Jada Pinkett Smith recently shared that she and her husband, Will Smith, have been leading largely separate lives since 2016, despite still being legally married. The couple, who tied the knot in 1997, chose to keep their separation private for years as they grappled with the complexities of their evolving relationship.
Jada Pinkett Smith made this revelation in a clip from her NBC News primetime special with Hoda Kotb. She explained that they hadn’t previously gone public with their separation because they were still navigating how to define their partnership in the public eye.
“We were still trying to figure out between the two of us, how to be in partnership,” she explained. “How do we present that to people? We hadn’t figured that out.”
This revelation comes as part of her new memoir, “Worthy,” in which she delves into the intricacies of her relationship with Will Smith. While they have not officially divorced and do not plan to take that legal step, their romantic relationship has essentially dissolved.
By 2016, Pinkett Smith stated that they were both “exhausted with trying.” She noted that they were clinging to their idealized perceptions of each other and couldn’t find a way to bridge the divide.
Pinkett Smith contemplated getting a legal divorce but expressed her unwavering commitment to her marriage, vowing never to have a reason for divorce. Despite living separately, she maintained her determination to work through their challenges.
In her interview with People magazine, Pinkett Smith expanded on her relationship with Smith, emphasizing that they are “still figuring it out” amidst their separation.
“We’ve been doing some really heavy-duty work together,” she stated. “We just have deep love for each other, and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.”
Their relationship made headlines during a 2020 Red Table Talk discussion when Pinkett Smith revealed her “entanglement” with singer August Alsina during a challenging period in her marriage to Smith.
Pinkett Smith initially denied Alsina’s claims but later clarified that she was separated from Will Smith at the time of their “entanglement,” emphasizing that they had moved on from their marriage before her relationship with Alsina began.
Over the years, Will and Jada’s marriage has often made headlines, with rumors of infidelity and speculation about an open relationship. Their relationship faced again one of its most dramatic moment in March 2022 when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars after he made a joke about Jada’s shaved head, a result of her battle with alopecia.
Reflecting on the Oscar incident in a recent People cover story, Jada Pinkett Smith recalled her initial disbelief, thinking it was a scripted skit. It was only when Will returned to his seat that she realized it was a real moment. Her immediate concern was for his well-being, asking him, “Are you okay?”
One year later, Chris Rock addressed the infamous slap in his first stand-up special since the incident, titled “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.” Not only did he confront the slap but also joked about Jada’s relationship with August Alsina during her marriage to Will. In his Netflix special, Rock mentioned that he “didn’t have any entanglements,” referencing Jada’s description of her relationship with Alsina in 2020.
Rock candidly remarked, “His wife was f***ing her son’s friend.” He explained that he wouldn’t usually delve into such matters but alluded to the public nature of their situation. He further noted that Jada’s actions had hurt Will more than himself.
In her upcoming memoir, “Worthy,” Pinkett Smith shares more information about her marriage, professional life, and early years. The book debuts on October 17.