'Empire' star Jussie Smollett confirms he's gay: 'There is without a doubt, no closet that I’ve ever been in'

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Empire star Jussie Smollett is telling-all to Ellen DeGeneres in a new interview.

Smollett is transforming network primetime TV with his breakout role as a gay character, Jamal Lyon, on Empire.

Since skyrocketing to notoriety with the launch of Empire earlier this year, Smollett has remained tight-lipped about his sexual orientation.

In a post-show interview conducted by Ellen, Smollett confirms that he is in fact gay but says he’s never been in the closet. 

“There’s never been a closet that I’ve been in,” he said. “So that’s why I choose not to talk ‘bout my personal life,” he continues. “But there is without a doubt, no closet that I’ve ever been in, and I just wanted to make that clear, but it was most important for me to make that clear to you on your show at this time in the world. And that’s where I’m at.”

They continued discussing his earlier in-studio taped interview segment where Smollett didn’t flat out admit that he is gay.

“I think when I brought up the fact that your character came out and we talked about it and you were expressing yourself, I think a lot of people are still questioning, and when we finished the show they were like, ‘Is he, isn’t he?’” DeGeneres says, adding that she felt it was her responsibility to give the actor a chance to open up.

“There are questions out there, so I think that’s why it was my responsibility to at least give you the opportunity. And I am so proud of you that you say there is no closet. There never has been a closet.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1HHzF2f56g

Follow theGrio.com’s Entertainment Editor Chris Witherspoon on Twitter @WitherspoonC.