Jsie Smollett Addrs Gay Rumors, Says There's "No Closet"

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Jsie Smollett, whose Empire character Jamal Lyon is gay, addrsed the speculatn about his own sexualy a heart-to-heart wh Ellen DeGener

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'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY

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. * is jamal lyon gay *

One of Empire’s most proment storyl, and most atttg to s ‘pave the way’ stat, revolv around Jamal Lyon — played by openly gay Jsie Smollett.

As a young boy he steps to a room wearg heels and a headsrf to naively show off to his parents; Luc rponds homophobic slurs and stuffs his son a trash n while a distrsed Cookie tri to tervene. Oftentim, a lot of the people are homophobic, I feel.

‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’

Jsie Smollett, whose Empire character Jamal Lyon is gay, addrsed the speculatn about his own sexualy a heart-to-heart wh Ellen DeGener * is jamal lyon gay *

In the hip hop muny pecially, save for succs stori like Frank Ocean’s, homosexualy isn’t known to sell hip hop rerds. Here’s to a black gay man playg a lead on FOX’s most-watched show years.

News flash: Empire's Jamal (Jsie Smollett) is gay.

But Empire never lets viewers fet that Jamal is gay, bee Jamal has que the active romantic Luc' Amnia Is Jt What the Show NeedJamal, and his thrivg sex life, is propaganda. Empire -creator Lee Daniels has talked at length about Jamal beg a way to appease what he lled homophobic black dienc, and worked. Jamal tried to nvce Ryan to hi his sexualy om Luc too, leadg to a nversatn about growg up gay wh an Ain-Amerin father and livg the tth, yada yada yadda.

JSIE SMOLLETT ADDRS GAY RUMORS, SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY: “THERE’S NEVER BEEN A CLOSET”

* is jamal lyon gay *

On the one hand, the myth of the sneaky guy sleepg wh men but nyg to everyone backs the stctive msage that gay/bisexual people are untstworthy. 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. "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 {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.'{LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;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;}}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;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-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} 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;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(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-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}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

"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.

EMPIRE’S JSIE SMOLLETT OPENS UP ABOUT BEG A GAY IN AND HIS COOKG SKILLS“DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE. I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE.”BY PL CHIMARCH 17, 2015BY NICHOLAS HUNT/SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEJSIE SMOLLETT—THE BREAKOUT SGER-ACTOR WHO PLAYS TERRENCE HOWARD AND TARAJI P. HENSON'S GAY SON JAMAL LYON ON THE SMASH FOX SERI EMPIRE—IS G QUE A STIR WH HIS SOULFUL AND TROSPECTIVE PERFORMANCE. NOT ONLY IS HE RECEIVG THUNRO PRAISE OM BOTH CRICS AND DIENC, BUT HE IS BEG LD FOR IMPACTG THE LIV OF MANY GAY VIEWERS.WE UGHT UP WH SMOLLETT, 31, AT THE NEW YORK PREMIERE OF THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT ON MONDAY, WHERE HE SPOKE NDIDLY ABOUT WHIRLWD LIFE. HERE ARE FIVE THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHARMG AND MULTI-TALENTED PERFORMER.1. HE REALIZED HE WAS FAMO WHEN HE WENT TO THE MALL.“I RECENTLY WENT TO THE GROVE [AN OUTDOOR SHOPPG CENTER LOS ANGEL] AND LERALLY WAS A MOB SCENE,” HE SAID. “IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT PEOPLE REGNIZED ME. IT WAS KD OF CRAZY, BUT EVERYONE WHO HAS E UP HAS BEEN REALLY SWEET. THEY SAY THEY LOVE EMPIRE AND SOME SAY THEY ARE REALLY MOVED AND SPIRED BY THE SHOW. THAT FEELS HELLA GOOD!” SMOLLETT ALSO SHARED THAT HIS PORTRAYAL OF GAY MAN WHOSE FATHER N’T ACCEPT HIM HAS HELPED FANS WHO ARE STGGLG WH THEIR OWN PARENTS. “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.”2. HIS STAT AS A SEX SYMBOL MAK HIM BLH.SMOLLETT'S HEARTFELT SGG AND ALLURG PERSONALY IS G HEART PALPATNS FOR MANY FANS AND HAS THSTED HIM TO HEARTTHROB TERRORY. BUT ALL THE SWOONG MAK HIM “QUIVER MY SOL,” HE SAID. “BUT ’S VERY SWEET AND I AM HUMBLED BY . I’M JT ENJOYG MY MOMENT ON EMPIRE AND JT TAKG ALL . I WAKE UP EVERY DAY THE SAME MAN JT WANTG TO WORK HARD AND DO THE BT WORK THAT I N DO.”3. HE HOP TO BE A POSIVE ROLE BEYOND THE LGBT MUNY.LAST WEEK SMOLETT PUBLICLY SPOKE ABOUT HIS SEXUALY FOR THE FIRST TIME AN TERVIEW WH ELLEN DEGENER. RATHER THAN FOCG ON THAT, THOUGH, THE STAR HOP TO E HIS NEW FAME TO SPIRE OTHERS TO BE HONT. “I FEEL A RPONSIBILY, BUT DO NOT FEEL PRSURE,” HE SAID WHEN ASKED ABOUT BEG A GAY MAN HOLLYWOOD. “THERE IS A RPONSIBILY FOR ME AS A MAN, AS A MAN OF LOR, AS AN ARTIST TO BE MYSELF AND MAKE THGS THAT REFLECT ME AND THAT ARE TE. THAT’S WHAT MATTERS. IT’S ABOUT ALL OF , NOT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE. I HOPE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND THE WORLD AND AS A HUMAN BEG, THAT’S WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.”4. HE SGS, DANC AND IS ALSO A MASTER CHEF.“I’M A VERY VG GUY AND I LIKE TO OK A LOT. MY MOM IS OM NEW ORLEANS, SO I FEEL LIKE I’M A SOUTHERN BOY AT HEART AND THERE'S ALWAYS OKG. YOU N ALWAYS E TO MY HOE AND I WILL OK FOR YOU.”WHAT’S HIS BT DISH? “DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE,” HE SAID PROUDLY. “I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE AND I MAKE A MEAN GUMBO. IT'S MEAN!”5. HIS GUILTY PLEASURE IS SGG SHOW TUN—PECIALLY OM THE SOUND OF MIC.“IT’S SO EMBARRASSG, BUT THE SONG I LOVE TO SG IS “SIXTEEN GOG ON SEVENTEEN” OM THE SOUND OF MIC,” SMOLLETT REVEALED. “I LOVE THAT ’S SO THEATRIL AND THE LYRICS ARE SO FUN. I N SG THE GUY’S PART AND I N SG THE GIRLS PART. I NEVER GET SICK OF .”THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT PREMIERE RED CARPET1 / 10CHEVRONCHEVRONBY NICHOLAS HUNT/OCTAVIA SPENCER AND JSIE SMOLLETTMOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYPL CHI

"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.

"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.

“Empire” actor Jsie Smollett cleared up a few qutns about his sexualy on 31-year-old star, who plays gay sger-songwrer Jamal Lyon on Fox’s breakout h seri, addrsed the topic durg a backstage chat wh Ellen DeGener after tapg his Monday appearance on “The Ellen DeGenen Show. ”Smollett didn’t label himself as gay or bisexual specifilly, nor did he say that he was g out.

'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY

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 .

JSIE SMOLLETT ADDRS GAY RUMORS, SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY: “THERE’S NEVER BEEN A CLOSET”

Smollett’s character on “Empire, ” Jamal Lyon, who is also gay, explor the issu associated wh beg homosexual, cludg his tense relatnship wh his father.

However, Jamal, revealed to be gay, doubts that he will be chosen prr to their relatnship and the Ain-Amerin homophobia the muny. However, while Luc ntu to ny Cookie's requt, bee of Jamal's "different dience, " Jamal is nflicted when Cookie assembl a prs nference for g out as a gay artist.

As a gay man, Jamal is aware of the homophobia Ain-Amerin muni. Although Luc saw beyond Jamal's homosexualy namg him his succsor to head Empire, Luc' reactn to Jamal and Skye hookg up reveals that the former CEO of Empire still has a substantial amount of work to do. At dner Ryan and Jamal discs how difficult is growg up gay wh an Ain Amerin father.

JSIE {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

Jamal tells Luc that he is still gay, yet Luc don't believe him. After his on-screen alter ego Jamal Lyon ed mic to e out publicly as gay on a recent episo of Fox’s h hip-hop drama, fans began to speculate about Smollett’s own sexualy.

EMPIRE’S JSIE SMOLLETT OPENS UP ABOUT BEG A GAY IN AND HIS COOKG SKILLS“DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE. I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE.”BY PL CHIMARCH 17, 2015BY NICHOLAS HUNT/SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEJSIE SMOLLETT—THE BREAKOUT SGER-ACTOR WHO PLAYS TERRENCE HOWARD AND TARAJI P. HENSON'S GAY SON JAMAL LYON ON THE SMASH FOX SERI EMPIRE—IS G QUE A STIR WH HIS SOULFUL AND TROSPECTIVE PERFORMANCE. NOT ONLY IS HE RECEIVG THUNRO PRAISE OM BOTH CRICS AND DIENC, BUT HE IS BEG LD FOR IMPACTG THE LIV OF MANY GAY VIEWERS.WE UGHT UP WH SMOLLETT, 31, AT THE NEW YORK PREMIERE OF THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT ON MONDAY, WHERE HE SPOKE NDIDLY ABOUT WHIRLWD LIFE. HERE ARE FIVE THGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHARMG AND MULTI-TALENTED PERFORMER.1. HE REALIZED HE WAS FAMO WHEN HE WENT TO THE MALL.“I RECENTLY WENT TO THE GROVE [AN OUTDOOR SHOPPG CENTER LOS ANGEL] AND LERALLY WAS A MOB SCENE,” HE SAID. “IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT PEOPLE REGNIZED ME. IT WAS KD OF CRAZY, BUT EVERYONE WHO HAS E UP HAS BEEN REALLY SWEET. THEY SAY THEY LOVE EMPIRE AND SOME SAY THEY ARE REALLY MOVED AND SPIRED BY THE SHOW. THAT FEELS HELLA GOOD!” SMOLLETT ALSO SHARED THAT HIS PORTRAYAL OF GAY MAN WHOSE FATHER N’T ACCEPT HIM HAS HELPED FANS WHO ARE STGGLG WH THEIR OWN PARENTS. “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.”2. HIS STAT AS A SEX SYMBOL MAK HIM BLH.SMOLLETT'S HEARTFELT SGG AND ALLURG PERSONALY IS G HEART PALPATNS FOR MANY FANS AND HAS THSTED HIM TO HEARTTHROB TERRORY. BUT ALL THE SWOONG MAK HIM “QUIVER MY SOL,” HE SAID. “BUT ’S VERY SWEET AND I AM HUMBLED BY . I’M JT ENJOYG MY MOMENT ON EMPIRE AND JT TAKG ALL . I WAKE UP EVERY DAY THE SAME MAN JT WANTG TO WORK HARD AND DO THE BT WORK THAT I N DO.”3. HE HOP TO BE A POSIVE ROLE BEYOND THE LGBT MUNY.LAST WEEK SMOLETT PUBLICLY SPOKE ABOUT HIS SEXUALY FOR THE FIRST TIME AN TERVIEW WH ELLEN DEGENER. RATHER THAN FOCG ON THAT, THOUGH, THE STAR HOP TO E HIS NEW FAME TO SPIRE OTHERS TO BE HONT. “I FEEL A RPONSIBILY, BUT DO NOT FEEL PRSURE,” HE SAID WHEN ASKED ABOUT BEG A GAY MAN HOLLYWOOD. “THERE IS A RPONSIBILY FOR ME AS A MAN, AS A MAN OF LOR, AS AN ARTIST TO BE MYSELF AND MAKE THGS THAT REFLECT ME AND THAT ARE TE. THAT’S WHAT MATTERS. IT’S ABOUT ALL OF , NOT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE. I HOPE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND THE WORLD AND AS A HUMAN BEG, THAT’S WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.”4. HE SGS, DANC AND IS ALSO A MASTER CHEF.“I’M A VERY VG GUY AND I LIKE TO OK A LOT. MY MOM IS OM NEW ORLEANS, SO I FEEL LIKE I’M A SOUTHERN BOY AT HEART AND THERE'S ALWAYS OKG. YOU N ALWAYS E TO MY HOE AND I WILL OK FOR YOU.”WHAT’S HIS BT DISH? “DARLG, THERE'S NOTHG I NNOT MAKE,” HE SAID PROUDLY. “I MAKE THE BT MARONI AND CHEE THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE YOUR LIFE AND I MAKE A MEAN GUMBO. IT'S MEAN!”5. HIS GUILTY PLEASURE IS SGG SHOW TUN—PECIALLY OM THE SOUND OF MIC.“IT’S SO EMBARRASSG, BUT THE SONG I LOVE TO SG IS “SIXTEEN GOG ON SEVENTEEN” OM THE SOUND OF MIC,” SMOLLETT REVEALED. “I LOVE THAT ’S SO THEATRIL AND THE LYRICS ARE SO FUN. I N SG THE GUY’S PART AND I N SG THE GIRLS PART. I NEVER GET SICK OF .”THE DIVERGENT SERI: INSURGENT PREMIERE RED CARPET1 / 10CHEVRONCHEVRONBY NICHOLAS HUNT/OCTAVIA SPENCER AND JSIE SMOLLETTMOST POPULARWH MATRO, LEONARD BERNSTE’S LEGACY AND LOV FALLY H THE BIG SCREENBY REBEC FORD25 PERFECT TV EPISOS FROM THE LAST 25 YEARSBY HILLARY BISTHE BOOK OF CLARENCE IS A BOMBASTIC JOURNEY BACK TO THE BIBLIL ERABY REBEC FORDPL CHI

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. "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.

THE ONGOG JSIE SMOLLETT SAGA AND GAY-BLACK REPRENTATN

We looked at five of the most visible characters on US TV to give our Andromedon – Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s T Andromedon: purveyor of Peeno Noir Photograph: Eric Liebowz/NetflixT Andromedon the Netflix seri Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is as seasoned as he is sophomoric. Instead, he’s stuck the box of beg the heavy-set, sassy, feme and hypersexual black gay iend.

Sure, many black gay men enjoy playg wh genr, or jt simply live as their thentic femme selv.

He liv unr the shadow of his father Luc’s homophobia and hypermasculy, an attempt to prove that he n be jt as good – if not better – than his heterosexual brothers and dtry unterparts. It’s a stggle most anyone, pecially fellow LGBT people, n readily intify where Kimmy Schmidt’s Andromedon performs as a hypersexual, feme siren, Jamal’s role evc an unfortablens wh anythg remotely feme, an enforced masculy and qut for assiatn that’s likely fluenced by his father’s anti-gay emotnal abe.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* IS JAMAL LYON GAY

‘Empire’ actor Jsie Smollett reveals he’s gay on ‘Ellen’: ‘There is no closet’ .

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