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'Empire' star confirms he is gay

'Jamal Lyon' told Ellen DeGeneres backstage that "I don't own a closet, I got a dresser, but I don't have a closet."

Jussie Smollet better known as Jamal Lyon from the widely watched TV series, 'Empire' says he is gay!

The star's admission to his sexuality on Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 9 comes few days after his co-star, Malik Yobaaccidentally spilled the beans.

When asked about his sexual preference, Smollet told Ellen backstage, after the show that, "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," he added. "But I have a home and that is my responsibility, to protect that home."He tells Ellen, "What you've done within the LGBT community is very much, in my opinion, kind of like what Michael Jackson did with the Black community, just that you are who you are.You're just Ellen. So it was really important to me to make sure that it got across that there is no closet,"

Smollett continued, "There is without a doubt, no closet that I've ever been in," he said. "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." He also added,

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"Let's not read into it the wrong way when I say that I don't talk about my personal life. I'm saying that, but there is no way to hide or deny who God made me, you know?"Smollett admitted that his sexuality — both on- and off-camera — has caused some social media backlash from the show's so-called fans.

"I get some ignorant tweets every once in a while … and I know you're not supposed to respond, but sometimes you got to clap back!" he exclaimed.

"I'm a firm believer that people cannot get away with murder ... I just feel that, as tenants of this Earth it's our job to make a difference and make the world better and we can't just sit around and let people spew nasty things and just think that's OK. It's not OK."

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