Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Reveal Separation Since 2016
Actor Jada Pinkett Smith has divulged in an interview that she has been separated from her husband, Will Smith, since 2016. The revelation comes six years before the infamous “Oscars Slap” incident that made headlines at last year’s Academy Awards.
Pinkett Smith stated in an advance clip from an interview to promote her new memoir, “Worthy,” that the couple had already been leading “totally separate lives” for several years before the controversy with comedian Chris Rock. The incident occurred when Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith during his presentation on stage.
The pair had faced persistent rumors about alleged affairs and the concept of an open marriage, all of which were repeatedly denied. However, in 2020, Pinkett Smith openly discussed an extramarital involvement she had with singer August Alsina during a period of separation from her husband.
According to recent snippets of the interview, the separation has persisted up until the present day, although the couple remains legally married. When asked about why they chose to keep their separation under wraps, Pinkett Smith explained that they were “just not… ready yet” and were still figuring out how to be in partnership.
Pinkett Smith also discussed the Oscars ceremony of 2022 in her memoir, which was published on Wednesday. She recalls Rock making a comment about her closely cropped head, a result of alopecia. Smith reacted by mounting the stage and slapping the comedian across the face before returning to his seat and shouting obscenities at the presenter.
In her memoir, Pinkett Smith admits that she initially thought the slap was part of a skit and was unclear about the reason behind Will’s anger. She also revealed that Rock had asked her out when he believed she and Smith had already separated.
The couple first met on the set of Smith’s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” in 1994. At the time, Smith was still married to his first wife, whom he later divorced. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have two children together, Jaden and Willow.
The news of their separation since 2016 has come as a surprise to many fans and has sparked speculation about the future of their marriage. However, Pinkett Smith’s interviews suggest that there is still a deep love between them, and they are determined to figure out what their partnership looks like moving forward.
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