Prince Williams/ Getty Jussie Smollett has proposed to his boyfriend, Jabari Redd "I'll be spending my birthday with my Fiancé… He said YES," the formerEmpirestar announced The pair costarred as a couple in Smollett's sophomore directorial effort, 2024'sThe Lost Holliday Jussie Smollettis engaged! On Friday, June 20, the formerEmpirestar revealed that he popped the question to his boyfriend, Jabari Redd. "I'll be spending my birthday with my Fiancé… He said YES. 💍," Smollett, who turns 43 on Saturday, June 21, captioned anInstagram carousel. The series of photos showed a frame-by-frame timeline of how theB-Boy Bluesdirector pulled off the proposal. Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Tucked away on a street near a restaurant, Redd appeared pleasantly surprised as Smollett got down on one knee, also smiling. The next slide showed more of Redd's reaction as he seemed to be yelling with happiness, lifting his hands toward his face. The third photo showed Smollett officially placing a ring on his fiancé's finger, and the fourth showed the newly-engaged couple hugging. Two pictures that followed were filled with laughter, even a bit of champagne, and the announcement ended with a close-up image of the ring on Redd's hand. "Screaming with tears of joy! My whole heart loves both of you@jussiesmollett. Welcome to the family@jabariredd. ❤️❤️," Smollett's younger sister, actressJurnee Smollett, commented. His other sister, Jazz Smollett, added, "😝🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾I was WAITINGGGGGG!!!!!!😩😩🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤭🤭🤭🤭 congratulations you 2‼️‼️ I pray blessings cover you as you've covered each other 🥹🥹🥹🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾😘😘😘😘😘." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Jussie's famous friends also joined in on wishing him well. "MY BABIES ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾," his formerEmpirecostar,Taraji P. Henson, commented. In theLee Daniels-helmed drama, which ran for five seasons beginning in 2015, Jussie played the onscreen son of the Golden Globe award winner, 54. It was during his time on the series when Jussie claimed that on Jan. 29, 2019, while on his way home from a Subway sandwich shop, he was attacked bytwo menlate at night. He alleged they yelled racist and homophobic slurs, put arope around his neckand doused him with bleach. Prosecutors alleged that he staged the attack to get media attention and paid $3,500 to two brothers, Abimbola "Bola" and Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo, to help him pull it off. In November 2024,the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the criminal convictions against him, ruling that his rights were violated when a special prosecutor pursued charges after the Cook County State's Attorney previously dropped them. In May, he settled a civil lawsuit with the City of Chicago,agreeing to pay $50,000 to charity. He hasmaintained his innocence. Speaking toPEOPLEabout his sophomore directorial effort,The Lost Holliday, in September 2024, Jussie said Henson is someone who has "been there for me from day one." Michael Tullberg/Getty Jussie not only directed the film, but also stars alongside Redd as a character named Jason Holliday. His now-fiancé was cast as his partner Damien, who was tragically killed. The film also starsVivica A. Foxas Cassandra, Damien's estranged mother, who travels to Los Angeles to plan her son's funeral. "It's such a hopeful film," Jussie told PEOPLE in September 2024. "I think that's what I really get from this film for my own life, is that it's so hopeful. It so, 'Well, what is the next day going to be like? What is tomorrow going to bring me?' It could bring something great, it could bring you something not so great, but it's about what you do with [it]." Read the original article onPeople