Jermelle Simon came out & got engaged to his best friend
After publicly coming out on National Coming Out Day, Jermelle Simon says he's "exactly where he needs to be."
Mark
This profile is part of Queerty’s 2025 Out For Good series, recognizing public figures who’ve had the courage to come out and make a difference in the past year, in celebration of National Coming Out Day on October 11.
Name: Jermelle Simon, 36.
Bio: Born into a working-class Black family in South Carolina, Jermelle Simon started his acting career in 2011. His big break arrived a decade later, when he first appeared on the hit Netflix series, The Upshaws.
In it, Simon plays Bernard Upshaw Jr., a queer Black man who’s navigating the complexities of his identifies. The role is a prime example of art imitating life.
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Simon’s portrayal of Bernard has resonated with fans across the world.
“I do feel like it’s been a wave of love and pride in my DMs for sure,” Simon said in a previous interview. “People just thanking me for representation. Some people haven’t seen a gay character played in this way. So a lot of people thought it was very refreshing. It’s been a wave of love and pride.”
It helps that Simon is embarking on his own journey as an out gay man, just like Bernard, who came out on the show in 2023.
Coming Out: Last October, Simon posted an emotional video on National Coming Out Day. Taking to Instagram, he proudly declared who he is.
His announcement serves as a testament to the strength of living one’s truth.
“Happy National Coming Out day to everyone,” Simon opened his video. “To the ones who feel like now is the time, to the ones who feel like maybe later, to the ones who may never come out.”
In coming out, Simon permits other Black men, both young and old, to do the same.
“I have decided that I am enough, and I want to thank everyone who has helped me to get to that place where I feel seen, where I feel like I belong, where I feel loved,” he shared. “Thank you for providing a space where I can come on the internet and say, ‘I am a Black gay man.’”
Simon says he woke up that morning with heaviness in his heart, following a conversation with his now-fiancée, content creator Obio Jones. The pair talked about the importance of taking risks.
“So much of my mind had been playing this character even outside of the show, like, trying to be this mysterious person like, or hiding behind my mystique,” Simon said.
He continued, “It was weighing on my mental [health]. I think there’s so many things to navigate in life, and I think sexuality, especially when you’re hiding it, can take up your entire life. I have a career, I’m a father, I’m in a relationship. I have so many responsibilities and so many things to do. I needed to free up my mind.”
Finding his place: With free hearts and minds, Simon and Jones got engaged this past May. When Jones popped the question, Simon says he was surprised!
“[It was] a complete surprise, actually,” Simon told People. “I say that because normally, I would have some sort of idea about a thing. [Obio] involved the children, and everyone that was important to me, and no one said a thing. I think it made it that much more special to me because not only was I ready, but I was genuinely surprised, which almost never happens.”
A gifted storyteller, Simon is now sharing his most inspirational tale: his love story.
He’s described how Jones gathered his three kids for the proposal. (We’re not crying. You are!)
“I think my emotions came in waves,” Simon said. “We went downstairs and we had a little apple cider toast and cheers. And I had to leave and go to the other room to have another moment because there were just so many things to take in. I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy. I was just filled with certainty. Like, oh, this is exactly where I’m supposed to be in my life.”
Simon and Jones aren’t just lovers. They are best friends.
“Not to sound too cheesy, but…wow, I actually get to marry my best friend,” Simon added.
Sounds pretty sweet to us.
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