Jussie Smollett and Karamo Brown visit Obama library in Chicago
TMZ says the couple visited the newly opened Obama Presidential Center, with Brown's foundation ties helping explain the stop.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
The Jussie Smollett Karamo Brown Obama library sighting brought the new couple to Chicago on Thursday, where TMZ says they were given a personal look around the recently opened Obama Presidential Center.
TMZ, citing sources familiar with the visit, reported that Smollett, an actor, and Brown, the former “Queer Eye” star, were seen at the center in the Windy City. The pair reportedly walked through the site with a member of Barack Obama’s team.
According to TMZ, the visit included a look at portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama. The outlet described the stop as a personal tour for Brown, Smollett and their party.
Why did Karamo Brown get a tour of the Obama library?
An Obama Presidential Center spokesperson told TMZ that Brown has had a long relationship with the Obama Foundation. The spokesperson said Brown has been “a great partner” to the foundation for nearly a decade.
The spokesperson also told TMZ that Brown spoke at the foundation’s 2018 summit and has worked closely with the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. The center said it was pleased to host Brown and the people with him.
The Obama Presidential Center is the newly opened Chicago site connected to former President Barack Obama’s legacy. TMZ reported that it opened its doors last month, with a celebrity-heavy opening ceremony marking the launch.
The Chicago setting also puts Smollett back in a city tied to a much-scrutinized chapter in his past. TMZ noted that Smollett was previously accused in Chicago of staging a hate-crime hoax, a controversy that drew national attention years before this library visit.
Are Jussie Smollett and Karamo Brown dating?
TMZ has reported that Smollett and Brown recently began dating, and that the relationship has moved quickly. The outlet previously reported the romance after Brown was seen at one of Smollett’s shows and later confirmed relationship rumors.
The relationship followed Smollett’s split from his fiancé, Jabari Redd, according to TMZ. Brown has also spoken publicly about the new romance, with TMZ previously reporting his comments that Smollett could be “the one.”
For now, the freshest public move is a polished Chicago outing: a walk through the Obama Presidential Center, portraits of the former first couple, and a connection to the Obama Foundation that appears to run through Brown.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.