For actor Jussie Smollett, the occasion of his birthday arrived with an additional layer of joy this year, as he is now an engaged man. Famous for his work in the television series ‘Empire’, Smollett at 43, publicly declared his engagement to fellow actor Jabari Redd. In a candid social media update, Smollett posted a series of pictures revealing himself on bended knee, giving a ring to an overjoyed Redd. The actor expressed his joy, sharing, ‘On my birthday, I’ll be in my Fiancé’s company… He gave his affirmative. ?,’ marking his 43rd birthday on June 21 in a memorable way.
Jabari Redd is a recognized figure in the television industry himself, with appearances on shows like Showtime’s ‘The Chi’ under his belt. Redd’s talent also extends to the big screen, shown in the 2024 film ‘The Lost Holliday,’ where he shared the starring role with Smollett, who also helmed the director’s chair.
The joyous occasion also attracted touching responses from within Smollett’s immediate kin. Jurnee Smollett, Jussie’s sister, poured her excitement and happiness into her comment. She documented her reaction as ‘shrieking with overflow of ecstatic tears!’ Further, she declared her love for the couple and welcomed her brother’s fiancé, Redd, ‘into the family.’
Jazz Smollett, another sibling of Jussie, shared her over-the-moon exhilaration in response to the engagement announcement. Her comment read, ‘Yes! Welcome aboard to the family, Jabari. Love you both!! Extremely thrilled for you both.’
This uplifting update in Smollett’s personal life comes over half a decade following a personal and professional crisis. Smollett found himself in the eye of the storm in 2019, when he made news headlines due to allegations of a fabricated hate crime. He maintained he was the victim of a brutal assault in Chicago, where the attackers supposedly targeted him with homophobic slurs.
Such serious allegations led to a tumultuous legal journey for Smollett. He stood accused of misleading law enforcement authorities about the assault. This series of events culminated in the actor being found guilty on the charges of acting disorderly, a felony, in 2021.
However, yet another twist in the tale emerged in November 2024. The Illinois Supreme Court reassessed Smollett’s case and overruled the earlier conviction, establishing that double jeopardy had occurred. The court found it was improper for Smollett to be prosecuted twice for the same episode, especially after the initial charges against him were dismissed in 2019.
Throughout the legal battles, Smollett robustly defended himself, dismissing any claims suggesting he orchestrated the hate crime. He resolutely stood his ground, arguing the attack indeed took place and he was a genuine victim. He continues to affirm that his experience was genuine, despite facing considerable skepticism.
Fast forward to earlier this year when Smollett arrived at a civil settlement with the city of Chicago. In the agreement, Smollett committed to provide a sum of $50,000 to a local nonprofit organization in the region. Following the settlement, Smollett shared, ‘The path forward for me now is to keep moving ahead.’
He added, ‘I’m going to persist in generating my craft, zealously advocating for causes close to my heart, and staunchly protecting my reputation and family name with the unblemished truth.’
In an interview in September 2024 with People magazine, Smollett talked about his journey since the incident. He opened up about moving on and engaging with life again. ‘I’ve made progress and I’m convinced that the world, perhaps long after I’m not here, will set this right. I long for that day because I have a life to experience. But I’m hopeful that the world will make it right.’