How can a relationship be both ideal and unsuitable while being a point of contention for decades? This sums up the silver jubilee marriage between Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Let’s travel back to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when Will Smith debuted as a TV actor and ruled the era. But very few were aware that it was then when Smith met his future wife.
A 19-year-old Jada auditioned for the role of Will Smith’s girlfriend in the show in 1994. However, according to the producers, she couldn’t bag the role since she was too short. But she got something way more precious from that opportunity.
Smith and Pinkett began dating shortly after Smith’s divorce from his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino, to whom he was married for three years and has a son, Trey Smith.
Smith proposed to Pinkett in 1997 after two years of dating. Within a year, the couple welcomed their first son, Jaden Smith, followed by a daughter, Willow Smith, two years later.
The picture-perfect family was always in the limelight, considering young Jaden acted with his father in the critically acclaimed hit, “Pursuit Of Happyness.” Jada also acted in several movies over the years, the most notable being the blockbuster Girls’ Trip in 2017, and is also an Emmy winner.
Meanwhile, Willow pursued a music career, as Will and Jada supported her choices all along. Overall, people perceived their relationship as firmly rooted in loyalty, trust, mutual respect, and family values.
However, a few cracks have been uncovered over the years, revealing an emotionally “fractured” Will Smith, as described by Jada Smith in the recent heart-to-heart.
In a recent interview with People on October 11, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed that the couple have been separated for the past seven years, since 2016. This revelation has put the internet into a frenzy, with speculations rising that Will Smith must have been dating someone else all this while. However, there is no confirmation that Will Smith is currently dating someone, as he focuses on reviving his career after the Oscars slap controversy.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Relationship Timeline and Controversies
The couple were attached at the hip at every public appearance. The tabloid-favorite couple projected an ideal marriage in the media, which also worked for their individual PR. Smith was looked up to as a family man, and Jada was considered an equal partner who stood beside her man.
Although, a few sparks of rumors were enough to smoke up a story.
SCANDAL #1: OPEN MARRIAGE
Rumors started spinning with insider sources that Jada and Will were in an “open marriage.” This meant the couple allowed each other infinite hall passes as long as they stayed together. However, Jada slammed these rumors, claiming the couple practiced a “relaxed dynamic.”
She responded to the open marriage speculations, stating–
“I’ve always told Will: ‘You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be OK,'”
“At the end of the day, Will is his own man.”
She even posted on Facebook, writing– “Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship…this means we have a GROWN one.”
During this time, speculation arose that Will Smith was dating his co-star Margot Robbie when they filmed “Focus” in 2015.
SCANDAL #2: DIVORCE RUMORS
In 2015, tabloids had a field day with the rumor that Smith and Pinkett filed for divorce. However, Smith set the record straight with one statement–
“Under normal circumstances, I don’t usually respond to foolishness (Because it’s contagious). But, so many people have extended me their ‘deepest condolences’ that I figured – ‘What the hell… I can be foolish, too!'” he penned on social media. “So, in the interest of redundant, repetitious, over & over-again-ness… Jada and I are… NOT GETTING A DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
SCANDAL #3: ENTAGLEMENT
Jada Pinkett Smith quickly became a household name as she hosted a family-driven show, Red Table Talk, along with her mother and daughter. The three generations of women discussed family, relationships, sex, marriage, and kids and interviewed an array of guests. The show’s concept follows the three women putting forth their perspectives while advising the guests on their issues.
While most thought the show was insightful, some saw it as pretentious, know-it-all, and virtue signaling. Regardless of the opinions, the show was a hit and was gardening considerable engagement.
That was until Jada’s clean image was about to have a stain. August Alsina, 30, singer, revealed that he had an affair with 52-year-old Jada. Alsina, who is close friends with Jaden, claimed it started when he entered the music industry.
This sparked nationwide intrigue as people pointed out the irony that Jada, who projected herself as the relationship guru on her show, is involved in such a scandal. The internet was brimming with speculations, guestimations, and whatnot. So before it boiled further, Jada and Will sat down on the same red table, but this time it was just them two.
And there emerged the most trending meme of the decade as Jada claimed that it was not an affair but rather an “entanglement.”
The most common comment included Will Smith being unable to handle his woman and that he was a simp.
SCANDAL #4: DEFENDING JADA AND KILLING HIS CAREER ON THE SAME NIGHT
Will Smith’s night at the Oscars can be summed in an oxymoron– honoring and harrowing.
When host Chris Rock joked about Jada’s alopecia and baldness, Will Smith stood up, walked to the stage, and slapped the Rock in the face while millions watched the scandal unfold.
And a few moments later, Smith again approached the stage to accept his first ever Oscar as Best Actor for his role in “King Richard.”
But the industry couldn’t let go of Smith’s disrespectful behavior and banned him from the coveted award show for a few years.
This again led to a discourse of whether Smith was right to stand up for his wife or did he take it too far by resorting to violence.
People also blamed Jada for this debacle that cost Smith his career at such a peak. But now, things seem way more transparent with the recent interview…
SCANDAL #5: JADA EXPOSES THE TRUTH OF THEIR MARRIAGE
In a recent candid sit-down with People magazine, Jada revealed that she has been separated from Smith since 2016. Which means they were not together during the infamous slap incident. This also means that the couple was putting up a charade during the Red Table Talk show.
This further means that we are clowns to keep putting our noses in fake businesses and wasting our time.
Who Is Will Smith Dating Right Now in 2023?
After Jada revealed the truth about their tumultuous marriage, netizens speculated that Smith must have had a side girlfriend during these years. However, there is no evidence that Smith is currently dating someone.
Maybe now, after Jada freed him from the fake marriage, we could find some scoop on whom he is dating. As of now, Smith is trying to get back into the industry, making exclusive appearances here and there.
What are your thoughts on the recent Jada Pinkett interview? Do you think she should not have exposed the private details like this?
Do you believe Smith has a girlfriend? If so, mention your guess in the comments section below.
