Empire is one of the breakout hits of this past TV season. It's a melodrama about a hip hop music and entertainment company called Empire Enterprises, headed by a former drug dealer (and murderer) Luscious Lion in partnership with his ex-con, ex-wife Cookie. Their three adult children are pitted against each other for control of the company.

 

One of those children is Jamal Lyon (played by Jussie Smollett). He's the middle son and considered the "black sheep" of the family. He's also gay, and doesn't get along with his homophobic father.

 

Smollett, the actor, is also gay. He was recently outed by his co-star Malik Yoba, so Smollett decided to discuss his sexuality with Ellen DeGeneres.

 

"It was really important to me to make sure that it got across that there is no closet," Smollett insisted. "There’s never been a closet. That I’ve been in. I don’t own a closet, I got a dresser, but I don’t have a closet, but I have a home and that is my responsibility to protect that home. 

 

Smollet says he's a private man with a private life; he is neither closeted nor ashamed of who he is.

 

"My mama knows. My mama likes me a lot," Smollett continued. "And yes I take her to the Sound of Music sing-along every, single year."