A weight off my shoulders: Jada Pinkett Smith on revealing separation

Jada Pinkett Smith, in her new memoir "Worthy", openly acknowledges her separation from Will Smith, expressing a sense of liberation. The couple has, in fact, been apart for seven years, a fact she had previously concealed.

Pinkett Smith remarks, "It's a weight off my shoulders, honestly." She attributes the intensification of their connection to the aftermath of the Oscars, stating, "Ever since the Oscars, it's so interesting how such an intense event can bring you closer together, and I would say that after that, we really dove in and dug in and got to this beautiful place we are now."

Photo: Collected

In her book, she delves into their much-discussed marriage, which has been subject to rumors about an open relationship, a swinging lifestyle, and questions regarding their sexual orientations. Despite these speculations, the couple always presented a picture-perfect life.

The daytime Emmy award-winning actress briefly contemplated abandoning her memoir project, which she began in early 2022 with co-author Mim Eichler Rivas. However, the infamous incident at the Oscars, when Will slapped Chris Rock during a joke about her shaved head, made her rethink her decision.

She reflects, "The only time I reconsidered possibly was after the Oscars... because I was like I can't write a book and not talk about this piece." She admits that she initially felt like the scapegoat for Will's actions but eventually gained clarity.

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While the Smiths' marital arrangement may remain perplexing to some, with them technically being married but leading separate lives, divorce is not on the table. Jada Pinkett Smith asserts, "We love each other... we are figuring out right now as we speak, what that looks like for us. But there's no being separated. There's no, 'we're going to get divorced.'" She remains committed to their relationship, as does Will, with a strong desire for deep healing and resolution.

Jada Pinkett Smith, a native of Baltimore, arrived in Hollywood during the early '90s when the industry was embracing young Black actors and creatives. She made her mark on shows like "A Different World," a "The Cosby Show" spinoff that inspired countless young African Americans to pursue higher education, particularly at historically Black colleges and universities. Her career continued to flourish with roles in films like "Menace II Society", "Jason's Lyric", "Set It Off", "The Nutty Professor", and "The Matrix" franchise.