Jussie Smollett[3] (/ˈdʒʌsi/ JUSS-ee, born June 21, 1982) is an American actor and singer. He began his career as a child actor in 1987 acting in films including The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner's North (1994). In 2015, Smollett portrayed musician Jamal Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire, a role which was hailed as groundbreaking for its positive depiction of a black gay man on television. Smollett has also appeared in Ridley Scott's science fiction film Alien: Covenant (2017) as Ricks and in Marshall (2017) as Langston Hughes.
Smollett was indicted on February 20, 2019, for disorderly conduct consisting of allegedly paying two Nigerian-American brothers to stage a fake hate crime assault on him and filing a false police report.[4] Smollett's defense team reached a deal with prosecutors on March 26, 2019, in which all charges were dropped in return for Smollett performing community service and forfeiting his $10,000 bond.[5] On March 27, 2019, it was announced that the FBI would be investigating as to why the charges were dismissed.
Early life
Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, the third of six children of Janet (née Harris) and Joel Smollett (1956-2014).[7] He has three brothers and two sisters: Jake, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jazz, several of whom are also actors.[8] Smollett is biracial;[9] his mother is African-American and his father was a Jewish man whose family emigrated from Russia and Poland.[10] He has said that his father would "kill you if you called him white". His father was absent from his life for a significant portion of his childhood.[11] He graduated from Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey.[12] Smollett told his parents he was gay when he was 19.[11]
Career
File:Sister Circle Live Jussie Smollett interview 2018 June 1.webm
(video) Smollett talking in a 2018 interview on Sister Circle
Smollett began his acting career as a child, appearing in the films The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner's North (1994). On television, he starred alongside his five real-life siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own from 1994–1995.[13] In 2012, Smollett returned to acting with the leading role in Patrik-Ian Polk's LGBT-themed comedy-drama The Skinny.[14] Also that year, he released an EP titled The Poisoned Hearts Club.[8][15] He later guest-starred on The Mindy Project (2012) and Revenge (2014).[11]
In 2014, Smollett was cast as Jamal Lyon—a gay musician who struggles to gain the approval of his father—opposite Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in the Fox drama series Empire.[16][17][18] His role was hailed as "groundbreaking" for its positive depiction of a black gay man on television.[19] Smollett reprised his role in subsequent seasons,[20] and directed an episode of the fourth season in 2017.[21]
In February 2015, Smollett confirmed that he had signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and would be releasing an album in the future.[22] Smollett co-wrote the songs "I Wanna Love You" and "You're So Beautiful" on the Original Soundtrack from Season 1 of Empire album, which was released in March 2015.[23]
In June 2015, it was announced that Smollett would guest-star alongside his younger sister, Jurnee, on Underground, which aired in 2016.[24] In March 2018, Smollett released his debut album, Sum of My Music.[25] Sum of My Music is an R&B album that features elements of electronic music and hip hop. Smollett self-released it through his own label, Music of Sound.[26]
On April 30, 2019, it was announced that although Fox Entertainment had extended Smollett's contract for the sixth season of Empire, there were no plans for the character to appear during the season.[27][28]
Personal life
Smollett came out as gay during a televised interview with Ellen DeGeneres in March 2015.[29][30]
In a 2016 interview with Out, he clarified his sexual orientation by stating, "If I had to label myself, I would label myself as a gay man." However, he stated his belief that openness to love is more important than gender, revealing that "If I fall in love down the road with a woman, I'm going to love that woman."[11] When Smollett's gay character from Empire engaged in a tryst with a female character, Smollett defended the plot development by stating that he and Empire's creator Lee Daniels were trying to create a conversation about sexual fluidity in the gay community. Daniels has stated that while he and Smollett are gay, they both occasionally want to have sex with women. Daniels stated that "We're showing life on Empire", in that both he and Smollett were incorporating their own sexual fluidity as gay men into the show.[31]
Smollett lives in Chicago.[32]
Legal issues
2007 misdemeanor conviction for false name
According to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Smollett pleaded no contest to providing false information to law enforcement in a 2007 misdemeanor case resulting from a DUI stop in which Smollett gave police a false name and signed his brother's name on the summons promising to appear in court.[33][34] Smollett also pleaded no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and driving without a valid driver's license,[33] and was sentenced to a fine and two years of probation.[33]
2019 alleged assault
Main article: Jussie Smollett alleged assault
On January 29, 2019, Smollett told police that he was attacked outside his apartment building by two men in ski masks who called him racial and homophobic slurs, and said "This is MAGA country", referencing President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again"[35] and used their hands, feet, and teeth as weapons in the assault.[36][37] According to a statement released by the Chicago Police Department, the two suspects then "poured an unknown liquid" on Smollett and put a noose around his neck.[38] Smollett said that he fought them off. Smollett was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; not seriously injured, he was released "in good condition" later that morning.[35][39][40] The police were called after 2:30 am;[41] when they arrived around 2:40 am, Smollett had a white rope around his neck.[42] Smollett said that the attack may have been motivated by his criticism of the Trump administration[43] and that he believed that the alleged assault was linked to the threatening letter that was sent to him earlier that month.[34]
On February 20, 2019, Smollett was charged by a grand jury with a class 4 felony for filing a false police report.[44][45][46] The next day, Smollett surrendered himself at the Chicago Police Department's Central Booking station.[47] Shortly thereafter, CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated that Smollett "is under arrest and in the custody of detectives".[48] On March 26, 2019, all charges filed against Smollett were dropped, with Judge Steven Watkins ordering the public court file sealed.[5][49] First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats said the office reached a deal with Smollett's defense team in which prosecutors dropped the charges upon Smollett performing 16 hours of community service[50][51][52] and forfeiting his $10,000 bond.[53][54][55] On March 27, 2019, it was announced that the FBI would be investigating as to why the charges were dismissed
Smollett was indicted on February 20, 2019, for disorderly conduct consisting of allegedly paying two Nigerian-American brothers to stage a fake hate crime assault on him and filing a false police report.[4] Smollett's defense team reached a deal with prosecutors on March 26, 2019, in which all charges were dropped in return for Smollett performing community service and forfeiting his $10,000 bond.[5] On March 27, 2019, it was announced that the FBI would be investigating as to why the charges were dismissed.
Early life
Smollett was born in Santa Rosa, California, the third of six children of Janet (née Harris) and Joel Smollett (1956-2014).[7] He has three brothers and two sisters: Jake, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jazz, several of whom are also actors.[8] Smollett is biracial;[9] his mother is African-American and his father was a Jewish man whose family emigrated from Russia and Poland.[10] He has said that his father would "kill you if you called him white". His father was absent from his life for a significant portion of his childhood.[11] He graduated from Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey.[12] Smollett told his parents he was gay when he was 19.[11]
Career
File:Sister Circle Live Jussie Smollett interview 2018 June 1.webm
(video) Smollett talking in a 2018 interview on Sister Circle
Smollett began his acting career as a child, appearing in the films The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner's North (1994). On television, he starred alongside his five real-life siblings in the short-lived ABC sitcom On Our Own from 1994–1995.[13] In 2012, Smollett returned to acting with the leading role in Patrik-Ian Polk's LGBT-themed comedy-drama The Skinny.[14] Also that year, he released an EP titled The Poisoned Hearts Club.[8][15] He later guest-starred on The Mindy Project (2012) and Revenge (2014).[11]
In 2014, Smollett was cast as Jamal Lyon—a gay musician who struggles to gain the approval of his father—opposite Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in the Fox drama series Empire.[16][17][18] His role was hailed as "groundbreaking" for its positive depiction of a black gay man on television.[19] Smollett reprised his role in subsequent seasons,[20] and directed an episode of the fourth season in 2017.[21]
In February 2015, Smollett confirmed that he had signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and would be releasing an album in the future.[22] Smollett co-wrote the songs "I Wanna Love You" and "You're So Beautiful" on the Original Soundtrack from Season 1 of Empire album, which was released in March 2015.[23]
In June 2015, it was announced that Smollett would guest-star alongside his younger sister, Jurnee, on Underground, which aired in 2016.[24] In March 2018, Smollett released his debut album, Sum of My Music.[25] Sum of My Music is an R&B album that features elements of electronic music and hip hop. Smollett self-released it through his own label, Music of Sound.[26]
On April 30, 2019, it was announced that although Fox Entertainment had extended Smollett's contract for the sixth season of Empire, there were no plans for the character to appear during the season.[27][28]
Personal life
Smollett came out as gay during a televised interview with Ellen DeGeneres in March 2015.[29][30]
In a 2016 interview with Out, he clarified his sexual orientation by stating, "If I had to label myself, I would label myself as a gay man." However, he stated his belief that openness to love is more important than gender, revealing that "If I fall in love down the road with a woman, I'm going to love that woman."[11] When Smollett's gay character from Empire engaged in a tryst with a female character, Smollett defended the plot development by stating that he and Empire's creator Lee Daniels were trying to create a conversation about sexual fluidity in the gay community. Daniels has stated that while he and Smollett are gay, they both occasionally want to have sex with women. Daniels stated that "We're showing life on Empire", in that both he and Smollett were incorporating their own sexual fluidity as gay men into the show.[31]
Smollett lives in Chicago.[32]
Legal issues
2007 misdemeanor conviction for false name
According to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Smollett pleaded no contest to providing false information to law enforcement in a 2007 misdemeanor case resulting from a DUI stop in which Smollett gave police a false name and signed his brother's name on the summons promising to appear in court.[33][34] Smollett also pleaded no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and driving without a valid driver's license,[33] and was sentenced to a fine and two years of probation.[33]
2019 alleged assault
Main article: Jussie Smollett alleged assault
On January 29, 2019, Smollett told police that he was attacked outside his apartment building by two men in ski masks who called him racial and homophobic slurs, and said "This is MAGA country", referencing President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again"[35] and used their hands, feet, and teeth as weapons in the assault.[36][37] According to a statement released by the Chicago Police Department, the two suspects then "poured an unknown liquid" on Smollett and put a noose around his neck.[38] Smollett said that he fought them off. Smollett was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; not seriously injured, he was released "in good condition" later that morning.[35][39][40] The police were called after 2:30 am;[41] when they arrived around 2:40 am, Smollett had a white rope around his neck.[42] Smollett said that the attack may have been motivated by his criticism of the Trump administration[43] and that he believed that the alleged assault was linked to the threatening letter that was sent to him earlier that month.[34]
On February 20, 2019, Smollett was charged by a grand jury with a class 4 felony for filing a false police report.[44][45][46] The next day, Smollett surrendered himself at the Chicago Police Department's Central Booking station.[47] Shortly thereafter, CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated that Smollett "is under arrest and in the custody of detectives".[48] On March 26, 2019, all charges filed against Smollett were dropped, with Judge Steven Watkins ordering the public court file sealed.[5][49] First Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Magats said the office reached a deal with Smollett's defense team in which prosecutors dropped the charges upon Smollett performing 16 hours of community service[50][51][52] and forfeiting his $10,000 bond.[53][54][55] On March 27, 2019, it was announced that the FBI would be investigating as to why the charges were dismissed
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