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

Contents:

• 'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY
• MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY
• ‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’
• JSIE SMOLLETT ADDRS GAY RUMORS, SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY: “THERE’S NEVER BEEN A CLOSET”
• 'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY
• MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY
• "EMPIRE" STRIK OUT: THE PROMISE AND FAILURE OF JAMAL LYONTHE ONCE-GROUNDBREAKG CHARACTER PLAYED BY JSIE SMOLLETT HAS DISAPPEARED UNCEREMONLY OM THE SHOW'S FAL SEASON. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAESEPTEMBER 25, 2019/3:52 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2077PX;WIDTH:3000PX;}FOX IMAGE COLLECTN VIA GETTY IMAGEMPIRE: HAKEEM (BRYSHERE GRAY, L) AND JAMAL (JSIE SMOLLETT, R) PERFORM THE "OUR DANCG DAYS" EPISO AIRG WEDNDAY, FEB. 18 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) ON FOX. (PHOTO BY FOX IMAGE COLLECTN VIA GETTY IMAG)BY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAESEPTEMBER 25, 2019 / 3:52 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"EMPIRE\" STRIK OUT: THE PROMISE AND FAILURE OF JAMAL LYON","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-09-25T19:52:23.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-09-25T19:52:23.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"LTER FABIAN BRATHWAE","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN FOX'S EMPIRE PREMIERED THE WTER OF 2015, WAS A PHENOMENON THAT TELEVISN HADN'T SEEN: AN ALL-BLACK ST AND A GAY PROTAGONIST ON A WORK PRIME-TIME DRAMA THAT PEOPLE WATCHED RERD NUMBERS. THIS WAS A YEAR BEFORE NBC'S THIS IS US BEME A RATGS JUGGERNT, WHEN WORK TV WAS THOUGHT AD, A VICTIM OF AN ONSLGHT OF STREAMG SERVIC AND PETG NTENT. EMPIRE PTURED A MOMENT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE THE SHOW'S BREAKOUT WAS TARAJI P. HENSON, HER STANTLY INIC ROLE AS THE MATRON OF THE LYON FAY, COOKIE, JAMAL LYON (JSIE SMOLLETT) ALSO STCK A CULTURAL CHORD. AS AN OPENLY GAY BLACK MAN, HE WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF STORY L THAT WERE RARELY, IF EVER, SEEN ON WORK TELEVISN. IN ONE OF EMPIRE'S MOST FAMO (OR FAMO) SCEN, JAMAL RELLS HIS FATHER LUC (TERRENCE HOWARD) DUMPG HIM A TRASH N AS A KID AFTER HE TCH JAMAL WOMEN'S CLOTHG. THIS SCENE WAS SPIRED BY SERI CREATOR LEE DANIELS' OWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WHEN I WAS 5, MY EARLIT MEMORY WAS WALKG DOWN THE STAIRS MY MOTHER’S RED HIGH-HEEL SHO, AND MY DAD, HE’S A P, IS DOWN PLAYG RDS WH THE BOYS AND WAS NOT PRETTY—AT ALL," DANIELS SAID DURG A 2014 LECTURE AT OH STATE UNIVERSY. "HE PUT ME A TRASH N AND HE SAID THAT I WOULD NEVER BE NOTHG. HE SAID, ‘YOU ALREADY HAVE BAD, BOY, 'E YOU’RE BLACK—NOW YOU’RE A FAGGOT, TOO.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON EMPIRE, JAMAL NONTED HOMOPHOBIA WH HIS OWN FAY, WH THE BLACK MUNY, AND WH THE MIC DTRY, ALL THE WHILE GIVG THE OCSNAL BOP. THE FIRST SEASON'S MIC REMAS S BT, PARTICULARLY "YOU'RE SO BETIFUL," A SONG JAMAL TO E OUT PUBLICLY, TO LUC' {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU'RE SO BETIFUL" WON THE NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDG CONTEMPORARY SONG 2016, THE SAME YEAR SMOLLETT WON BT NEW ARTIST. IT WAS SOMETHG OF A RONATN: JAMAL/JSIE AS POSTER CHILD FOR BLACK GAY AMERI—WHETHER WE NEED ONE OR NOT. THE REVOLUTN WAS ALREADY WELL UNR WAY WH MOONLIGHT HERG A NEW ERA OF BLACK, QUEER STORYTELLG THAT FALL; WOULD GO ON TO W THE BT PICTURE OSR THE FOLLOWG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EMPIRE'S DAYS ON TOP WERE BRIEF, AS SUCCUMBED TO MORE AND MORE OUTLANDISH PLOT TWISTS, JAMAL FAD MORE TO THE BACKGROUND, AND DIVERSE QUEER REPRENTATN ON TELEVISN EXPLOD. JAMAL, WHO ONCE SEEMED SO GROUNDBREAKG, QUICKLY BEME PASSé PARED TO ERIC OM NETFLIX'S SEX EDUTN, RUE OM HBO'S EUPHORIA, OR THE ENTIRE ST OF FX'S POSE. THE ARE QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR AT THE FOREONT OF THEIR OWN STORI, OFTEN WH THE SUPPORT OF QPOC BEHD THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL, HOWEVER, IS OWED A BT OF GRATU. HE HELPED ERIC, RUE, PRAY TELL, BLAN, AND CO. SHANTé THROUGH THAT DOOR AND STAY. AS FOR SMOLLETT… WELL, THAT'S JT A HOT MS, THE FALLOUT OM WHICH WE'RE STILL GRAPPLG WH. IN THE END, PRODUCERS CID TO GIVE JAMAL A HAPPY, IF TRE, ENDG, NOT KILLG HIM OFF LIKE SOME MAY HAVE EXPECTED GIVEN SMOLLETT'S OWN UNSEEMLY ACTNS. ACRDG TO VULTURE:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS WAS VERY BRIEFLY MENTNED DURG THE SHOW’S SEASON PREMIERE, JAMAL AND HIS FIANCé CID TO MOVE TO LONDON TO PE THE LYON FAY’S NEAR-NSTANT PETTY DRAMA, THE HOP OF RTARTG THEIR LIV [...] JAMAL’S MOTHER, COOKIE (TARAJI P. HENSON), IS THE RELAYER OF SUCH TEL, TELLG A PAL THE TAILS DURG A NIGHT OF PAMPERG. “NO WONR THAT BOY RAN OFF TO LONDON,” COOKIE JOKED, GTURG TO HER PK ONIE. “PLEASE DON’T GET ME STARTED. I MISS HIM SO MUCH.” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'LL MISS HIM, TOO, I GUS, THOUGH 'S GROWN CREASGLY HARR TO SEPARATE JSIE OM JAMAL. BUT JAMAL WAS SENTIALLY GOOD, AND OFTEN THE MORAL CENTER OF THE LYON FAY. PERHAPS HE SERV THAT HAPPY LONDON ENDG, PECIALLY SCE THE FATE OF HIS REAL-LIFE UNTERPART PROMIS TO BE LS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• JSIE SMOLLETT ADDRS GAY RUMORS, SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY: “THERE’S NEVER BEEN A CLOSET”

'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.

"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. Empire's Jamal Lyon, played by actor Jsie Smollett, is one of many gay characters on televisn the days, and his sexualy is a ma storyle on the hot Fox drama. In the terview, Yoba seemed to out Smollett as asked about the succs of the seri and s impact, Yoba mentned that the drama's handlg of a gay relatnship and the subsequent tensn about Jamal's sexualy wh his fictnal fay are important them for dienc to see.

MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY

"I thk that our show reprents a huge opportuny to stay the culture beyond entertament value and there's an trsic nature of you have the gay factor, right? So, obvly, Lee (Daniels, -creator) is gay. Like I know Jsie, he is gay, and he's very mted to issu around the LGBT muny.

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

"Social media buzzed Tuday rponse to Yoba's ments, wh many news outlets fgerg the actor for advertently outg shgged off sayg they already assumed Smollett was gay and that Yoba meant no harm by talkg about his -star's private, others said Yoba's ments were out of le and that if Smollett wants to talk about his sexualy, he should be the one to do , not anyone a statement sent to USA TODAY via his publicist, Yoba nied that he outed Smollett and said that his ments were about Jamal, not Jsie. "No, (fans shouldn't assume I'm gay), but 's also fair, and I don't see a problem wh that and I don't really re....

This is not a gay black show. 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.

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

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. Jamal tells Luc that he is still gay, yet Luc don't believe him.

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.

'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S 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. 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’s character on “Empire, ” Jamal Lyon, who is also gay, explor the issu associated wh beg homosexual, cludg his tense relatnship wh his father.

The person who helps nvce him to do is Ryan, the gay director who Luc hired to shoot a documentary about Empire Rerds. "It's a shame that a gay black director-wrer would e his medium to perpetuate the ia that black people are more homophobic than other groups, " my iend Michael Arcenex pots fact that Jamal's g out happens after he and Luc have jt had another father-son moment means that their screwed up relatnship is still very much screwed up.

"No one r that he's gay!

MALIK YOBA NI OUTG 'EMPIRE' -STAR AS GAY

"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.

"EMPIRE" STRIK OUT: THE PROMISE AND FAILURE OF JAMAL LYONTHE ONCE-GROUNDBREAKG CHARACTER PLAYED BY JSIE SMOLLETT HAS DISAPPEARED UNCEREMONLY OM THE SHOW'S FAL SEASON. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAESEPTEMBER 25, 2019/3:52 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2077PX;WIDTH:3000PX;}FOX IMAGE COLLECTN VIA GETTY IMAGEMPIRE: HAKEEM (BRYSHERE GRAY, L) AND JAMAL (JSIE SMOLLETT, R) PERFORM THE "OUR DANCG DAYS" EPISO AIRG WEDNDAY, FEB. 18 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) ON FOX. (PHOTO BY FOX IMAGE COLLECTN VIA GETTY IMAG)BY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAESEPTEMBER 25, 2019 / 3:52 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"EMPIRE\" STRIK OUT: THE PROMISE AND FAILURE OF JAMAL LYON","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-09-25T19:52:23.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-09-25T19:52:23.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"LTER FABIAN BRATHWAE","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN FOX'S EMPIRE PREMIERED THE WTER OF 2015, WAS A PHENOMENON THAT TELEVISN HADN'T SEEN: AN ALL-BLACK ST AND A GAY PROTAGONIST ON A WORK PRIME-TIME DRAMA THAT PEOPLE WATCHED RERD NUMBERS. THIS WAS A YEAR BEFORE NBC'S THIS IS US BEME A RATGS JUGGERNT, WHEN WORK TV WAS THOUGHT AD, A VICTIM OF AN ONSLGHT OF STREAMG SERVIC AND PETG NTENT. EMPIRE PTURED A MOMENT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE THE SHOW'S BREAKOUT WAS TARAJI P. HENSON, HER STANTLY INIC ROLE AS THE MATRON OF THE LYON FAY, COOKIE, JAMAL LYON (JSIE SMOLLETT) ALSO STCK A CULTURAL CHORD. AS AN OPENLY GAY BLACK MAN, HE WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF STORY L THAT WERE RARELY, IF EVER, SEEN ON WORK TELEVISN. IN ONE OF EMPIRE'S MOST FAMO (OR FAMO) SCEN, JAMAL RELLS HIS FATHER LUC (TERRENCE HOWARD) DUMPG HIM A TRASH N AS A KID AFTER HE TCH JAMAL WOMEN'S CLOTHG. THIS SCENE WAS SPIRED BY SERI CREATOR LEE DANIELS' OWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“WHEN I WAS 5, MY EARLIT MEMORY WAS WALKG DOWN THE STAIRS MY MOTHER’S RED HIGH-HEEL SHO, AND MY DAD, HE’S A P, IS DOWN PLAYG RDS WH THE BOYS AND WAS NOT PRETTY—AT ALL," DANIELS SAID DURG A 2014 LECTURE AT OH STATE UNIVERSY. "HE PUT ME A TRASH N AND HE SAID THAT I WOULD NEVER BE NOTHG. HE SAID, ‘YOU ALREADY HAVE BAD, BOY, 'E YOU’RE BLACK—NOW YOU’RE A FAGGOT, TOO.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON EMPIRE, JAMAL NONTED HOMOPHOBIA WH HIS OWN FAY, WH THE BLACK MUNY, AND WH THE MIC DTRY, ALL THE WHILE GIVG THE OCSNAL BOP. THE FIRST SEASON'S MIC REMAS S BT, PARTICULARLY "YOU'RE SO BETIFUL," A SONG JAMAL TO E OUT PUBLICLY, TO LUC' {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU'RE SO BETIFUL" WON THE NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDG CONTEMPORARY SONG 2016, THE SAME YEAR SMOLLETT WON BT NEW ARTIST. IT WAS SOMETHG OF A RONATN: JAMAL/JSIE AS POSTER CHILD FOR BLACK GAY AMERI—WHETHER WE NEED ONE OR NOT. THE REVOLUTN WAS ALREADY WELL UNR WAY WH MOONLIGHT HERG A NEW ERA OF BLACK, QUEER STORYTELLG THAT FALL; WOULD GO ON TO W THE BT PICTURE OSR THE FOLLOWG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT EMPIRE'S DAYS ON TOP WERE BRIEF, AS SUCCUMBED TO MORE AND MORE OUTLANDISH PLOT TWISTS, JAMAL FAD MORE TO THE BACKGROUND, AND DIVERSE QUEER REPRENTATN ON TELEVISN EXPLOD. JAMAL, WHO ONCE SEEMED SO GROUNDBREAKG, QUICKLY BEME PASSé PARED TO ERIC OM NETFLIX'S SEX EDUTN, RUE OM HBO'S EUPHORIA, OR THE ENTIRE ST OF FX'S POSE. THE ARE QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR AT THE FOREONT OF THEIR OWN STORI, OFTEN WH THE SUPPORT OF QPOC BEHD THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAMAL, HOWEVER, IS OWED A BT OF GRATU. HE HELPED ERIC, RUE, PRAY TELL, BLAN, AND CO. SHANTé THROUGH THAT DOOR AND STAY. AS FOR SMOLLETT… WELL, THAT'S JT A HOT MS, THE FALLOUT OM WHICH WE'RE STILL GRAPPLG WH. IN THE END, PRODUCERS CID TO GIVE JAMAL A HAPPY, IF TRE, ENDG, NOT KILLG HIM OFF LIKE SOME MAY HAVE EXPECTED GIVEN SMOLLETT'S OWN UNSEEMLY ACTNS. ACRDG TO VULTURE:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS WAS VERY BRIEFLY MENTNED DURG THE SHOW’S SEASON PREMIERE, JAMAL AND HIS FIANCé CID TO MOVE TO LONDON TO PE THE LYON FAY’S NEAR-NSTANT PETTY DRAMA, THE HOP OF RTARTG THEIR LIV [...] JAMAL’S MOTHER, COOKIE (TARAJI P. HENSON), IS THE RELAYER OF SUCH TEL, TELLG A PAL THE TAILS DURG A NIGHT OF PAMPERG. “NO WONR THAT BOY RAN OFF TO LONDON,” COOKIE JOKED, GTURG TO HER PK ONIE. “PLEASE DON’T GET ME STARTED. I MISS HIM SO MUCH.” {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'LL MISS HIM, TOO, I GUS, THOUGH 'S GROWN CREASGLY HARR TO SEPARATE JSIE OM JAMAL. BUT JAMAL WAS SENTIALLY GOOD, AND OFTEN THE MORAL CENTER OF THE LYON FAY. PERHAPS HE SERV THAT HAPPY LONDON ENDG, PECIALLY SCE THE FATE OF HIS REAL-LIFE UNTERPART PROMIS TO BE LS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

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. 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. 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. “And bee he’s gay, Lc, played by the great Terrance Howard, is not very supportive, ” said Smollett.

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

"A gay, black man livg the world of hip-hop is a role rarely seen on prime-time televisn. Yep, he’s gay. In the prev episo of the Fox drama, a soulful kiss between the characters had many the gay muny a state of social-media outrage, what wh Jamal and Smollett beg LGBT idols and all.

Some argued that Jamal gog bi rerc the homophobic notn that a gay guy n be straightened out by the right girl.

But Smollett and his Empire boss Lee Daniels—both openly gay—do not see this plot twist as a polil misfire. This is a topic that needs to be discsed, not jt on Empire but also wh the gay muny and pecially wh the Ain-Amerin muny. “Jsie and I both share the same feelg that, y, even though we are gay, we’re sexual human begs, ” says Daniels.