Will Smith Opens Up About Jada Pinkett Smith’s Claims in New Memoir
In her new memoir titled “Worthy,” Jada Pinkett Smith has made several revelations about her marriage to actor Will Smith. The latest revelation is that the couple has been “separated” for the past seven years. Pinkett Smith shared this detail while expressing her shock that Smith referred to her as his “wife” while defending her against a Chris Rock joke at the 2022 Oscars, resulting in Smith physically confronting Rock on-stage.
Pinkett Smith further discussed their relationship in an interview with People magazine, explaining that although they are not legally divorced, they have been living separately since 2016. Now, Smith has publicly shown his support for Pinkett Smith, sharing an on-the-record statement with The New York Times.
According to the Times, Smith stated that Pinkett Smith’s memoir “kind of woke him up” and made him realize that she is more “resilient, clever, and compassionate” than he had previously understood. He added that after being together for more than half of their lives, emotional blindness can set in, making it easy to overlook hidden nuances and subtle beauties in one’s partner.
Smith and Pinkett Smith tied the knot in 1997, following Smith’s divorce from actor Sheree Zampino. The couple first met when Pinkett Smith auditioned for a role as Smith’s character’s girlfriend on the 1990s series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Speculations about the couple having an open relationship gained traction after Pinkett Smith stated in a 2013 interview with The Huffington Post that “Will is his own man.” She emphasized that she trusts him and that he has the freedom to make his own choices. Pinkett Smith further clarified in a Facebook post that their trust in each other does not imply an open relationship but rather a mature and grown partnership.
In 2020, singer August Alsina claimed that Smith had given him his “blessing” to pursue a relationship with Pinkett Smith. She later addressed the situation, referring to their involvement as an “entanglement” during a period of amicable separation.
Smith and Pinkett Smith are parents to two children, Jaden Smith and Willow Smith. Jaden was born in 1998, and Willow was born in 2000.
Pinkett Smith’s memoir, “Worthy,” is set to be published on October 17.