Empire star Jussie Smollett is officially engaged to his longtime partner, Jabari Redd. The actor shared the exciting news on June 20, 2025—just a day before his 43rd birthday—via a heartfelt Instagram post featuring photos of the proposal.
The intimate moment took place outdoors near a restaurant, where Smollett was seen getting down on one knee as Redd reacted with visible joy. The couple embraced after the proposal and celebrated with a champagne toast. Smollett captioned the post, “I’ll be spending my birthday with my fiancé… He said YES 💍.”
Family and friends quickly flooded the comments with support. His sister, actress Jurnee Smollett, wrote, “Screaming with tears of joy! My whole heart loves both of you… Welcome to the family @jabariredd.” Jazz Smollett added, “I was WAITINGGGGGG!!!!!!… congratulations you 2‼️” Fellow Empire co-star Taraji P. Henson also sent her love and congratulations.
This happy moment follows a difficult chapter in Smollett’s life. In 2019, he reported being the victim of a hate crime in Chicago—a case that led to criminal charges and a highly publicized legal battle. Though he was convicted in 2021 and briefly served jail time, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned his conviction in late 2024. Earlier in 2025, he resolved a civil suit with the City of Chicago by donating $50,000 to charity.
Smollett and Redd recently worked together on The Lost Holliday, a 2024 drama film directed by Smollett. The film, which premiered at the American Black Film Festival and was released in theaters, features Redd as Damien, the partner of Smollett’s character. Smollett described the project as “a message of hope and resilience.”
Now, with their engagement, the couple enters a new chapter—surrounded by love, support, and the promise of the future.
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