Latest news with #JussieSmollett
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Jussie Smollett engaged to Jabari Redd; Halle Berry, Taraji P Henson send love
Actor and singer Jussie Smollett is officially off the market! The Empire star announced his engagement to fellow actor Jabri Redd in a heartfelt Instagram post late on Friday, coinciding with his 43rd birthday celebrations, reported TMZ. Smollett's post included a series of sweet photos showing him on one knee outside a restaurant, proposing to Redd. Another image showed the couple embracing after the proposal. The final slide gave fans a glimpse of the elegant engagement ring. Actor Jussie Smollett is engaged to Jabari Redd.(Instagram/ Jussie Smollett) Smollett, captioning the post, said that the actor will be spending his birthday with his fiancé. 'He said YES,' the Marshall actor added in the caption of the photos which has since attracted congratulatory messages from fans and celebrities alike. Stars like Vivica A Fox, Taraji P Henson, and Halle Berry were among the first to share their excitement in the comments. Jussie's sister and fellow actor Jurnee too commented on the post. She wrote, 'Screaming with tears of joy!' Welcoming Redd to the family, she added, 'My whole heart loves both of you.' Jussie Smollett engaged to Jabari Redd: How the couple met According to TMZ, it is unclear exactly how long the couple has been dating for. The two actors starred in the 2023 movie The Lost Holiday, which was also directed by Smollett. Smollett's engagement also marks a new chapter in the B-Boy Blues director's life after years of public controversy stemming from a 2019 hate crime hoax. The actor, as per the TMZ report, reached a settlement with the city of Chicago earlier this year. He agreed to pay $50,000 to a charity. The TMZ report quoted sources indicating that he chose the Building Better Futures Center for the Arts which focuses on uplifting young creatives in Chicago. Now, with legal issues behind him, Smollett appears focused on joy, healing, and building a future with his partner. Also Read: Madonna gives fans a sneak peek into her $40 million apartment and luxe wardrobe FAQs Q: Is Jussie Smollett engaged? A: Yes, Jussie Smollett announced his engagement to fellow actor Jabari Redd on June 21, 2025, via Instagram. Q: Who is Jussie Smollett's famous sister? A: His sister is Jurnee Smollett, known for her roles in Lovecraft Country, Birds of Prey, and Eve's Bayou. Q: Is Jussie Smollett really singing in Empire? A: Yes, Jussie Smollett performed his own vocals as Jamal Lyon in Empire and has released solo music as well. Q: What nationality is Jussie Smollett? A: Jussie Smollett is American. He was born in Santa Rosa, California, and is of African-American and Jewish descent.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jussie Smollett and his partner reveal big news about their romance... six years after 'hate crime' hoax
Jussie Smollett announced he is engaged to partner Jabari Redd via Instagram on Friday. The 43-year-old former Empire actor — whose 2021 conviction for allegedly faking a hate crime was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court last year — shared the happy new with his 4.5 million followers in a joint post with his beau. Posting photos from the moment he got down on one knee, he wrote, 'I'll be spending my birthday with my Fiancé… He said YES,' adding a diamond ring emoji. The professional photos, snapped by @artbyalyx, showed the progression of Smollett presenting the ring, Redd's shocked expression, and the couple's subsequent embrace. Jussie's sisters Jazz and Jurnee Smollett were among the many loved ones who offered congratulatory comments. 'Screaming with tears of joy! My whole heart loves both of you. @jussiesmollett. Welcome to the family @jabariredd. ❤️❤️,' wrote Jurnee, 38. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @jussiesmollett Older sibling Jazz, 45, added, 'Yaaaass!!! Welcome to the family Jabari!!! Love y'all!! Sooooo happy for you both!' Meanwhile, his former TV mother Taraji P. Henson wrote, 'MY BABIES ❤️❤️❤️.' The happy couple is fresh off their collaboration on the film The Lost Holliday, which premiered at the 28th annual American Black Film Festival in June 2024. Starring Jabari, Jussie, Vivica A. Fox and more, it was released across select AMC theaters in September. This past May it was made available on Prime. The project is the second project Smollett directed, following 2022's B-Boy Blues. He told People last year, 'It's such a hopeful film.' 'I think that's what I really get from this film for my own life, is that it's so hopeful. It so, "Well, what is the next day going to be like? What is tomorrow going to bring me?" 'It could bring something great, it could bring you something not so great, but it's about what you do with [it].' Jussie settled his 'hate crime hoax' with the city of Chicago in May, paying $50k to charity to resolve the six-year saga. He was convicted in December 2021 for lying to police in 2019 about an alleged attack, during which he claimed two men beat him, yelled homophobic slurs and placed a noose around his neck while wearing MAGA hats. The conviction was overturned last year due to a due process violation. The City of Chicago's Law Department filed a civil lawsuit against him in 2019 to recover over $130,000 in costs incurred investigating his allegedly staged attack, after he failed to meet a city-imposed payment deadline. The case, which had stretched over six years, was put to rest by both sides through a settlement.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Empire' star Jussie Smollett gets engaged to Jabari Redd; the couple share photos on Instagram
, the 'Empire' star, has officially been engaged, and the smile has never been this endearing. He shared a series of photographs with his fiancé on social media, in which the 43-year-old actor expressed that he bent down on one knee—and his fiancé, Jabari Redd, said, 'Yes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ' The proposal On an Instagram post on June 20, 2025, Jussie shared the images of him pulling out the ring, and the happiness on their face. He captioned the post, 'I'll be spending my birthday with my Fiancé… He said YES. 💍' The first photo showed Jabari Redd getting pleasantly surprised by Jussie bending down on one knee with a ring, outside of a restaurant in the middle of the street near Hard Rock Cafe. In the following photo, Redd seems to be screaming out of happiness while Smollett is smiling at his reaction. The third frame is where the 'B-Boy Blues' actor is placing the ring on the finger. In the next images of the series, the couple adorably hug each other, and Redd has his cheeks red with surprise proposal. Furthermore, the newly-engaged duo celebrated the unforgettable moment with champagne and laughs. He shared a close-up image of the ring placed on Redd's hands. The reactions Along with many comments filled with hearts and congratulations, Jussie Smollett's younger sister, actress Jurnee Smollett, commented with all excitement under the post, 'Screaming with tears of joy! My whole heart loves both of you @jussiesmollett. Welcome to the family @jabariredd. ❤️❤️' His another sister, Jazz Smollett, wrote, 'Yaaaass!!! Welcome to the family Jabari!!! Love y'all!! Sooooo happy for you both!' Who is Jussie Smollett? Jussie Smollett is a 43-year-old American actor who was a victim of a hate crime back in 2019. He spent 150 days in jail in 2022 after he was found guilty of lying about being a victim of a racial and homophobic attack, in addition to making a false report at the police station. After his lawyers appealed to the court, the charges were dropped, and he claimed his innocence, according to Bang Showbiz.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Jussie Smollett Donates $50,000 to Arts Center to Settle Chicago's Lawsuit
Jussie Smollett, the former 'Empire' star, announced that he had donated $50,000 to a Chicago charity to settle a lawsuit by the city about his claim that he had been the victim of a hate crime. In 2022, a jury convicted Mr. Smollett of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report after he said he had been attacked in downtown Chicago by two men who hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him. His conviction was overturned last year by the Illinois Supreme Court, which said the special prosecutor's case violated a previous agreement with Mr. Smollett. Mr. Smollett shared details of his settlement with the city in a statement posted to Instagram on Friday, saying that he had made a $50,000 donation to the Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts. According to its website, the organization's mission is to 'improve the quality of life for underprivileged youth and their families by providing safe, stable and nurturing experiences.' The City of Chicago had sued Mr. Smollett six years ago, seeking more than $130,000 to cover the costs of its police investigation. It said the settlement with Mr. Smollett required the charitable contribution. 'The city believes this settlement provides a fair, constructive and conclusive resolution, allowing all the parties to close this six-year-old chapter and move forward,' a city spokeswoman, Kristen Cabanban, said in a statement. She said that Mr. Smollett also made a $10,000 payment to the city in 2019, and that he had faced additional accountability through his criminal trial. Mr. Smollett posted on Friday that, in addition to the settlement, he had also donated $10,000 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center, an organization that 'seeks to address the traumas of police violence and institutionalized racism,' according to its website. A representative of the Building Brighter Futures Center confirmed in an email that it had received the donation. The Chicago Torture Justice Center confirmed Mr. Smollett's donation in an Instagram post last week. Mr. Smollett originally said that the men who hurled slurs at him also tied a rope around his neck and doused him with a chemical substance. The story initially inspired outrage and sympathy for the actor, but prosecutors became suspicious of his account and charged him with felony disorderly conduct. Those initial charges were dropped in 2019 after Mr. Smollett agreed to perform community service and forfeit a $10,000 bond payment. But after an outcry from the mayor and the police, a special prosecutor revived the case. Chicago's lawsuit had been on pause while the criminal charges worked their way through the courts. Mr. Smollett, who has maintained his innocence and countersued city officials, said in his Instagram post that he was aware the settlement 'will not change everyone's mind about me.' 'What I have to do now is move forward,' he wrote.
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jussie Smollett settles suit over alleged hate-crime hoax with $50,000 donation
Jussie Smollett, the actor who claimed to be a victim of a 2019 hate crime but was later charged with having staged the attack, has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against him by the city of Chicago with a donation to charity. The actor said on a post on Instagram that he made a $50,000 donation to the Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts, a Chicago-based non-profit that works with art and city youth. He will additionally make a $10,000 donation to the Chicago Torture Justice Center, which helps victims of abuse by Chicago police. 'Every dollar we receive goes towards repairing decades of racialized state violence by providing no-cost therapy, a community space, an organizing home, and other services to survivors of police torture and violence,' the Chicago Torture Justice Center said in an Instagram post confirming Smollett's donation. 'This generous donation from Mr. Smollett is so meaningful and deeply impactful.' This settlement brings to an end a six-year-long legal battle between Chicago and Smollett, in which the city sought to recuperate funds used to investigate Smollett's claims. Smollett, a Black and gay actor well-known for his performance in the television show Empire, said in 2019 that two masked men in Chicago jumped him, poured bleach on him, placed a rope around his neck and called him homophobic and racist slurs. But two extras from his show told police the actor had paid them to stage the attack. Smollett was charged with disorderly conduct for falsely saying he was the victim of a hate crime. All charges were dropped after his legal team cut a deal with prosecutors – Smollett paid the city $10,000 and agreed to perform community service. The city of Chicago, in turn, sued Smollett for the cost of the investigation, saying it totaled $130,000. Smollett counter-sued the city, denying he staged the attack. Smollett was indicted in 2020 after the case was revived by a special prosecutor and was convicted of falsely reporting an attack. But in November, the supreme court of Illinois overturned the conviction , ruling the actor had been unjustly prosecuted after prosecutors had agreed to drop the charges in 2019 in exchange for Smollett agreeing to forfeit a $10,000 bond and perform 15 hours of community service. Smollett continues to deny that he staged the attack. 'Over six years ago, after it was reported I had been jumped, City Officials in Chicago set out to convince the public that I willfully set [up] an assault against myself,' Smollett wrote on Instagram on Friday. 'This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear.' Smollett also claimed that he had been 'exonerated by the Illinois Supreme Court', but the judges wrote that they decided to overturn the case based on the procedural issue of a due process violation, and made no finding on the underlying facts in the case.
