In a recent appearance on The Clay Cane Show on SiriusXM, Jussie Smollett reveals that his character Jamal on the hit show Empire almost had a white boyfriend, but he put a swift stop to it.
“There was talk about Jamal having a white boyfriend and I said, ‘F*ck no!'” Smollett explains.
It had nothing to do with white people, the 35-year-old says. He thinks interracial relationships are fantastic! He just believed the show would have a greater impact if audiences could see two loving gay black men represented. And he was right.
Related: Jussie Smollett’s Pride message is exactly what we needed to hear right now
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“We have a such a beautiful opportunity to show two black men in a relationship together,” he says. “In a healthy relationship.”
Smollett, who came out in 2015, continues: “It was important and that wasn’t anything against white men. It was just a thing of… this is what I hope, this what I want to see, this is what I wished I had seen as a kid.”
“If I had seen certain things as an adolescent, I would have had a much different understanding of who I am in an earlier space. I do think that is important to show.”
Can’t argue with that!
Listen.
https://soundcloud.com/siriusxm/jussie-smollet-insisted-on-jamal-lyon-having-a-black-boyfriend-on-empire
Don't forget to share:
barkomatic
He has a point. When gay men are portrayed they are usually two white guys together –that’s changing– but when there *are* gay black men they are usually in interracial relationships with white men. I think the idea of portraying interracial relationships is a good thing, but it’s interesting how even a good faith effort can be skewed.
Donston
I still think it’s important to see healthy, substantial, fulfilling long-term gay relationships, period. Because frankly, Hollywood doesn’t seem to believe in them. “Queer” relationships in entertainment is still widely seen as mostly about sex, as short-term options, as dysfunctional and/or as tragic. The reality of things is also that a significant portion of black homo-leaning guys tend to have romantic/relationship preferences that are not towards black men. And hell, I married a white guy. It’s okay to be okay with that. And from what I can recall (because I’ve only watched random episodes of Empire throughout the years) his character had a non-black boyfriend for a very long time.
I do however agree that seeing same-sex couples of the same race in mainstream entertainment is important. Even if your preferences are not towards black guys it does help build esteem and add greater insight. I just wish I liked anything about Empire besides Henson’s camp. Jussie’s character and performance in particular I find fairly boring and pc.
sacha99
Wrong! Speak for yourself. Most black men do not tend to lean towards white men. Most black men are exclusively into black and black/mixed men. This is backed up by empirical data. Not putting any other ethnicities down but black men are gods. Shame you cant see it
Donston
I don’t recall saying “most” in that post. I said a significant amount. There is a higher percentage of interracial same-sex couple than opposite cis gender couple from a ratio perspective. At least half of the black gays I know are not with black dudes. And most of the out/semi-out black male celeb/semi-celebs are not with black dudes. It is what it is. Also, let’s not get into the “can’t see how great black guys are” type of talk. I have no issue with anyone’s sexual/romantic/relationship preferences. I have dated black men and will have no problem dating any race if my marriage happens to not work out.
Kangol
Smollett is not at all boring on Empire. The general and his specific plot lines are sometimes too crazy, though. They always feel the need to kill people off, and don’t know what to do with that gorgeous eldest son Andre. Jamal’s (Smollett’s) last boyfriend, played by the super-hot Terrell Carter, was supposedly trying to kill him as favor to his crazy aunt, played by Felicia Rashad. Seriously? Also, Empire has mixed things up by giving Jamal a white Latinx boyfriend as well; that was his first beau on the show. He has since dated a number of guys, including a black guy from overseas. Every single one of them has been pretty hot, too. And can I add, he can really sing beautifully. Finally they’re letting him showcase that gift.
bjm123
I find it ironic that you being married to a white man would respond and not your white husband. However, I think that Jussie portraying black gay love is a great thing. We didn’t get it on Will and Grace and Queer as Folk and other shows that eliminate us as a whole. I am so tired of seeing white gay couples! We all know how racially bias that white gay men are and how non inclusive they can be. I am curious as to what your “husband” thinks about this type of thing. Surely, you see that most of them want us as a sexual conquest or something. To date: over 80% of black gay men have stated that they have felt bigotry from white gay men. I would love to hear your husband respond to that and not some “people are people” crap. I myself attract white men but my IDEAL partner and lover is indeed black, in ALL color connotations. It is good to see that and also, his partner is HIV positive and this is GROUNDSBREAKING. I bet that most white gay people wish that they’d come up with it first. Right? Go on, I’ll await an appropriate response……
Tony1129
I think its a great thing to see two black gay men in a committed healthy relationship.
Interactial is great also but you see so much of it in mainstream as the so called norm, its refreshing to see a change being made.
bowlingbutch
I completely agree that it is great to see two black men in a relationship to help younger men feel more comfortable about their sexuality if they are struggling with it. I am a white man who thinks he is one of the hottest men around because he seems to have a good soul and good heart. Having a good soul and heart is so important and we see less and less of it right now.
Xzamilloh
Absolutely agree. Noah’s Arc was the last show I actually saw that had a gay black couple in a relationship. And like he said, nothing wrong with interracial gay love, but it seems that when a gay person of color is introduced on a live show, they’re partnered with a white person.
enlightenone
Totally, especially the insight, fight, and passion behind his reasoning. Now, let’s see it!
Dymension
I think it’s important to show a positive relationship between two black men.
James
WHO CARES WHAT COLOR THEY ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP. TOO UPTIGHT.
scubooty
BLACK GAY RACIAL BIGOTS SURE CARE…….Made their NOVEMBER!!!!
ShowMeGuy
In the actual world, being a minority within a minority…..the numbers and the odds are against you if you’re looking to find a fellow minority within that minority. The numbers just aren’t there to make it common place.
EMPIRE is a pretend world, so create a “perfect” pretend world where the numbers are not an issue….and Jussie is right….mainstream media doesn’t seem to ever show two Black men together in an actual relationship and there is power in presenting those images not just for young, Black men who are realizing their sexual identities, but for everyone else watching from the sidelines, as well.
JamJewel
Wasn’t his first season boyfriend [Rafael de la Fuente] white? Guess he found his voice later…..
Kangol
I think that was the choice of the showrunner/director(s), not Smollett.
jjose712
Rafael de la Fuente is latino
Charlie in Charge
Good choice. It’s true, there isn’t enough representation of two black men in love.
Kangol
Reposting because I was in edit limbo: I agree with Jussie Smollett completely. As I noted above, Jamal’s (Smollett’s character’s) first boyfriend on Empire was a white Latinx guy, so they have changed things up at times. Jamal’s current fiance is a handsome, dark-skinned black professional man living with HIV. How often do you see such characters portrayed anywhere? On Black Lightning, the black lesbian character has dated black and Asian American women. On Queen Sugar, the black bi character has dated a black woman and had relationships with black and white dudes. In general, it’s interesting to see how many shows featuring mostly black casts or with black show-runners (Shonda Rimes, etc.) not only feature black LGBTQ characters, but also mix things up when it comes to relationships. The rest of Hollywood could take some tips.
scubooty
“over 80% of black gay men have stated that they have felt bigotry from white gay men.”
Probably because Gay Black Men are racially bigoted at a rate well over 90%.
scubooty
Jussie Smollett totally favoring 1 race. Imagine that. When Whites do it, Blacks want to write books of complaints. When they do it, they are just being “Black.”
Blacks are kings of something. Kings of racial double standards.
scubooty
YOUR HOMOPHOBIC BLACK CULTURE IS WHY YOU DON’T SEE THAT MANY BLACK MEN TOGETHER IN RELATIONSHIPS etc. …….Black Gays looooove to blame other races for every damn thing.
scubooty
Black Gays got to try to make up for letting down the Black Community by raging war on White Gays.
Elf92
Nice. Representation is always welcome. 🙂 Wonderful to see two black gay men in a relationship being just as powerful a representation as a gay interracial relationship. None outweighing the other.