Jada Pinkett Smith has been a fixture in Hollywood for years, and no matter what people think of her, she never seems to fade from the public eye. Over the years, she’s been involved in a lot of drama, but one of the most talked-about relationships is the one with her husband, Will Smith. At times, it almost feels like these two genuinely dislike each other. It’s hard to imagine being in a relationship where both partners have publicly aired their dirty laundry and spoken so poorly about each other. There have even been cheating rumors, and honestly, I’ve always had this feeling that Jada wasn’t really in it with Will from the beginning.
But putting my own thoughts aside, let’s hear it from Jada herself. She once admitted, “I really didn’t want to get married. We only did it because Gammy was crying. I was under so much pressure—young, an actress, and pregnant. I just didn’t know what to do, but I knew I didn’t want to be married. The wedding was a disaster. I was sick and six months pregnant. It was just a mess.”
Will, on the other hand, had a completely different outlook: “There wasn’t a single day in my life that I didn’t want to be married and have a family. Even when I was five, I was already dreaming of what my family would look like.”
Before we dig into the details of their feuds, it’s important to understand Jada’s background. I believe that where she comes from plays a huge role in how she communicates and handles her relationships today. I know from personal experience that our past shapes us. I used to be incredibly shy and kept to myself in middle and high school, but after going through some tough experiences, I found my voice. And here I am today, using it.
Jada Pinkett Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1971, and she didn’t have the easiest start in life. Raised by a single mom in a city known for its grit, Jada learned to hustle from a young age. She was drawn to the arts early on and pursued her passion through various art schools. Her big break came in the ’90s with a role on the TV show A Different World, which helped her gain recognition. Then, her performance in Menace II Society really solidified her status as a rising star in Hollywood. But let’s be honest—her marriage to Will Smith is what truly catapulted her into the limelight. I don’t want to undermine her talent or her earlier career, but sometimes relationships can really elevate someone’s public profile.
After marrying Will, Jada built a diverse career in Hollywood, managing and producing shows while working behind the scenes. There was a time when she seemed to fade from the spotlight, but she made a significant comeback with her show, Red Table Talk. If you’ve caught any clips from it on Facebook, you know she gets personal—really personal. I appreciate that because I’m naturally curious about people’s lives, even if it can get a little cringe-worthy at times. But her candidness has landed her in some hot water and created a reputation that might not be for everyone, where everyone knows your intimate details.
Jada has been open about her past, saying, “My sort of addictions jump around. When I was younger, I definitely think I had a sex addiction of some kind, yes. That everything could be fixed by sex, yes. You know what I’m saying? Or it’s the behavior that’s attached to it, ‘cause if you want to have a lot of sex, that’s great, but why are you having all that sex? That’s what you gotta look at.”
Even so, I have to admit, my own stories don’t quite measure up to hers. To kick things off, I want to share some clips of her talking about her husband, Will. But before we dive into that, let’s take a moment to talk about her family background. Jada’s mother, Adrienne, struggled with addiction when Jada was growing up, which meant that her grandmother played a crucial role in raising her. It was her grandmother who introduced her to the arts, showing her there were healthier paths than getting high. Despite the challenges they faced, Jada’s mother eventually got clean and became a nurse, which was a turning point for their family.
“Today is my anniversary—31 years clean, one day at a time. I’ve spent so many years caught up in the whirlwind of active addiction, running in and out of that revolving door, always trying to get my life back on track.”
Through it all, Jada has shown us that it’s possible to bounce back from those dark times. Unfortunately, her father wasn’t really part of her life. He and her mother, Adrienne, separated when Jada was just a little girl. While he made a few appearances, it was mostly her mom and grandmother who raised her. Growing up with a fractured relationship with her dad and in a rough part of Baltimore definitely gave Jada that tough edge and independence we see today.
“I remember my father telling me when I was 7, ‘I can’t be your father.’ That was a real shocker. It left me thinking, ‘What do I do with this?’ You kind of swallow that and wonder, ‘What’s wrong with me? Why am I not enough?’ I’d look at other kids and see how their parents made them a priority, and I’d think, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ That really fed into this feeling of not being lovable.”
You know, one thing is clear about Jada: I wouldn’t want to cross her path. She’s fierce and intimidating—a strong woman who commands respect, and no one can take that away from her.
Now, opinions about Jada Smith are all over the place. Some people really like her, while others can’t stand her, and then there are those who just don’t get her. I wouldn’t say I fully understand her either, but she definitely has her fair share of questionable moments. It’s not like she has one huge scandal, but rather a buildup of comments that create a picture of her. She’s not afraid to speak her mind—from revealing that she and Will Smith have been separated for nearly a decade to sharing that the late Tupac proposed to her. It really seems like there’s nothing off the table when she talks about her life, whether it’s true or not.
Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, Worthy, came out in 2023, but it didn’t exactly set the world on fire. In contrast, Britney Spears’s book is flying off the shelves, making us wonder why Jada’s story isn’t connecting with people. There’s something about her narrative that feels a bit off, almost inauthentic. I think there’s some truth in what she shares, but it also seems like there’s a lot of embellishment going on.
Let’s talk about Will Smith for a moment. The way Jada talks about her husband is definitely not what you’d call “couple goals.” Recently, she mentioned wishing they could be swingers—people who have sexual relationships with other couples. When a fan asked her about the craziest rumor she’s heard about her family, she recalled, “That Will and I are swingers.” After acknowledging that the rumor comes up often, she added, “I wish,” implying that she’d like to explore other relationships beyond her marriage.
Bringing this up on live TV is already pretty tricky. It takes me back to when I was growing up and heard whispers about couples in my neighborhood who were, let’s say, a bit adventurous. I even had to ask my mom about it, since it seemed like there were a few folks in our area who were into swinging. So, it’s not too surprising that Jada is curious about this lifestyle, especially in Hollywood, where things tend to be a bit more open. But isn’t there an unspoken rule among couples and friends to keep those intimate details private? Sharing too much can really hurt feelings, especially when it involves your partner.
In her own words: “What is the craziest rumor you have ever heard about your family?” She said, “That Will and I are swingers. That’s the craziest—that’s kind of recent, actually. It’s constant, really, and I’m like, yo, I wish.”
It seems like Jada just can’t help but dismiss Will Smith, doesn’t it? I can’t tell if it’s because he’s such a huge star and she never quite reached that level of fame, but it feels like there’s some disdain there. It’s like she has this constant need to put him down instead of just appreciating him for who he is.
When Jada’s book, Worthy, came out, Stephen A. Smith was one of many who stood up for Will. Not only did the book flop, but it also dragged Will into the spotlight in a not-so-great way. Just think about it: writing a book about your husband and airing all your dirty laundry, only for it to tank? That’s got to sting! She made some pretty intense comments about their separation and their toxic relationship.
On his podcast, Stephen called her out for bringing their years-old separation into the public eye, saying it was unfair to involve everyone in their personal issues. He didn’t hold back when talking about her affair either, making it clear that Will doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment. “You can’t treat a man like that. What you do is your business, not ours,” he pointed out. “Honestly, it’s pretty cringe-worthy to hear her bragging about cheating on her husband like it’s something to be proud of. Nobody respects that, Jada. It just makes you look even crazier.”
Let’s take a moment to think about what it means to be a wife, especially when it comes to sparing your partner’s feelings. I’m not here to judge right or wrong—it’s not my place. But it’s really uncomfortable and deeply unfair to publicly humiliate your husband. Publicly! He’s Will Smith! How much smaller do you want him to feel? Seriously, Jada, this isn’t right. You can’t treat him this way. Your choices are yours to make—if you feel he’s not meeting your needs, that’s something you handle privately. If you’re seeing someone else, that’s your choice too. But don’t drag him into it for everyone to see.
I think we should really consider Jada’s upbringing when trying to understand her behavior. While I don’t have all the details, it seems she didn’t have a father figure she could look up to—he was just absent and never put in the effort. Honestly, if I had grown up in that kind of environment, I wouldn’t have much respect for men either. So, I’m trying to grasp where her disdain might come from, whether it’s about Will’s fame or his role in their family. It seems like she struggles to find a place for him. The way she goes on Instagram Live and puts him on blast feels pretty cruel.
There’s this clip from Jada’s Instagram Live back in 2019 that really stands out. She starts talking about their marriage counselor and then suddenly flips the camera to Will, wanting his take on things. That’s when the atmosphere gets super awkward. She asks him, “Would you say that she has been instrumental in you and I redefining our relationship?” Will looks really uncomfortable and calmly replies, “I would say, just don’t start filming without asking me if you can film me.” But Jada, missing the hint, keeps trying to get him to respond. He turns away, asking her to stop, and in frustration, she calls for their counselor, claiming she’s dealing with Will’s “foolishness.”
It’s just so strange to put your partner on the spot like that, especially since they’re both celebrities who know how social media works. Why are they filming each other in such a private moment? It seems like they’ve crossed some serious boundaries—or maybe they never established them in the first place. Why would she feel it’s okay to film him when they’re such public figures? It just feels off.
Jada says, “She’s coming to the table, she’s going to be at the red table. Would you say she has been instrumental in you and I redefining our relationship?” And Will responds, “I would say, don’t just start filming me without asking me if you can film me. Oh my goodness, if you could just film me—come help us again, please. I’m still dealing with foolishness.” Jada continues to press, “Don’t, no, no. She… yeah, because she don’t just…” And then Will chimes in, “Would you say that she helped us heal the hurts we caused between one another?” Will is clearly frustrated and says, “My social media presence is my bread and butter, okay? So you can’t just use me for social media. Don’t just start—I’m standing in my house, don’t just start rolling, please.” Jada adds, “Watch us at the red table because she’s helped us a lot, can’t you tell?”
It almost feels like she’s trying to catch him off guard, trying to make him look bad. A lot of people have a negative view of her, while they genuinely like Will Smith, which is why we feel he deserves better. Maybe this is all part of her plan to undermine his reputation and make herself look better in the process. Her entire book seemed motivated by that—and it didn’t really hit the mark.
Thanks for tuning into this clip from the Let’s Get Into It podcast! If you want to catch the full episode, check out the link below.