Jussie Smollett Says Embracing His Blackness and Being Openly Gay Helped Career

Jussie Smollett and Naomi Campbell cover Altitude Magazine’s latest issue, and Jussie tells the publication that being openly gay and being proud of his blackness has been a major advantage:

Jussie, who is working on his debut album and has just wrapped filming Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant, has drawn universal acclaim for his portrayal of gay musician Jamal Lyon in the Empire, currently filming its third season.

The 33-year-old first addressed his s*xuality publicly in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres back in March 2015, and tells Attitude that being out and proud in Hollywood has only helped his burgeoning career.

“I get tired of the idea of someone telling me what my truth is. I’ve said from the beginning of my journey: I do not hide who I am. I love who I love. No one is going to tell me that somehow that is going to be my disability.

“I am told so many times that I should not walk truly in my blackness, that I should not walk truly in my s*xuality, I should not walk truly in who I am.  I say thanks but no thanks, f*ck you and goodbye. I honestly think that me being myself has actually helped my career move forward.”