12-10-2023 (CALIFORNIA) Jada Pinkett Smith has disclosed that she and her husband Will Smith have been leading “completely separate lives” since 2016.
In a preview of her upcoming NBC News primetime special with Hoda Kotb, Pinkett Smith explained that they hadn’t publicly acknowledged their separation earlier because they were not “ready yet.” They were still trying to figure out how to navigate their partnership.
Pinkett Smith, 52, and Smith, 55, have been married since 1997, and she confirmed that they are not legally divorced.
Their relationship has faced significant scrutiny during this period. In July 2020, singer August Alsina revealed that he had a romantic involvement with Pinkett Smith, a revelation she later confirmed on her show “Red Table Talk.” She described it as an “entanglement” and explained that they were going through a challenging time in their marriage at the time.
Their marriage faced further public attention during the 2022 Academy Awards when Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock after he made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s hair loss due to alopecia.
In a recent interview with People, Pinkett Smith revealed her initial reaction to the Oscars incident, believing it was a comedic skit. It was only when Smith began walking back to his seat that she realized it was not staged.
During her interview with Hoda Kotb, Pinkett Smith delved into the complexities that strained their marriage. She admitted that by 2016, they were both exhausted from trying to make things work and were trapped in unrealistic expectations of each other.
Despite the challenges, Pinkett Smith explained that she had made a promise that their marriage would never end in divorce, and she hadn’t been able to break that promise.
In her forthcoming memoir, “Worthy,” set to be released on October 17, Pinkett Smith will share more about her marriage, career, and early life, offering a deeper insight into her personal journey and experiences.
