Jada Pinkett Smith Confirms Seven-Year Separation From Will Smith [Video]

In a recent interview with NBC News, actress and talk show host Jada Pinkett Smith disclosed that she and actor Will Smith have been separated, though not legally divorced, for approximately seven years.

Pinkett Smith’s revelations are part of the media tour promoting her new memoir, ‘Worthy’, set to be released on October 17.

During the interview with anchor Hoda Kotb, Pinkett Smith shared that in 2016, she and Will Smith decided to lead separate lives.

Jada Pinkett and Will Smith

The actress cited various reasons for the fracture in their relationship, stating, “Why it fractured — that’s a lot of things. I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying.”

She explained that both of them were trapped in the fantasy of who they believed the other person should be.

The couple, who married in 1997, is one of the longest and most well-known celebrity partnerships in the entertainment industry.

They have two children, Jaden Smith and Willow Smith, both of whom are also entertainers.

The status of their nearly 26-year marriage has been a subject of speculation for years, but they have been open about their struggles.

In 2020, they shared private details about their relationship in an episode of Pinkett Smith’s talk show, ‘Red Table Talk’.

During that episode, Pinkett Smith revealed that they had separated at one point, and she had an ‘entanglement’ with singer August Alsina.

In a discussion with Will Smith, Pinkett Smith said, “You and I were going through a very difficult time.” Will Smith responded, stating he had felt they could be over.

Although the couple had reaffirmed their commitment to each other over the years, it seems their separation was more permanent than initially portrayed.

Pinkett Smith admitted she didn’t reveal the separation earlier because they weren’t ‘ready yet’ to discuss the evolution of their partnership and how to present it to the public.

The couple’s relationship received significant attention during the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage after a joke about Pinkett Smith’s hairstyle.

Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars

This moment, known as ‘The Slap’, led to Smith being banned from the Oscars for ten years.

While separated since 2016, Jada Pinkett Smith made it clear that she has not broken her promise to never give a reason for divorce, emphasising her commitment to working through their issues.

“I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce. We will work through whatever. I just haven’t been able to break that promise.”

The full interview with Jada Pinkett Smith is set to air in a prime-time special on Friday.

"It was not a divorce on paper but it was a divorce"

Jada Pinkett confirms separation from Will Smith from 2016. pic.twitter.com/JQpUEr3YXg

— ? @????????????? (@OneJoblessBoy) October 11, 2023

"We live separately"

- Jada Pinkett Smith pic.twitter.com/YJUH7ohMJ1

— ? @????????????? (@OneJoblessBoy) October 11, 2023