EXCLUSIVE: Jsie Smollett on How a Black Gay Man Can Save the World

Contents:

• 'EMPIRE' STAR JSIE SMOLLET NFIRMS HE'S GAY
• DO JSIE SMOLLETT HAVE A WIFE? THE ACTOR IS GAY AND KEEPS HIS DATG LIFE SECRET
• ‘EMPIRE’ STAR JSIE SMOLLETT OUT AS GAY, STILL DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE
• HOW ‘GREEN BOOK’ GIV SHORT SHRIFT TO A GAY LIFE
• 'B-BOY BLU' DIRECTOR JSIE SMOLLETT ON BRGG BLACK GAY MALE LOVE TO LIFE
• JSIE SMOLLETT: ‘I AM A GAY MAN. I AM A GAY MAN. I AM A GAY MAN’
• ‘EMPIRE’ ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT REVEALS HE’S GAY ON ‘ELLEN’: ‘THERE IS NO CLOSET’
• 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
• JSIE SMOLLETT GUILTY VERDICT DON'T MEAN ANTI-GAY VLENCE ISN'T REAL

'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.

" Dpe beg famo, the actor, who is openly gay, keeps his datg life out of the Smollett ma history by beg one of the few actors to play a black gay character on primetime TV. – He Came Out as a Gay ManRegardg Jsie Smollett's personal life, he do not have a wife, and there is no news about him havg a partner, as he is generally very private about his life and relatnships.

DO JSIE SMOLLETT HAVE A WIFE? THE ACTOR IS GAY AND KEEPS HIS DATG LIFE SECRET

However, he publicly me out as a gay man 2015 durg an terview wh Ellen DeGener. "The actor, wh over 4 ln followers on Instagram, further explaed that spe choosg not to discs his personal life, he has never nied his sexualy or pretend to be someone he was Smollett Comments on How People Reacted to Him Comg Out as a Gay ManAfter revealg to DeGener that he is gay a backstage terview, Smollett told Variety that people ma a fs about him g out. He only did so that others uld fd fort knowg that others share the same Smollett on Beg Proudly Gay & His Alleged BoyiendIn a January 2016 terview, Smollett got more ndid about beg proudly gay.

He spoke passnately about his journey, sayg:"I am a gay man wh an extremely open heart. ] If I had to label myself, I would label myself as a gay man.

INSKEEP: So we'll jt remd people Smollett is both black and openly gay, scribed a racist and homophobic attack, which police now say is fake.

‘EMPIRE’ STAR JSIE SMOLLETT OUT AS GAY, STILL DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE

INSKEEP: The Stonewall uprisg - that was the begng of the morn gay rights movement... I know that you were among those on Twter who were supportg Jsie Smollett, sayg that MAGA supporters attacked Jsie Smollett for beg black and gay.

HOW ‘GREEN BOOK’ GIV SHORT SHRIFT TO A GAY LIFE

On Fox’s smash mil drama “Empire, ” Jsie Smollett plays Jamal Lyons, a gay R&B sger who has stggled all his life wh his homophobic father. Y, he nfirmed, he’s gay — but he still don’t want to talk about his personal way all me out was que unual, though. 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.

'B-BOY BLU' DIRECTOR JSIE SMOLLETT ON BRGG BLACK GAY MALE LOVE TO LIFE

Empire actor Jsie Smollett has announced to Ellen DeGener that he is gay — whout actually sayg . The scene as a shock: Shirley has been largely solo most of the film, and there is no ditn until then that he is eher gay (ed, there is mentn of a past marriage to a woman) or bisexual.

JSIE SMOLLETT: ‘I AM A GAY MAN. I AM A GAY MAN. I AM A GAY MAN’

Tony dit he’s acceptg of gay people om his time workg New York nightclubs.

A few weeks ago Jsie Smollett, a star of the Fox show “Empire” and a sger-songwrer, was hospalized after he was attacked Chigo by two men shoutg racial and homophobic slurs at him, acrdg to a police statement.

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

(Ined other lbian, gay and trans people of lor face siar threats. And by not explorg Shirley’s lived experience, the film allows to move past the threat that he, Smollett and others aren’t many black and gay characters popular films and shows today.

Wh that drama wng the Amy Award for bt picture jt two years ago (and wh Ali wng bt supportg actor for his role as a sympathetic adult a gay black boy’s life), “Green Book” feels like a Shirley’s fay has been outspoken about how the film mischaracteriz him and his relatnship to them. EntertamentJsie Smollett, who starred on the TV show Empire took the wns stand Monday at his trial on charg of stagg a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lyg to Chigo police about . Smollett is acced of lyg to police when he reported he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack downtown Chigo nearly three years ago.

(Charl Rex Arbogast/The Associated Prs)Jsie Smollett took the wns stand Monday at his trial on charg of stagg a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lyg to Chigo police about actor who starred on the TV show Empire is expected to share his acunt of what happened January 2019 an attempt to refute damagg ttimony om two brothers who ttified last week.

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

They said Smollett, who is gay and Black, orchtrated the hoax to get publicy, givg them $100 US for suppli and stctg them to place a noose around his neck and yell homophobic slurs. They suggted that after the brothers, Abimbola and Olabgo Osundairo, were qutned by police about the alleged attack, they asked Smollett for $1 ln each to not ttify agast him at rts se at Smollett trial after star wnsJsie Smollett lawyer tells urt he's 'a real victim' of racist and homophobic attackSmollett's lawyers also have argued that Chigo police shed to judgment when they brought charg agast Smollett, and suggted a third person may have been volved the the wns stand Monday, Smollett told the jury how he grew up a close-kn fay of six children and started performg as a child actor before gettg more to said he "me to terms" wh his sexualy  his early 20s, when he got volved chary anizatns, cludg a group that fights AIDS the Black said he dned for the Empire role of a sger who is gay bee he had never seen a Black man portrayed that way. Throughout his reer, he has brought promence and plexy to Black gay men rol rangg om Magn the LGBTQ+ classic The Skny, which many nsir a breakout role, and, of urse, Jamal Lyon on the trailblazg seri Empire.

JSIE SMOLLETT GUILTY VERDICT DON'T MEAN ANTI-GAY VLENCE ISN'T REAL

“I am a gay man wh an extremely open heart.

If I had to label myself, I would label myself as a gay man, ” the Empire actor, 31, told OUT’s Shana Naomi Krochmal. Smollett, whose Empire character, Jamal Lyon, is gay, ially addrsed the mors durg an appearance on The Ellen DeGener Show last March.

Why the f–k do you have to tell them that you’re gay? It do not mean that homosexualy is not very real.