(Photo Credits: Dominick D, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Jussie Smollett, the former Empire star, has announced his engagement to partner Jabari Redd. Sharing the heartwarming news on Instagram just a day before his 43rd birthday, Smollett revealed he proposed on June 20—and added that Redd said, “Yes,” a moment captured through a touching photo series.
The Instagram carousel chronicles the emotional proposal: a romantic scene on a quiet street near a restaurant, where Smollett gets down on one knee, leading to Redd’s surprised yet elated reaction. One image captures the couple embracing with champagne in hand, while another offers a close-up of the stunning ring shining on Redd’s finger.
Smollett’s sister, actress Jurnee Smollett, was among the first to respond warmly in the comments, writing, “Screaming with tears of joy! My whole heart loves both of you @jussiesmollett. Welcome to the family @jabariredd.” Other family and friends, including Empire co-star Taraji P. Henson, also expressed their warm wishes and heartfelt congratulations.
The couple previously starred together in Smollett’s directorial film The Lost Holliday, where Redd played Damien— the late partner of Smollett’s character. Smollett has described the film as a symbol of hope and resilience.
This announcement marks a milestone in Smollett’s personal life amid past public scrutiny. In 2019, Smollett faced allegations of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself. The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2024 on procedural grounds, and he later settled with the City of Chicago through a $50,000 charitable donation. Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout.
Since stepping back into the spotlight, Smollett has taken creative control behind the camera, directing two feature films. His directorial debut, B-Boy Blues (2021), adapted from James Earl Hardy’s seminal novel, follows a tender romance between a Brooklyn journalist and a Harlem bike messenger, exploring class, culture, and queer love—it premiered at the American Black Film Festival and was picked up by BET+. Meanwhile, Smollett’s sophomore directorial effort, The Lost Holliday (2024), is a poignant family drama that premiered at the same festival before arriving on Amazon Prime. The film centers on a grieving mother (Vivica A. Fox) who discovers her late son (Redd) was married to a man (Smollett), sparking a journey of grief, acceptance, and LGBTQ+ visibility.
Wow! You really going to idolize this man. That’s B S
I would say the same thing to people who idolized Trump!!
I am gonna focus on his professional career and his accomplishments. As an actor he is/was very good and I admire that.
Why are we giving any attention to this lying scumbag?!
Maybe because he met the requirements of his plea deal, paid restitution, made a good-ized charitable donation, is working to reestablish his career, maintains a relationship with a partner …
and does not pass his omnipotent judgement of others on social media?
Not of fan of the guy, but facts are facts.
Let’s leave Trump out of this!!! You shouldn’t call President Trump a lying scumbag. Lol. His name was brought up in the last post. Ohhh you talking about Jussie? My bad.. Yep, he lied too..But he lies nowhere near as much as yall President. Just saying.
I think everyone deserves a second chance- and his accomplishments on screen is what I will focus on. Not his personal life or the choices he made.
He might possibly deserve a second chance when he owns up to his lie and apologizes for what could have led to a bigger mess of riots. He doesn’t, he still contends his delusional innocence. Thankfully the great people of Chicago sniffed out his bullshit. He should be in an orange jump suit, like the rest of us if we did anything close to this but that’s celebrity privilege for you.
Hoo fuk’n kares?!
an act of charity? He is gay so the gay community must note it, be politically correct, and applaud him for his recent engagement while on his knees in a societally-acceptable manner. It is 2025 and we must all play-the-game.
Playing the game means Redd should wonder what kind of story Jussy is going to fabricate when divorce time comes around.
well, it is Hollywood so a suitable script will be created to be acted out.
No. That’s the problem, too many games being played.
I can forgive, momentarily, and wish them well….
He is a disgrace to Black men and gay men. On the other hand, what he did is a lot less nasty than what other actors have done to upgrade their careers.
Happy for you, but who really cares? You messed up your career, and ruined a good show, give me a reason to give a f*ck?
Tell me, everyone, just because we are gay, should we all have to know EVERY LITTLE THING in the gay world? I think not.
Sorry, his history of false accusations ruins any “celebrity” status that you claim he has. He set back the cause not only of gay rights and recognition, but also set back hard won progress in black-white relationships. As you point out way down in paragraph 4, he was not exonerated: his case was dismissed only on procedural grounds, and corrupt prosecutors refused to re-try the case.
He should not be celebrated.
At best, his story should be relegated to Grimm’s modern fairy tales, as a retelling of the classic story “The boy who cried wolf”
i hope this guy Jabari Redd knows what he is getting himself into.
Congrats to them both!!! I wish you guys nothing but the best. It’s great that we live in a country where ALL people deserves forgiveness. I still can’t get over the pardons those January 6th insurrectionist got. How many indictments did…….nevermind.
I still can’t get over all those last minute pardons, that were done right up until noon on Jan 20th.
including all of Hunter’s indictments, too.
Couldn’t even bother to sign them himself. All autopen
And who was really controlling usage of the autopen, anyway?
he pardoned his entire family, too! talk about being proactive! absolve them before indictments
How many did the other guy pardon?
the match game?
Just love how people justify bad behavior, in lieu of another bad behavior. Ridiculous.
He is no hero. What he did was reprehensible. Don’t celebrate him.
Is this real, or did he stage it and fake it, again?
Very few comments ! If this man was white and did what he did, there would be 1 thousand comments against this ass. Go figure !
yo, couldn’t have written it better myself!
Good luck to them. But how csn we trust this guy ?
Congrats to this hoaxer
WOW, I left a comment earlier, but it was censored and removed.
Wow–two comments censored now
Whoa…How could you ever, ever, EVER trust this man???
If a convicted felon can become President of the United States, then a man with an overturned conviction deserves another chance at happiness. Wishing them the best of luck.
Amen!!!
HELL NO! Jussie Smollett made a MOCKERY of those of us who HAVE BEEN a victim of a REAL hate crime. This guy is a PIECE of LYING TRASH and should be in prison, he lied, he created a false story aimed at getting a bigger paycheck from a show, get sympathy and set us all back. I detest this piece of criminal garbage, wishing him and his family the very worst. They are ALL complicit in this crime and covered up the truth, not once has this MORON ever apologized nor told us the truth.
TDS strikes again!
BARF! The dude is the WORST piece of GARBAGE next to Jenner (Bruce Jenner) to ever be associated to the LGBTBQ community. He created a FAKE hate crime and took advantage of his skin color to fraudulently get a pay raise on his show, get media attention and play the victim. He singlehandedly set minorities back a few decades and is a DISGUSTING piece of GARBAGE! May he join Roseanne Barr, Bill Cosby, Bruce Jenner and all those disgusting people. His entire family of Smolletts are also as money and fame hungry as he, such an overhyped, classless, useless,worthless lot… Read more »
He’s trash
He’s probably lying, stage the engagement then have a very public break up with mysteriously no word from the ex fiance. Get himself a few more undeserved minutes of fame. I really hate to comment because I don’t care however I want A4A to know id rather not see him. I dont enjoy being made a fool.The only positive prayer towards him is that he never actually end up in that situation When multiple years ago I got gay bashed and robbed, I was told it was basically my fault and hopefully I learned my lesson There are other exciting… Read more »
This man spread hate by faking a hate crime and making things worse and then was let off the hook… what a catch.
And why is anyone give this turd more attention? Fuck this lying puke and his whole family are race-baiting grifters
He’s a lying racist and you’re doing a very lame attempt at glorifying him
WHO GIVES A SHIT ABOUT THIS GUY???????????
He’s a loser, not a winner, and his fiance is the biggest loser.
I kind of had a low key crush on Jussie during the days of the show Empire. But for one he’s a Gemini in astrological signs & although there’s always exceptions Gemini’s tend to be batsh*t CRAZY, but are exceptional passionate lovers. I personally would have said no & that’s based off of MANY reasons. He was close to starting a race war within this country with that stunt he pulled. When tensions politically & such were high then & are even higher today! The lack of accountability, no remorse, & kind of a self serving narcissistic way about him… Read more »
Glorifying a biggot
This POS needs a Therapist…not an engagement!!!!
Sorry, no accolades for this guy. His self-centered antics put the LGBTQ community on display in a significantly, less than positive light.
Yeah, I’m indifferent; he’s forgiven and paid-up, but I’m indifferent, ‘character-wise’ he’s simply on my shitlist, but I wish him luck otherwise.
Who gives a fuck about this lying bitch ass fag?
Congratulations, Jussie!