Everything We Know About Will And Jada Smith’s Marriage And Family
Will and Jada Smith’s family has been in the news lately, but for the wrong reasons. The Oscars scandal. A family as famous as this one can’t keep their secrets hidden for long. If the recent revelations during the 2022 Oscars are anything to go by, there are plenty of secrets hidden in this family’s closet. This couple has always seemed happy and content, with their relationship spanning close to two decades. With social media and Jada Pinkett’s new show on Facebook, Red Table Talk, there are a lot of bombshells that have come to light about this famous couple and their life together. Here are some shocking and interesting facts about Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s unconventional family.
1. Will Smith was always jealous of Jada and Tupac’s relationship.
It’s no secret that Tupac Shakur and Jada Pinkett had a close relationship since they were kids. Aside from going to a performing arts school together and even appearing on the show A Different World, these two were very close friends until Tupac’s passing in 1996.
In the eyes of many people, including Will Smith, their relationship was too close for comfort. During an interview with The Breakfast Club, Will Smith admitted that he was jealous of Jada’s relationship with Tupac. Will Smith believed that Jada and Tupac would eventually have a more intimate relationship after their years of friendship. Will Smith feels like the only reason that didn’t happen was because he was dating her at that time.
2. Jaden wanted to be emancipated at the age of 15.
From social media posts to tabloid photos, the Smith family has always seemed to have a close-knit relationship. They act, go to events and travel the world together, so it’s only typical to assume they are all good. But when Jaden Smith was just 15 years old, he filed for emancipation from his parents. Emancipation would give Jaden the right to cater to his own needs and live separate from his parents.
Will says that the tension was due to the failure of their movie After Earth. The film was released in 2013 with Will Smith and his son Jaden in the lead roles. Sadly, the movie was a failure with critiques, and Jaden got most of the blame for its bad box office performance. Lucky for the whole family, Jaden changed his mind before finalizing the paperwork.
3. The Smith couple has admitted to having an open marriage
If you know anything about Hollywood, you know all the rumors always have some aspect of truth. The gossip has always been that the Smith couple is in an open marriage. Jada, however, doesn’t view their union as an open marriage; instead, she calls it a ‘grown relationship.’
She said that she and Will Smith could do whatever they wanted because they trusted each other. During an interview with GQ In 2021, Smith confirmed that Jada never wanted to have a conventional marriage. He says that they give each other freedom so that the union doesn’t feel like a prison.
4. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett do not consider themselves a married couple.
You’re probably wondering how this could be true when Will Smith and Jada married in 1997. While the marriage ceremony was legally binding, the couple stated that they do not consider themselves a traditional married couple. They were more than that.
During an interview with TIDAL’S Rap Radar, Will Smith confirmed that they refer to themselves as life partners. They realize that they will be together for the rest of their life, and there will be no deal-breakers to come between them. During the same interview, Will Smith said that there was nothing she could do to break the relationship.
5. Will Smith witnessed domestic abuse as a child.
It’s no secret that Will Smith has had a very challenging childhood. While his relationship with his father may have seemed okay, it wasn’t always good while growing up. In his memoir Will, Smith details how he had to endure watching his father be violent towards his mother. Even though his parents divorced in 2000, Will was still traumatized by what he saw.
The trauma he experienced as a child was still a considerable part of his present life. When Will Smith‘s father passed away in 2016, he had to confront many feelings about his childhood. While caring for him during his illness, he even considered ending his father‘s life to avenge his mother. In his memoir, Will Smith says that he still feels like a coward for not standing up for his mother as his siblings did.
6. Jada had an entanglement with another man during her marriage.
In 2020 the Internet was abuzz with rumors about rapper August Alsina’s relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith. While most people didn’t believe it, August confirmed the relationship and even said Will granted him permission to date his wife. In a surprise twist of events, Jada confirmed the claims in Red Table Talk episode.
The result of the episode was Will Smith becoming a sad meme because of how defeated he appeared during the show. They both spilled the details of their separation and what led Jada into the entanglement. The couple claimed that at the time of the affair. Jada also denied the claim that Will Smith gave August permission to have an affair.
7. Jada Pinkett is rumored to be part of the church of Scientology.
Scientology seems popular in Hollywood, with many actors and artists openly becoming members. When actress Leah Remini left the church of Scientology in 2013, she wrote a tell-all book where she revealed that among the church’s famous members was the actress Jada Pinkett Smith.
Leah claimed that Jada was introduced to the church by Tom Cruise and that she’s been a member for a very long time. With these claims, Jada was quickly being bombarded by journalists about links to the church of Scientology. She denied the allegations and said she had studied different religions, but she’s not a Scientologist.
8. Jaden and Jada claim their use of psychedelics is due to health reasons.
Most of the Smith family members have appeared on Red Table Talk, but Jaden has only made an appearance a handful of times. When he did decide to come on the show, he wanted to talk about a subject that affected him -the use of psychedelics. One thing that Jaden and Jada have in common is that they both use psychedelics for health purposes.
Jada confirmed that it might not be a successful treatment for everyone, but it helped her and her son combat depression. She believes that plant medicine can help solve problems and lead to a deeper understanding of oneself. While Jaden started using psychedelics like plant mushrooms out of curiosity, he said it helped him better understand himself and his ego.
9. Will Smith once fell in love with his costar Stockard Channing.
Method acting is only a practice for a few actors because of its dangers to an actor’s personal life and reality. Will Smith was one of those actors who didn’t want to try method acting until the movie Six Degree of Separation. He tried method acting and fell in love with his co-star, The beautiful Stockard Channing.
Falling in love is beautiful. The problem is that Will Smith was married when filming the movie with Stockard. He had just welcomed his son Trey with his first wife, Sheree Zampino. He admitted that he had developed feelings, and even after they wrapped filming, he was desperately yearning to see and speak to her.
10. Will Smith and Jada built a Scientology school for children.
The last thing you want to do if you are facing rumors of being a part of the church of Scientology is to build a Scientology school. But in 2008, Will and Jada started their school known as the New Village Leadership Academy. The school was located in Calabasas and got even more people talking because of their unique teaching methods.
One, in particular, was the ‘study technology’ teaching method. This study technology was developed by Ron Hubbard, the founding member of Scientology. A lot more reasons made people question the motives of the school, like the fact that the director of learning was a proud member of the Church of Scientology. Other staff members were also members of the church. While they still denied the Scientology claims, the school closed down after five years of operation.
11. Willow Smith is Polyamorous
The talented musician Willow Smith has made many commendable strides in her personal life and professional career. Red Table Talk co-host has used her platform to share her beliefs and discoveries. During one of the episodes, she revealed that she was polyamorous and explained the concept and how it had changed her as a person.
When her grandmother looked on in disbelief, Willow stated that polyamory was about having the freedom to create a relationship for oneself. Willow says that it’s better to build a relationship style that works for you so that you don’t go into monogamy because it’s what society thinks you should do.
12. Will Smith used Psychedelics in Peru to help with his marriage.
With the recent events, it is clear that Will and Jada have had a difficult marriage. Over the years, they’ve been open about their struggles and how they cope with their marital issues, including the use of psychedelics. During an interview with Oprah, Will Smith admitted to taking a two-week retreat to Peru to help discover what could be wrong with his marriage to Jada.
Will said that he took psychedelics over 12 times during this Peru trip, and it opened his mind to the actual problems in his marriage to Jada. He says he realized that it was wishful thinking that they could make each other happy. So they agreed that they would each make themselves happy instead of depending on each other to fulfill that need.
13. Will and Jada are Proud of their Parenting Styles
Jaden and Willow Smith have been acting and singing professionally from a young age. Will and Jada Smith have gotten into trouble with their fans and the public about their unorthodox parenting styles. The Smiths have always wanted to empower their children and make them accountable for their actions.
Will Smith confirmed that they don’t punish their kids as most parents do. He says that he gives his children complete control of their lives from an early age. Will said that his kids could do anything, but they must explain why specific actions are suitable for their lives and future. With the Smith kids’ drama over the years, we are sure they’ve had this talk several times.
14. The Harem of Girlfriends Will Smith planned for during his marriage.
To help their marriage, Will and Jada have admitted to going above and beyond to maintain to find solutions. At one point, Will Smith opted to start seeing an intimacy coach. During one of their sessions, Will Smith was asked what he would choose if he could do anything in the world.
He wanted a harem of girlfriends. While most married men wouldn’t dare say this, Will Smith wanted these girlfriends to include actors like Halle Berry and dancer Misty Copeland. He even went to the extent of researching the women and getting their contacts. Before he could go through with it, he realized that he was going through a midlife crisis and would be miserable if it happened.
15. Jada didn’t want to marry Will Smith on their wedding day.
While many people look at Jada and Will Smith as Hollywood royalty, there was trouble in paradise before this couple tied the knot in a private wedding ceremony. Even though the couple had a beautiful New Year’s Eve wedding in 1997, Jada confessed that she was almost a runaway bride.
As surprising as it sounds, Jada feels she was forced into the marriage because she was three months pregnant with her first child. Jada says she was crying down the aisle because she didn’t want a wedding. Her mother convinced her to go ahead with it, and Will Smith had just bought them a 256-acre piece of land to live on.
16. Jaden doesn’t support the school system.
Jaden Smith has become one of Hollywood’s most confident and outspoken celebrities today. Aside from helping the homeless with food through his, I Love You food trucks, some of his comments have gotten him into controversy over the years. One of such occasions was when he wrote a series of tweets condemning the school system.
Jaden took to Twitter in September 2013, saying that school is there to brainwash the youth. He said that if newborn babies could speak, they would be the most intelligent beings on earth, and if more people dropped out, this society would be more intelligent. Many people, including educators, were quick to question his opinions, but that’s how he felt.
17. Will Smith once married the wrong woman.
Before Will Smith married Jada, he was married to Sheree Zampino. They tied the knot in 1992, and we’re blessed with their son – Trey. Although the marriage seemed like it was going well, It only lasted for three years before they called it quits because she felt like a placeholder wife in Will Smith’s perfect life.
Although they successfully co-parent these days, Will Smith admitted that he resented her towards the end of the marriage because he knew he was married to the wrong woman. In an interview with Oprah, Will Smith admitted that she filed for divorce because she didn’t feel seen by Will Smith in their marriage.
18. Jada had a mid-life crisis and realized her marriage wasn’t working.
During a confession on the Red Table Talk, Jada revealed that she had a midlife crisis when she was turning 40. At the time, Jada was going through depression, and she was not in the best mood for a party. On the other hand, Will had planned an enormous event with her friends and family in New Mexico to celebrate her turning 40.
The party didn’t sit well with Jada, and she says that the party was a ridiculous display of Will Smith’s ego, which deeply hurt him. We thought this was when they would realize that the marriage wasn’t working, and they were both miserable.
19. The couple went to Therapy together
Will and Jada have been open about the marital problems and what they do to make it work. Luckily for the couple, they were able to come face to face with some of their issues in couples counseling. Although Will Smith says it was a challenging experience to go to therapy with his wife, he feels it was worth every minute.
According to Will Smith, going to counseling allows couples to tell their truth and unpack any baggage they carry. He admits that moving on from these truths is challenging, but the work that needs to be done will only strengthen the union. Despite their struggles, they make a conscious effort to make their marriage work.
20. Jada had a difficult childhood.
Jada Pinkett has had a problematic relationship with her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Jones. Adrienne got married young and had her first child when she was only 17. Jada realized her mother was addicted to heroin when she was in her teens. Now things are different. Banfield has been sober since the 90s, but she says the scars remain until this day.
Adrienne also faced domestic abuse in her relationships. She recalls having to run away from her home to escape abuse from Jada’s father, Robsol Pinkett Jr. They now have a beautiful relationship. Banfield has also traveled with Jada to help her take care of the children. Jada says that she wouldn’t have been able to act in the Matrix without her mum.
21. Jada loves watching Will’s sensitive scenes.
The Smith family supports each other in their careers. Whether it’s going to movie premiers together, shooting the Karate Kid in China, or watching one of Willow’s musical performances, the Smiths are always there for each other. While it can be uncomfortable being married to an actor, Jada isn’t one to shy away from supporting her husband.
Jada says that she loves watching Will Smith act, especially the sensitive scenes. Some partner status is one of the challenges of dating a celebrity in Hollywood, but Jada doesn’t mind. Although she said she finds it attractive watching her husband sharing the scenes with other women, she didn’t go into details.
22. The Oscar boycott in 2016
In 2016, the #oscarssowhite hashtag changed the Oscars as we knew it. The previous year the academy gave all 20 acting nominations to white actors snubbing many black actors who many thought should win. The uproar came hot on the heels of the #blacklivesmatter movement, so it didn’t sit well with many people. Many people decided to boycott the Oscars.
They included actors, directors, and other celebrities like the Smith family. Many people found Will Smith’s decision to boycott the Oscars in 2016 self-serving, but Jada was utterly supportive of her husband. She urged other actors to do the same. Rumors had it that they decided to boycott the event because Will was snubbed for his role in the Concussion movie.
23. One of the Wealthiest Celebrity families in the World.
While Hollywood is full of rich and famous families, the Smiths are unique. With a close to $400 million collective net worth, this family is successful in their respective careers. Will Smith has a list of blockbuster movies, music, documentaries, and series that earned him a personal net worth of $350 million.
His wife, Jada, is now a TV host with a net worth of $20 million. Now that Will Smith’s kids are all grown up, they make their own money. Trey Smith has an estimated net worth of $2 million, Willow has a net worth of $6 million, and Jaden Smith’s net worth is $8 million.
24. Jada insisted her relationship with Tupac was platonic.
It’s no secret that Jada and Tupac had a very close relationship. Having attended The Baltimore School of Arts together, the two remained close for a long time. In an interview with The Breakfast Club, Will Smith admitted that he was jealous of their close friendship.
He says it’s because Jada and Tupac never had a sexual relationship. Jada, however, has been honest about their friendship and says they were nothing but friends. Over the years, Jada has revealed many of the precious moments she shared with the late rapper. She even shared one of the poems Tupac wrote to her, making fans wonder whether they were together.
25. They treat their marriage as a business plan.
To explain the nature of their union, Will and Jada said that they treat their marriage like a business plan. With a marriage spanning over two decades, there is a lot this famous couple has learned about making this union work. One of them is to treat it like a business plan and not only a relationship.
The couple says that this is why they better understand where their relationship is going. Will Smith told Oprah in a 2010 interview that you can easily get lost in the murk of the journey if you don’t know what you want to accomplish. He says there must be a vision and a reason why a couple is together.
26. Divorce is not on the table for the Smiths.
One thing that the Smiths agree on is that divorce is not for them. They may disagree on several things and get into arguments, but that should never be and isn’t an option for them. During an interview on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Will Smith said that divorce wasn’t in the cards for him and Jada.
Jada also feels that there are other alternatives to divorce. She says that just because there has been an affair doesn’t mean you should get a divorce. Jada thinks that there are many relationship betrayals, but infidelity shouldn’t be the reason to break up a marriage.
27. Jada expected to be a single mum.
In a 2016 interview at the VH1 Dear Mama event, Jada Pinkett revealed that she hadn’t planned on being married and expected to become a single mom. She says that this was because she was raised in a single-parent family. Although this was her reasoning growing up, it all changed when she met Will Smith.
When separation rumors started going around in early 2012, Jada Pinkett declared that she was in a loving relationship with her husband. She says that she didn’t have to raise kids on her own. She says that she understands how difficult it can be to raise a child alone because she went through it with her mother.
28. Their home symbolizes their love for each other.
Will Smith and his family moved into their beautiful Calabasas home in 2004. Architect Stephen Samuelson designed the 25,000 square-foot home in Southland Carolina with a Mediterranean style theme inspired by Persian, Moroccan, Spanish, and Southwest American cultures. Here is where the Smith family raised their children.
The house has nine bedrooms with handcrafted furniture, a basketball court, a tennis court, and three golf holes. The home has a circular floor plan to symbolize Will and Jada’s infinite love for each other. This nine-bedroom mansion is also where Willow recorded her first smash hit, Whip My Hair.
29. Jada has been fascinated by two women in her lifetime
Jada has opened up about many topics on her show, the Red Table Talk, including some that might be considered taboo. During one of their April 2021 episodes, while talking to Willow, Jada admitted that she’s found herself attracted to different women in her 20s.
Jada said she was physically attracted to the women and the idea of being with them. Willow Smith, who was 21 in 2021, also admitted to having strong feelings for women. However, Willow added that she has never been in love with a woman yet.
30. The Couple was accused of pushing their kids too hard.
It’s already hard being a celebrity in Hollywood, but being the child of A-list celebs like Will and Jada Smith can be even more challenging. Concerns started to arise when their 12-year-old son started filming Karate Kid in 2010. 2010 is also the same time Willow went on tour after realizing her first hit single.
Willow released the smash hit Whip My Hair a few days after her 10th birthday. People thought they were putting a lot of pressure on their children at such a young age. With the many demands when Willow was on tour, Will realized that she wasn’t happy. She shaved her head in protest, which led to Will Smith canceling the remaining part of the tour.
31. They met when she auditioned for a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air role.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air played a massive role in Will Smith‘s past and future. Aside from being one of his memorable roles, this sitcom show is also where he met Jada Pinkett. Jada auditioned for the role of Lisa Wilkes, who was the love interest of Will Smith’s character. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the part because she was too short.
Nia Long got the role in the series, and Will and Jada started dating in 1995. Will recalled that Jada didn’t like his sense of humor at first, but she noted he had matured after they got to know each other. It was the beginning of their love story.
32. What does the Smith family spend their millions on?
The Smiths are one of the wealthiest families in Hollywood; it’s no surprise that they have a luxurious lifestyle and daily needs to maintain. With a combined net worth of close to $400 million, the family spends the money on extravagant trips, cars, vacations, and some of it goes to charity.
Will and Jada founded the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation to benefit people from minority communities and help with educational projects for the underprivileged children in their society. They started the charity lifestyle early and educated their kids on the importance of giving back to the less fortunate.
33. Dating should have waited until after Will’s divorce.
The end of any marriage takes a toll on the couple, affecting the children and future relationships. When Will was going through his first divorce, there were rumors he was already in a new relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith. This was in 1995 when Zampino was ready to leave their union.
Jada confessed during an episode of the Red Table Talk that she wished she had waited until Will had finalized his divorce. Being raised in a single-parent family, Jada didn’t think she knew or understood marriage at the time. She said it would have been better to wait until the divorce was over to start her relationship with Will Smith.
34. Willow once walked in on her parents together.
It’s clear that there is no topic off-limits in the Smith family. During an episode of the Red Table Talk, Willow shared about her first encounter with sex, and Jada was shocked. Willow said her introduction to the subject was when she walked in on Jada and Will being intimate.
Shocked by the revelation, Jada wanted to know more and asked Willow what she saw. Willow Smith said she was going downstairs to get some juice when she saw her parents. She immediately ran away, and lucky for her, the room was dark. The conversation was revealing for all the women in the Smith family, but at least Willow got that off her chest.
35 . The Pandemic created a new dynamic within the marriage.
The Covid pandemic was tough on many relationships, including marriages and families. Unfortunately, the pandemic didn’t spare the Smith family, and it put a strain on Will and Jada’s marriage. During an episode on the Red Table Talk, Jada shared that the pandemic made her realize she doesn’t know her husband.
She says after this realization, the couple had to learn to become friends first. Jada elaborated that they both had many ideas of what an intimate relationship should look like. She clarified that they are now taking the time to love themselves first and build a friendship the right way.
36. Jada has no issue with Will Smith finding other women attractive.
Yes, Jada has no problem with her husband finding other women attractive. While this can be a big issue for any married couple, Jada seems to be secure in the union with Will Smith and doesn’t mind. She said that Will being attracted to other women doesn’t mean he doesn’t love her.
Jada says she trusts him and has his back no matter what. She says that as long as Will can look at himself in the mirror at the end of the day and be OK, that’s good for her. During an interview, Jada revealed that she also understands women’s attraction to married men—the security.
37. August Alsina is writing a book about his entanglement with Jada
At this point, Jada can easily trademark the word entanglement because she made it famous. She termed her relationship with rapper August Alsina as an entanglement but said it made her realize that she can only find happiness within herself, not from anyone else.
During an interview with Angela Yee on The Breakfast Club, August revealed that he ultimately gave himself to the relationship for years and genuinely loved Jada. Although Jada says she was drawn to August because she wanted to help him, August has a different story. After the Slapgate scandal, August revealed that he was writing a tell-all book about their infamous relationship.
38. Jada has been dealing with health issues for a while
After the drama-filled Oscars night, many people have wondered what Jada Pinkett Smith’s health condition is. Jada has alopecia, an autoimmune disease that leads to hair loss on the head, eyebrows, and lashes. Alopecia is a challenging condition for any woman to go through without dealing with the pressure of the limelight.
Jada was diagnosed in 2018 and has spread awareness about the condition for years. She says it was terrifying when she first started losing her hair. This is the time Jada decided to cut her hair. She got plenty of support from her fans and family members, including her daughter. Willow also decided to shave her hair in support of her mother.
39. Will Smith finally responds to the Oscars scandal.
The on-stage altercation between Will Smith and comedian Chris Rock is said to have occurred due to an insensitive joke he made about Jada Pinkett during his Oscars monologue. He suggested that she was ready to film the G.I. Jane sequel. The G.I. Jane movie was acted by Demi Moore, who was celebrated because of her bravery to shave her hair for the role. Some fans on social media also took offense to the joke and posted their outrage.
After Will began getting backlash about the Oscars incident, he released a statement the following day. Will stated that he was out of line and wrong and shouldn’t have slapped Chris rock. Smith apologized to The Academy and fellow actors who were sidelined because of his actions that night.
40. The effect of the Oscar scandal on Will Smith and his family.
Although it’s been a couple of weeks since the Oscar slap incident, Will Smith, his family, and his career are still taking a huge hit. The Academy took the necessary disciplinary actions and banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars for ten years.
Some of his upcoming projects, including the next Bad Boys movie and Netflix shows, have been halted. Although Chris Rock did not file any charges, it is rumored that he will still seek compensation for the damage done to his image. Chris had a rough childhood where he faced a lot of intense bullying.