIVE UNTS OF DISORRLY NDUCT; HE WAS ACQUTED ON A SIXTH UNT. SMOLLETT WAS SENTENCED TO 150 DAYS JAIL MARCH 2022 AND WAS ORRED TO PAY MORE THAN $120,000 RTUTN AND A $25,000 FE FOR MAKG FALSE POLICE REPORTS. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
- MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY
'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY
Actor and sger Jsie Smollett is one of the breakout stars of Fox's h drama Empire, and while much of the buzz surroundg him has foced on his talents, there's also been plenty said about his the show, he plays Jamal Lyon, a gay sger and the middle son of Luc (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) battlg his father's real life, Smollett's sexualy has been a topic of nversatn, and now he's settg the rerd an terview wh Ellen DeGener nducted backstage at Ellen, he nfirmed that he is gay and explaed why he's never felt the need to discs his personal life.
‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’
"Until his nversatn wh DeGener, Smollett nsistently refed to discs his sexualy terviews, tellg Sway on his rad show a few weeks ago that fans shouldn't assume that he's gay.
JSIE {MARG-TOP:1.25REM;MARG-BOTTOM:1.25REM;}{DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;GAP:1REM;MARG:0REM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));OVERFLOW:TO;PADDG:0REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{MARG-LEFT:3.4375REM;}}{DISPLAY:NONE;}{LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}JSIE SMOLLETT STARTED OUT SUCH 1990S FILMS AS 'THE MIGHTY DUCKS,' BEFORE FDG FAME AS JAMAL LYON ON THE H TV DRAMA 'EMPIRE.'{MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}BY WENDY {DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: OCT 7, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PRCE WILLIAMS/{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1983-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JSIE SMOLLETT?BORN 1983, JSIE SMOLLETT WAS JT A CHILD WHEN HE LNCHED HIS ACTG REER. ALONG WH APPEARG THE MIGHTY DUCKS (1992) AND NORTH (1994), HE -STARRED WH HIS OWN SIBLGS THE MID-1990S S ON OUR OWN. AFTER A BREAK, SMOLLETT RURFACED AS A SGER WH THE 2012 EP POISONED HEARTS CLUB AND AS AN ACTOR WH THE FILM THE SKNY. IN 2015, HE BUTED HIS ROLE AS JAMAL LYON ON THE TV SHOW EMPIRE, A NAWAY RATGS SUCCS, AND ALSO LAND A RERDG NTRACT WH COLUMBIA RERDS. THE ACTOR WAS ARRTED EARLY 2019 AFTER ALLEGEDLY ARRANGG TO BE ATTACKED BY TWO MEN AND FILG A FALSE REPORT, THOUGH THE CHARG WERE SOON DROPPED.EARLY CAREERBORN ON JUNE 21, 1983 SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA, ACTOR AND SGER JSIE SMOLLETT STARTED PERFORMG AT AN EARLY AGE. ONE OF HIS FIRST ROL WAS THE 1992 POPULAR KIDS HOCKEY MOVIE THE MIGHTY DUCKS, STARRG {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}E ESTEVEZ AND JOSHUA JACKSON. AS HE LATER TOLD PEOPLE MAGAZE, WORKG ON THE FILM "WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE." SMOLLETT THEN APPEARED THE 1993 TV MISERI QUEEN, BASED ON A BOOK BY ALEX HALEY, PLAYG THE SON OF THE TLE CHARACTER (HALLE BERRY).IN 1994, SMOLLETT STARRED WH HIS REAL-LIFE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THE S ON OUR OWN. HE AND HIS FIVE SIBLGS PLAYED CHILDREN WHO WERE ORPHANED AFTER THE ATH OF THEIR PARENTS AND RALPH LOUIS HARRIS PLAYED THEIR OLST BROTHER WHO TRIED TO LOOK AFTER THEM. THAT SAME YEAR, SMOLLETT HAD A ROLE NORTH, AN ADVENTURE EDY STARRG ELIJAH WOOD. MIC AND RETURN TO THE SCREENSMOLLETT DISAPPEARED OM THE ENTERTAMENT WORLD FOR QUE A WHILE AFTER ON OUR OWN END 1995. IN 2012, HE RETURNED WH TWO MAJOR PROJECTS. SMOLLETT RELEASED THE EP POISONED HEARTS CLUB AND STARRED THE PENNT FILM THE SKNY. HE ALSO APPEARED ON THE POPULAR MDY KALG S THE MDY PROJECT. WH HIS REER PICKG UP MOMENTUM, SMOLLETT LAND ROL THE ACTN MOVIE BORN TO RACE: FAST TRACK (2014) AND DRAMA ASK ME ANYTHG (2014) AS WELL AS A GUT SPOT ON THE TV SHOW REVENGE. 'EMPIRE'THE FOLLOWG YEAR, SMOLLETT MA HIS BUT HIS GREATT ROLE TO DATE, PLAYG JAMAL LYON THE MIL DRAMA EMPIRE, WHICH BEME A RATGS GIANT. JAMAL IS THE GAY MIDDLE CHILD OF AIN-AMERIN MIC TAN LUC LYON (TERRENCE HOWARD) AND HIS EX-N EX-WIFE COOKIE (TARAJI HENSON). WHILE SUPPORTED BY HIS TENAC MOTHER, HE HAS A DIFFICULT RELATNSHIP WH HIS FATHER BEE LUC DON'T ACCEPT JAMAL'S SEXUAL ORIENTATN. BUT VIEWERS HAVE HAD QUE A DIFFERENT REACTN TO THE CHARACTER, WHO'S SERVED AS AN SPIRATN TO MANY.AS SMOLLETT TOLD VANY FAIR, "I RECEIVED A LETTER OM A KID THAT SAID JAMAL GAVE HIM THE URAGE TO E OUT TO HIS PARENTS. IT TOUCHED ME EPLY AND 'S AN HONOR TO HELP PEOPLE." ADDNALLY, SMOLLETT WAS ABLE TO SHOWSE HIS OWN TALENTS AS A SGER AND SONGWRER ON THE SHOW. HE NTRIBUTED SEVERAL SONGS TO THE EMPIRE SOUNDTRACK, WHICH BEME A HUGE H. THE SUCCS OF EMPIRE HAS ALSO HELPED SMOLLETT SRE HIS OWN AL WH COLUMBIA RERDS.JAMAL WAS WRTEN OUT OF THE SHOW AT THE BEGNG OF SEASON 6, FOLLOWG SMOLLETT'S HIGH-PROFILE BSH WH THE LAW OVER HIS ALLEGED ASSLT EARLY 2019. COMG OUTWHILE PREVLY AVOIDG QUTNS ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE, SMOLLETT DID E OUT AS GAY AN TERVIEW WH ELLEN DEGENER ON HER DAYTIME TALK SHOW. HE TOLD HER WASN'T TENTNALLY WHHOLDG HIS SEXUALY, JT GUARDG HIS OWN PRIVACY. SMOLLETT SAID THAT "THERE'S NEVER BEEN A CLOSET THAT I'VE BEEN " BUT HE HAS A "RPONSIBILY TO PROTECT" HIS OWN "HOME."{--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}JSIE SMOLLETT AT THE "EMPIRE" LOS ANGEL PREMIERE 2015. (PHOTO: DFREE / )ATTACK, INVTIGATN AND ARRT IN JANUARY 2019, SMOLLETT CLAIMED HE WAS ATTACKED DOWNTOWN CHIGO BY TWO MEN WHO POURED A CHEMIL SUBSTANCE ON HIM, PUT A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK AND MA HOMOPHOBIC MENTS. HE WAS BETTER SHAPE AFTER A BRIEF HOSPALIZATN, AND APPEARED ON GOOD MORNG AMERI TO DISCS THE EXPERIENCE. THE VTIGATN TOOK A TURN BY MID-FEBARY, WHEN POLICE RELEASED TWO BROTHERS NNECTED TO THE CINT AND BEGAN LOOKG TO THE POSSIBILY THAT THE ACTOR HAD ORCHTRATED THE ATTACK. ON FEBARY 20, FOLLOWG THE NVENG OF A GRAND JURY TO HEAR EVINCE, SMOLLETT WAS CHARGED WH A CLASS 4 FELONY FOR FILG A FALSE REPORT. SMOLLETT WAS ARRTED THE NEXT MORNG AND RELEASED AFTER POSTG A $10,000 BOND AND SURRENRG HIS PASSPORT. THAT DAY, HE DREW A STERN REBE OM CHIGO POLICE SUPERTENNT EDDIE JOHNSON, WHO SAID THE ACTOR PAID THE BROTHERS $3,500 TO STAGE THE ATTACK AND "TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE PA AND ANGER OF RACISM TO PROMOTE HIS REER." ON MARCH 7, A COOK COUNTY GRAND JURY RETURNED A 16-UNT DICTMENT AGAST SMOLLETT, THE CHARG RELATED TO FALSE STATEMENTS GIVEN OVER TWO SETS OF TERVIEWS WH POLICE. HOWEVER, ON MARCH 26, THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THAT ALL CHARG WERE BEG DROPPED, CG SMOLLETT'S PERFORMANCE OF MUNY SERVICE AND AGREEMENT TO FORFE THE $10,000 BOND AS NTRIBUTG FACTORS. THE CISN WAS BLASTED BY THE CHIGO POLICE SUPERTENNT AND MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, WHO LLED "A WHEWASH OF JTICE." THE ISSUE NOT ENTIRELY SETTLED, SMOLLETT WAS SLAPPED WH A $130,000 LAWSU BY THE CY OF CHIGO APRIL TO VER THE ST OF VTIGATG A FALSE HATE CRIME REPORT. THE FOLLOWG MONTH, A COOK COUNTY JUDGE ORRED THE CRIMAL SE FILE AGAST SMOLLETT BE UNSEALED. RPONDG TO THE ACTOR'S REQUT TO KEEP THE RMATN PRIVATE, THE JUDGE NOTED THAT SMOLLETT WAS NOT BEHAVG LIKE SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO KEEP THGS PRIVATE DUE TO HIS REPEATED PUBLIC MENTS ON THE SE.THAT AUGT, ATTORNEY DAN K. WEBB WAS APPOTED AS A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO REEXAME THE SMOLLETT VTIGATN AND THE CISN TO HAVE THE CHARG DROPPED. IN FEBARY 2020, WEBB ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD FURTHER PROSECUTE SMOLLETT AFTER ANOTHER GRAND JURY HAD RETURNED A SIX-UNT DICTMENT AGAST THE ACTOR FOR MAKG FALSE REPORTS TO POLICE.ON DECEMBER 9, 2021, A JURY NVICTED SMOLLETT ON FIVE UNTS OF DISORRLY NDUCT; HE WAS ACQUTED ON A SIXTH UNT. SMOLLETT WAS SENTENCED TO 150 DAYS JAIL MARCH 2022 AND WAS ORRED TO PAY MORE THAN $120,000 RTUTN AND A $25,000 FE FOR MAKG FALSE POLICE REPORTS. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
His character's story was spired by the personal acunt of the shownner of "Empire, " Lee the age of 19, Jsie Smollett me out to his parents, and 2015 he openly admted to beg gay on Ellen Degener's show. "The 31-year-old "Empire" star me out on "The Ellen DeGener Show" after his character om the h Fox seri revealed he's gay.
"WITH A JUICY BLEND OF MUSIC, DRAMA AND OUTRAGEOUSNESS, 'EMPIRE' HAS BECOME THE BREAKOUT HIT OF 2015Jsie Smollett discs his role on ‘Empire’ and how he had to dn seven tim before landg the role of Jamal Lyon, who me out as gay a recent episo.
Smollett also revealed he's gay real life.
MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY
"Followg the episo when his character me out, Smollett received hate onle, but didn't ter him om movg forward wh the storyle or revealg he's also gay real life.
Jamal is the gay middle child of Ain-Amerin mic tan Luc Lyon (Terrence Howard) and his ex-n ex-wife Cookie (Taraji Henson).
Comg OutWhile prevly avoidg qutns about his personal life, Smollett did e out as gay an terview wh Ellen DeGener on her daytime talk show.