YOU PROBABLY best know this 32-year-old actor, singer and philanthropist (yep, he’s all three) for portraying openly gay hip hop artist Jamal Lyon in Fox’s hit series, Empire. Playing the scion of ruthless and homophobic hip hop mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), Jussie became a household name. It is also the role that would force him to come out of the closet.
At first, he was coy. On a radio program last year, Jussie told fans he wouldn’t confirm or deny anything. “I live my life. If someone is looking for a box to put me in, that’s not going to happen.”
Then, during an interview with Black Film, his Empire co-star Malik Yoba accidentally, not maliciously, outed him while talking about the positive effect a predominately black TV show like Empire can have on the wider community.