Will Smith Jada Pinkett Smith Separated Since 2016

Jada Pinkett Smith reveals that she and husband Will Smith have been living separate lives since 2016, essentially a divorce without papers.

Jada Pinkett Smith and her husband Will Smith have recently revealed that they have been living "completely separate lives" since 2016. This surprising revelation came during an interview with Hoda Kotb, where Pinkett Smith described their situation as essentially a divorce without the legal papers. The couple, who got married in 1997, have previously addressed separations and marital troubles, but never in such specific terms.

While representatives for both Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have not yet commented on the matter, this news has caught many off guard, especially considering Pinkett Smith's openness in her "Red Table Talk" series. In one memorable incident at the 2022 Academy Awards, Smith walked up on stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock after a joke was made about Pinkett Smith's hair.

The full interview with Pinkett Smith will be aired on an hour-long NBC News prime-time special on October 13th. Additionally, Pinkett Smith will be releasing a memoir titled "Worthy" on October 17th, which promises to provide more details about their lives and relationship, as well as her upbringing in Baltimore.

During her interview with Kotb, Pinkett Smith explained that by 2016, both she and Will Smith had become exhausted from trying to make their relationship work. They were both stuck in their own fantasies of what they thought the other person should be. Despite considering divorce, Pinkett Smith has not been able to follow through with it, as she made a promise to never give a reason for them to divorce. She is determined to work through any challenges they face together.

In a separate interview with People Magazine, Pinkett Smith revealed that she initially thought Will Smith's slap at the Oscars was part of a skit. It was only when he walked back to his chair that she realized it was not staged. Smith has since apologized multiple times for the incident, which resulted in a 10-year ban from attending the Oscars or any other academy event.

Overall, this recent revelation from Jada Pinkett Smith sheds light on the challenges that she and Will Smith have been facing in their marriage. It is clear that they have been living separate lives for a while now, but Pinkett Smith remains committed to working through their issues and maintaining their relationship. The upcoming interview and memoir will provide further insights into their journey.