Jussie Smollett’s Engagement to Jabari Redd: Love Shines After Legal Triumph
Holy guacamole, this is one engagement announcement that deserves a double shot of espresso! Picture Empire alum Jussie Smollett down on bended knee outside what looks like a chic spot in the city, popping the big question to his longtime love Jabari Redd. The actor shared a string of swoon-worthy photos on Instagram the day before his birthday, captioning the moment “I’ll be spending my birthday with my fiancé. He said YES.” Cue the confetti!
Family and friends flooded the comments faster than I can drink this latte. Little sis Jurnee Smollett confessed she was “screaming with tears of joy,” while Jazz Smollett chimed in with a heartfelt “Yaaaass” and “Welcome to the family, Jabari!!!” Even Taraji P. Henson slipped in a sweet “My babies,” and Halle Berry just sprinkled hearts and fire emojis like the superstar aunt she is. It’s all love and celebration over here, and honestly, I’m buzzing as if I’ve had one too many cappuccinos.
Now let’s rewind: this fairy-tale announcement lands seven months after the Illinois Supreme Court overturned Jussie’s criminal conviction for allegedly staging a hate crime. In a unanimous decision last November, the high court ruled that double-jeopardy principles were violated because Jussie had a non-prosecution agreement with Cook County’s State Attorney. He originally faced up to a hundred fifty days behind bars, but was released after serving six days. The reversal returned his world to neutral—and, if you ask me, set the perfect stage for a proposal.
Jussie didn’t stop at legal redemption; he also donated fifty thousand dollars as part of a settlement with the city of Chicago, plus an extra ten thousand on top. In a reflective Instagram post, he reminded everyone that exoneration in court doesn’t change every mind, but “I am innocent in the eyes of God and our criminal justice system. What I have to do now is move forward.” And forward they go—to wedding bells and beyond.
Speaking of tying the knot, Aunt Who’s got some bonus tea on celebrity weddings this year. An NFL quarterback quietly confirmed his own ring just after practice, Michelle Young and Jack Leius said “I do” at a Minnesota celebration, General Hospital star Jack Wagner married comedian Michelle Wolf in an intimate affair, and Hailee Steinfeld sealed the deal with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in California. Love is certainly in the air, people!
I swear, between the courtroom drama, the lavish lovefest, and the cascade of celebrity weddings, my heart’s racing faster than a coffee-chugging aunt at brunch. Whew—I might need another cup after unpacking all of this extravaganza. I could ramble on for days, but I’ll let you sip on that for now!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, Instagram posts, Illinois Supreme Court decision documents, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
