Jada Pinkett Smith Discloses Seven-Year Separation from Will Smith
By Extra-Ordinary Women
Jada Pinkett Smith has decided to share a significant update about the state of her marriage with Will Smith, revealing in recent interviews that they have been living apart since 2016. The revelation has taken fans by surprise, as the couple had managed to keep this secret for quite some time.
In her candid discussions, the star of “Girls Trip” disclosed that she and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum, Will Smith, have been separated for a staggering seven years. This revelation came to light as Jada confirmed the separation in an interview with Today. The actress cited their reluctance to go public about their separation as they were still trying to navigate their partnership and figure out how to present it to the world.
Jada elaborated on what led to their separation, attributing it to a multitude of factors. She expressed that by the time 2016 arrived, they were both worn out from the effort they had put into their relationship. They had become trapped in their respective fantasies about what they expected the other person to be.
Although divorce was considered, Jada ultimately chose not to go through with it. She made a commitment never to provide a reason for divorce, pledging to work through any challenges they faced. She emphasized her determination to uphold this promise.
Jada Pinkett Smith also shed light on the ongoing status of their relationship, stating that they are still in the process of figuring things out. She shared this sentiment in an interview with People, reaffirming their deep love for each other and their determination to determine what their future holds.
It is worth noting that Jada and Will had already been separated for six years when the infamous incident occurred at the 2022 Oscars. Will Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in “King Richard” that night and made headlines for slapping comedian Chris Rock onstage after a joke about Jada’s shaved head. Jada, who has alopecia, initially thought it was a skit. She expressed her support for her husband’s journey to self-discovery.
Following the incident, Will resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and was banned from its events for a decade. He also publicly apologized to Chris Rock, making it clear that Jada had no involvement in his actions.
Chris Rock addressed the slap in his 2023 Netflix comedy special, “Selective Outrage,” stating that nobody was targeting Jada. Jada herself remained relatively quiet about the incident but expressed her hope for the two men to heal and reconcile.
Jada and Will’s journey began when they tied the knot in 1997 after Will’s divorce from Sheree Zampino, with whom he shares a 30-year-old son, Trey Smith. Their relationship has seen its share of ups and downs over the years, including Jada’s admission of an “entanglement” with August Alsina in a 2020 episode of “Red Table Talk.”
In addition to her interviews with Today and People, Jada will delve deeper into her story in her upcoming book, “Worthy,” set to debut on October 17th. The book promises to explore unexpected love stories, including her complicated marriage with Will Smith and her journey to self-acceptance.
