Jada Pinkett Smith recently revealed that she had been separated from actor Will Smith since 2017. The couple first married in 1997. Now, Pinkett Smith reveals that she was “shocked” to hear the actor refer to her as his wife amid his notorious altercation with Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars.
“We haven’t called each other husband and wife in a long time,” Pinkett Smith told host Hoda Kotb in a recent appearance on ” The Today Show.” “I’m like, ‘What is going on right now?’” The comment comes amid the upcoming release of Pinkett Smith’s memoir, “Worthy.” The actress turned host and author first explained the details of her separation from the actor in an interview with People.
At the 2022 Oscars, comedian and actor Chris Rock referred to Pinkett Smith as “GI Jane” due to her buzzed hair cut, unaware of her recent alopecia diagnosis.Will Smith then rose from his seat, slapped Rock, then demanded that he “keep his wife’s name out his f*cking mouth.” The incident polarized viewers and the entertainment industry, and resulted in a 10 year ban on Smith from the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences.
In the clip from the soon-to-be-released “Today Show” interview, the actress additionally elaborated that Rock apologized to her on the spot during the live commercial break. Rock allegedly stated that he “meant no harm.” Pinkett Smith, shocked, claimed that the incident occurred over “some old sh*t.” This refers to Pinkett Smith’s claim that Rock once asked her out on a date after mistakenly being told that her and Smith were getting divorced, when they were not at the time.
Pinkett Smith On The Narratives Surrounding Slapgate
She later continued to combat the sexist social media claims that she was to be held responsible over her estranged husband’s behavior.
“My honest opinion about that is that that narrative is that it had more to do with the false narrative that I helped to create on ‘The Red Table’,” Pinkett Smith told Kotb. This is referring to a 2020 episode of the former Facebook Watch talk show, on which she famously admitted to having an “entanglement” with R&B singer August Alsina.
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“So ‘Poor Will…’,” Kotb recalled of the public reaction.
“‘…Because of the adulterous wife, who forced him to go to the table and sit there,’ you know what I mean?” Pinkett Smith said. “‘And now, look what she’s done. She has the power with an eye roll to make him go up there and slap somebody onstage.’”
The full interview between Pinkett Smith and Kotb is to air on NBC this evening at 8 p.m. EST.
Social Media Reactions
Some continued the sexist narrative surrounding Will Smith’s behavior falling on Jada Pinkett Smith’s hands.
This gon be her next statement pic.twitter.com/BTFuEiZNFu
— Vikas ⚡ (@thunderxstorm07) October 13, 2023
Will Smith just trying to go a day without being embarrassed by his family pic.twitter.com/0NfRqfPyqG
— Vikas ⚡ (@thunderxstorm07) October 13, 2023
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Elsewhere, many felt that the story was there all along. Some refer to the actor’s biography, in which the actor confirms his lifelong journey to work on his allegedly selfish ways. Many feel that Smith’s revelations in the book directly combat the sexist claims made against the actress’ role in their relationship online.
Am I the only one who read Will's autobiography? He literally said he pushed Jada into a life she didn't want. LITERALLY. His first wife called him out on his selfish ways.
— Kimberly Nicole Foster (@KimberlyNFoster) October 13, 2023
Others acknowledged the long history the couple has, and the fact they are still legally married. Longtime fans of the family of actors and musicians wished them well in healing from the 2022 slap, and the media criticism of the family. Some felt that the slap could have been born out of familial loyalty and not jealousy, as some continue to claim.
They’re legally married and he prolly still got love for her as his longtime partner and the mother of his kids. But whatever is happening between them in reality, I’m wishing them healing as they navigate their separation ❤️
— ladidai ???? go to @heyhearusout (@ladidaix) October 13, 2023
Will Smith is yet to comment on the separation that Jada Pinkett Smith confirmed at this time. The latter’s memoir, “Worthy,” drops Oct. 17.
