LIFE UPDATE

Jussie Smollett Drops Big News Six Years After Fake Hate Crime

The actor, who allegedly faked a racist and homophobic attack on himself, shared an important update on his life.

Jussie Smollett, the actor who was convicted of faking a hate crime attack on himself, has revealed a big development in his romantic life. In a joint Instagram post, Smollett, 43, announced that he is getting married to his boyfriend, Jabari Redd. “I’ll be spending my birthday with my Fiancé … He said YES. 💍,” Smollett wrote alongside photos of himself popping the question. In the comment section, the announcement was celebrated by his family and former Empire co-star Taraji P. Henson, who wrote, “MY BABIES ❤️❤️❤️.” Back in 2019, when Smollett was appearing on the hit show Empire, he claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. However, a police investigation determined that Smollett had actually staged the attack, although he has maintained his innocence. He was convicted in 2021. The conviction was overturned in 2024, when the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the prosecution had committed a process violation.