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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.
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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.
