Jada Pinkett Smith is opening up about her relationship with Will Smith. In an exclusive preview of her upcoming NBC News prime-time special with Hoda Kotb, scheduled to air on October 13th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, Jada acknowledges that there’s more to her marriage than she has previously disclosed.
According to Pinkett Smith, she and Smith have been living separately and leading “completely separate lives” since 2016, nearly two decades after they tied the knot in 1997. Pinkett Smith provides further insights into their relationship, including its beginnings and current state, in her forthcoming memoir, “Worthy,” which will be released on October 17th.
In the teaser clip, Hoda inquires about the marriage revelation in Pinkett Smith’s memoir, which she describes as one of the “most surprising” aspects of the book. Despite their legal marriage status, Pinkett Smith clarifies to Kotb that she and Smith are no longer in a romantic relationship.
Kotb asks why the couple hadn’t previously shared their relationship status, and Pinkett explains that it was due to not feeling ready and trying to figure out how to present it to the public. When asked about the reasons behind the relationship’s “fracture,” Pinkett Smith mentions a variety of factors, including both of them being stuck in unrealistic expectations.
Pinkett also reveals that, although she has considered a legal divorce, she has been unable to follow through with it, as she made a promise to never provide a reason for divorce and to work through any challenges together.
Their relationship has been the subject of public scrutiny, including Pinkett’s “entanglement” with August Alsina and a subsequent Red Table Talk interview in 2020. Additionally, there was an incident where Smith slapped Oscars host Chris Rock in 2022 after a joke about Pinkett Smith’s hair. Smith published a memoir in 2021 that touched on their marriage.
While they addressed their marriage during the Red Table Talk interview in 2020, it wasn’t known until now that the couple had never reconciled. Smith and Pinkett Smith have two children together, Jaden and Willow Smith, and Smith has an older son from his first marriage.
In her memoir, Pinkett shares her personal journey, from battling depression to rediscovering her authentic self. She also discusses her high school relationship with rapper Tupac Shakur.
