You would think by now that viewers of Empire would know that one of the lead characters, Jamal Lyon played by Jussie Smollett, is gay (character and in real life). He has engaged in gay sex scenes in the past on the show, so at some point it was bound to happen again. This week was that again, and apparently homophobes all over were not happy about.
In Wednesday’s (May 4) episode Jamal faced off with a new producer, D-Major who seemingly had an issue with Jamal or the fact that he was gay. This show down ended up turning into a steamy studio session where both men got hot and heavy with each other and it is revealed that D-Major is actually gay but on not out of he closet.
Some viewers were all up in their feelings about the sex scene and took to Twitter to cry a river of “homophobic tears”.
Ok empire don’t have to show us this gay shit must be for birdman or something #empire
— QUEEN (@QueenJaslyn) May 5, 2016
Time for #empire 2 get canceled ?? super gay
— Wilt the Stilt (@_almighty_o) May 5, 2016
#Empire is gay as hell… It’s not bout the music anymore it’s all about male on male action like come own now
— JuRozzay (@Picture_Mannnn) May 5, 2016
There were plenty more where that came from if you search Twitter. A few fans also took to Twitter to clap back at the homophobic tweets.
Straight men are SO bothered by gay scenes on shows ie: #Empire, it doesn’t make you look macho.. it makes you look ignorant & close-minded.
— paulie (@Trendeh) May 5, 2016
Here go these “secure men” upset about male gay sexual scenes ? #Empire
— Tee (@Ulike_SweetTEE) May 5, 2016
If you upset with the gay scenes on empire then stop watching because a main character is gay bro ?? #Empire
— Jiggy A (@stretchgoddess) May 5, 2016
Empire showrunner Ilene Chaiken spoke with Variety this week about the new storyline:
Jamal has a new hookup. Is his relationship with D-Major going to be serious or just something fun?
It’s the beginning of a story. We’re not rushing anywhere with it, but it’s a complicated relationship. There’s Jamal who fought hard to live in his truth and come out of the closet and he winds up involved with a guy who is as deeply closeted as many men are, and that’s a challenge for a gay man, certainly.Gay relationships are pretty taboo in the hip hop world. Why was this storyline of two gay black men important for you and the writers to include?
We didn’t view it as an issue that we needed to take on. We looked at it as something that happens in the world and something that happens often. We’ve heard many, many stories. Jamal is obviously a wildly attractive guy who is going to be attractive to a lot of people, but is also probably lonely — it’s hard as a star to really find love and find someone who can move in the same circles as you and it’s inevitable and it’s bound to happen that those unexpected attractions are going to flare up. This is the first time we’ve told a story like that for Jamal. It’s the beginning of an interesting story that we hope will have legs.So we will see more of D-Major?
We definitely will see more of it. The character is with us through the end of the season, but we’re not rushing to a conclusion either.
Smollett also clapped back in a lighthearted fun way.
What is this gay sheeeeit? ? #empire ? #JustRelax #ItsOverNow #ShhShhShhShhShh pic.twitter.com/sHlRPE1eVm
— Jussie Smollett (@JussieSmollett) May 5, 2016
