
5 Reasons We Can’t Help But Swoon Over Justice Smith
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It’s only a matter of time before actor Justice Smith (“not will smiths son,” via his Twitter) becomes a household name. For some, he’s already there.
From working with Baz Luhrmann on the cancelled-too-early The Get Down to Off Broadway plays like Yen (opposite Lucas Hedges) and The Mother (opposite the Isabelle Huppert) to blockbusters like Detective Pikachu and Jurassic Park, the 25-year-old has proven that he has both the versatility and the acting chops to be the next big thing.
Here are 5 reasons we’re currently swooning over actor Justice Smith:
1. His role as Chester in the new HBO drama Genera+ion
If you’re not watching Genera+ion, you’re missing out. Justice Smith stars as Chester, who is “bold, brash, loud [and] provocative,” as described by the actor. While often these types of characters are written as two-dimensional and perhaps a little superficial, Chester has a complexity and what Justice describes as an “inner life,” which makes him so compelling.
2. His coming out story
On June 5, 2020, during the protests against police brutality and the murder of Black folks in this country, Justice Smith posted on his Instagram.
“@nckash and I protested today in New Orleans. We chanted ‘Black Trans Lives Matter’ ‘Black Queer Lives Matter’ ‘All Black Lives Matter’. As a black queer man myself, I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added.
I want to reiterate this sentiment: if your revolution does not include Black Queer voices, it is anti-black. If your revolution is okay with letting black trans people like #TonyMcDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate black cishet men, it is anti-black. You are trying to push yourself through the door of a system designed against you, and then shut the door behind you. It is in our conditioning to get as close to whiteness, straightness, maleness as we can because that’s where the power is. And if we appeal to it, maybe it’ll give us a slice.
But the revolution is not about appeal. It is about demanding what should have been given to us from the beginning. What should have been given to black, queer, and trans individuals from the beginning. Which is the right to exist. To live and prosper in public. Without fear of persecution or threat of violence.”
This statement was followed by sweet photos of Justice with his boyfriend, Nicholas Ashe. He also wrote, “There is so much tragedy on the timeline these last couple of days so I added some photos of me and Nic to show some #blackboyjoy #blacklove #blackqueerlove ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 You’ve been my rock and guiding light through all of this and I love you so much. I know that on the other side of this Is change, though the fight is far from over.”
3. This New York Times profile
A thoughtful, introspective look at the actor, there are some real gems in this piece.
On acting: “Acting is my first love, and if I don’t explore every facet of that, then I don’t think I would be honoring that love.”
On the decision to come out: “If this affects my career, then I don’t want my career. I don’t want to do something where I have to lie about who I am.”
On being queer and getting roles: “It’s the opportunity to be considered for dynamic, interesting parts regardless of the sexuality of the character. Because that’s what straight actors get.”
4. (Let’s be shallow for a moment) His Instagram
I mean, let’s face it. Justice Smith is dreamy.
5. This tweet
yo tf i didn’t come out, y’all came in
— Justice Smith (@standup4justice) June 6, 2020
This is the energy the queer community deserves to have in 2021, and beyond.
What do you think of heartthrob and actor Justice Smith? Are you currently swooning over him, too?
Image at top of actor Justice Smith: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock