Queer Eye star Karamo Brown seemingly confirmed his relationship with Empire actor Jussie Smollett after the couple’s PDA-filled outing sparked romance rumors.
“I am dating a celebrity,” Brown, 45, teased on the Tuesday, June 30, episode of the “Reality With The King” podcast hosted by Carlos King. “It’s not like we’re hiding it. We go out. We hold hands everywhere.”
The TV personality’s comments appeared to be referring to recent photos obtained by TMZ in which Brown and Smollett, 44, were spotted on a hike in L.A. and running errands around town.
The duo were also photographed on Monday, June 29, getting close near Runyon Canyon, with Smollett brushing his hand on Brown’s chin at one point. (TMZ reported on Tuesday that Brown and Smollett are dating.)
Us Weekly has reached out to reps for Brown and Smollett for comment.
While Brown didn’t name-drop Smollett during his podcast appearance, he confirmed that his partner is The One.
“I’m 100 percent sure. I’ve met my equal,” Brown gushed. “It is powerful when you meet someone who you feel 100 percent safe with, you feel 100 percent secure with. Who you can just trust with your heart because you know they are a great human being.”
He called his relationship “special” and “pretty amazing,” noting they never get into arguments and always enjoy their time spent together.
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The culture guru noted that he and his boyfriend are “deep in love” and have chosen to remain as private as possible out of respect for each other.
“We don’t want comments. We are protecting the love we have,” Brown explained, admitting they aren’t exactly taking things slow.
He revealed, “I do believe this is going to be my husband. I believe this is going to be my forever person. I feel it every single day.”
Brown noted that with his partner, “Everything is just easy. We just get each other. It’s constant laughter. It’s constant love. It’s just constant everything.”
The I Am Okay to Feel author admitted that the main reason they haven’t gone public is because “once the public gets involved, they want to [comment].”
Brown’s reported relationship with Smollett comes one year after the actor announced his engagement to Jabari Redd.
Smollett confirmed in June 2025 that he proposed to Redd on his birthday. “I’ll be spending my birthday with my fiancé,” Smollett via Instagram at the time. “He said YES 💍.”
TMZ reported earlier this month that Smollett and Redd had broken off their engagement sometime in May.
Brown, for his part, was most recently linked to photographer Carlos Medel. The pair dated for nearly four years before they split in February 2025.
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