Jussie Smollett Confirms Romance With Karamo Brown
Smollett marked Brown's birthday on Instagram, publicly acknowledging a relationship that had been reported since June.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Romance
Actor Jussie Smollett publicly confirmed his relationship with Karamo Brown through a series of Instagram posts, including a birthday tribute reading 'It's international @Karamo day! Happy birthday my love.' The post followed months of media reports about the couple.
Why it matters
The public confirmation comes after TMZ photographs and sightings in Los Angeles and West Hollywood earlier in the year. Brown had confirmed on a June podcast that he was dating another celebrity without naming Smollett.
Smollett posted the photos to Instagram, with the birthday post dated November 2, 2026. Smollett previously ended his engagement to actor Jabari Redd, a relationship the extraction describes as lasting three years.
The players
Jussie Smollett
American actor best known for his role on the television series Empire, who had ended his engagement to actor Jabari Redd by June 2026.
Karamo Brown
Television personality and host of the Netflix series Queer Eye, who confirmed on a June 2026 podcast that he was dating another celebrity.
The details
Smollett posted several photos of himself and Brown, writing 'It's international @Karamo day! Happy birthday my love,' and later added 'Grown a$$ K&J #Mine.' Earlier reports included photos from a Los Angeles day outing, a moment of Smollett touching Brown's chin in June, and a late-July date night in West Hollywood.
Timeline
2018: Smollett presented Brown with the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award in Houston.
June 2026: TMZ published photos of the couple spending a day together in Los Angeles.
June 30, 2026: Brown confirmed on a podcast that he was dating another celebrity.
Late July 2026: The couple was seen walking arm-in-arm on a date night in West Hollywood.
November 2, 2026: Smollett posted a birthday tribute to Brown on Instagram.
Public Visibility
Smollett's 2018 presentation of the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award to Brown in Houston marked an earlier public association between the two men. The Instagram confirmation extends that visibility into a declared relationship.
Readers following celebrity relationships can track the couple's public appearances and social media posts directly on Instagram. The extraction does not describe any upcoming events or scheduled announcements tied to the relationship.
The takeaway
Public confirmations of relationships often follow a period of media attention and photographs, and celebrities may choose their own timing for acknowledging them. Readers interested in relationship news can rely on official social media posts from the individuals involved.
Further reading
For more on couples and dating news, explore the Romance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Complex.
