We were in love with Jussie Smollett when we first saw him as the gay singer Jamal Lyon on the Fox drama-musical series “Empire.” Then when Smollett "came out: as gay on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2015 ('Empire' Star Jussie Smollett Comes Out On 'Ellen': 'There Is No Closet').
It was a great time to have a gay major character on television. But we also need his talent in the music scene. Our need has been met with Jussie Smollett's release of the music video for “Freedom,” featuring same-sex couples celebrating their love for each other.
It revolves around one LGBTQ couple played by Tika Sumpter and Cynthia Erivo. At the end of the video, the couple attends a party where gay and straight are pictured expressing their own freedom.
"This video is about love. I wanted to show two people doing the everyday things that every single couple does,” Smollett explained in a statement. “I see nothing but beauty through the eyes of these characters we've created. I hope everyone else does as well. Love is freedom. Freedom is love.” – billboard.com
“Freedom” is the first single from his debut studio album which will be released later this year.
And if you needed to see Jussie on Ellen one more time, here are two clips from his first appearance.