From Love to Redefining Boundaries: The Astonishing Journey of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's marriage is known as one of the most enduring in Hollywood. However, despite their long-lasting union, they have actually been separated for several years.

Back in 1994, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star crossed paths with the actress, but it wasn't until the following year that they officially started dating. Their wedding took place on New Year's Eve in 1997. But after almost two decades, Pinkett Smith openly expressed her remorse for getting involved with Smith while he was still married to his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino.

During the 2018 premiere episode of Red Table Talk, Zampino appeared as a guest and admitted, "I lacked understanding of marriage, which led to my lack of understanding of divorce. In hindsight, I should have taken a step back."

Despite their turbulent start, Pinkett Smith and Zampino formed a bond when Pinkett Smith met Trey, Zampino's son with Smith. In July 1998, Smith and Pinkett Smith had a son named Jaden, and in 2000, they welcomed their daughter, Willow.

The Smith couple's marriage has been viewed as an exemplary union among celebrities, with frequent displays of affection and happiness in the public eye throughout their marriage of over two decades. However, behind the scenes, they faced their fair share of drama. In 2020, Pinkett Smith disclosed that she and Smith had separated in 2015, during which she had an "entanglement" with singer August Alsina. Although they briefly reconciled, the actress admitted in 2023 that she and Smith have been separated since 2016.

Continue scrolling to explore the highlights and challenges of the Smiths' long-lasting marriage.

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Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith: A Timeline of Their Evolved Relationship

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith may have one of the longest lasting marriages in Hollywood — but they’ve technically been separated for years.

The actress, known for her role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, first crossed paths with Smith in 1994, but their romantic involvement didn't start until the following year. They exchanged wedding vows on New Year's Eve in 1997. However, nearly two decades later, Pinkett Smith expressed remorse for getting into a relationship with Smith while he was still married to his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino.

"I lacked comprehension of the complexities of marriage and divorce," she candidly revealed during the inaugural episode of Red Table Talk in 2018, where Zampino appeared as a guest. "Perhaps I should have taken a step back."

Despite a tumultuous start, the relationship between the two women strengthened after Pinkett Smith met Trey, Zampino's son with Smith. They welcomed their first son, Jaden, in July 1998, followed by their daughter, Willow, in 2000.

Although the couple presented themselves as a model of marriage in the public eye, openly expressing their love and happiness for over two decades, there were undisclosed challenges behind closed doors. In 2020, Pinkett Smith revealed that she and Smith had separated in 2015 and that she had been involved in an "entanglement" with singer August Alsina. Although they briefly reconciled, the Scream 2 actress confessed in 2023 that she and Smith have been separated since 2016.

Scroll down to revisit the highs and lows of the Smiths’ decades-long marriage.

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1994

Will and Jada crossed paths when she auditioned as his on-screen girlfriend for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Unfortunately, she didn't land the role, and during that time, Will was married to Sheree Zampino, and they had a son named Trey. In 2018, while sharing his story on Red Table Talk, Will revealed a pivotal moment of realization. He vividly remembers sitting in a bathroom stall, overwhelmed with a mix of tears and laughter, as he knew deep in his heart that Jada was the woman he was destined to be with.

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1995

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith started their relationship in 1995 after Will's divorce from Zampino. Inquiring if Jada was involved with anyone, he was pleased to hear that she was not. He confidently declared, "Great! Now you're going out with me."

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1997

Will proposed to Jada in November 1997, and they tied the knot one month later. The top-secret wedding took place at a hotel in her native Baltimore.

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1998

The couple’s son, Jaden, arrived in July 1998. He later starred in multiple films with his father — including The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth.

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2000

Will and Jada welcomed daughter Willow in October 2000. She pursued music like the rest of her family and cohosts Red Table Talk with her mom.

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2013

Jada later denied on several occasions that the two are swingers.

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2015

Speculation about their split has haunted them over the years, but in August 2015, the Grammy winner had had enough. "Normally, I ignore foolishness because it's contagious. However, so many people have offered me their heartfelt condolences that I thought, 'Why not? I can be foolish too!'" he announced on Facebook. "So, in the spirit of repetition and redundancy, Jada and I ARE NOT GETTING A DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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2018

In a surprising revelation during TIDAL's "Rap Radar" podcast in July 2018, Will stunned his fans by stating that he and Jada no longer refer to themselves as "married." Instead, they now describe themselves as life partners, acknowledging the profound commitment they have made to spend their entire lives together. Their bond is unbreakable, with no deal breakers or actions that could ever fracture their relationship. Will is devoted to supporting Jada until death, and reaching this level of emotional connection feels incredibly empowering.

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2020

August Alsina alleged in June 2020 that he had a romantic involvement with Jada, which was supposedly approved by Will. However, in July 2020, the A Different World actress countered by stating that she had an "entanglement" with the rapper without her husband's consent, during a time when they were separated in 2015. The Smiths addressed the controversy on an episode of Red Table Talk, ultimately disclosing that they reconciled after re-establishing communication. Jada acknowledged that they have now reached a state of unconditional love.

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2021

After shaving her head in July, the actress known for her role in Gotham revealed that her husband fully embraced her new look. During an episode of Red Table Talk in September, she shared with Tiffany Haddish that Will even sent a photo of her to their daughter Willow, exclaiming, "Stunning."

Jada explained that her decision to go bald came after years of dealing with the added stress of hair care. "It was simply the right time," she expressed. "I was prepared for that type of self-expression and liberation. I am extremely grateful that I made this choice. It was an incredibly beautiful experience that granted me a sense of freedom. I now feel more connected to myself and to a higher power in a truly extraordinary way."

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2021

According to Will, Jada's views on marriage were always unconventional, likely influenced by her family members' non-traditional relationships. This upbringing contrasted with Will's own, leading to many thought-provoking discussions about what constitutes the ideal relationship dynamic. While monogamy became the norm for us for a significant period, we never saw it as the sole definition of relational perfection.

The actor from Hitch suggested that he and Jada had an understanding regarding extramarital relationships. He mentioned that Jada was not the only one who had affairs outside of their marriage. According to him, they have given each other trust and freedom, believing that everyone has to find their own path. For them, marriage cannot feel like a prison. He emphasized that he does not recommend their way of handling relationships to anyone else, but the unconditional support and freedom they've given each other define love for him.

Will also discussed his wife's public admission of her involvement with Alsina, referring to the fixed narrative created by the public. He explained that once the public has formed an idea or perception, it becomes extremely challenging, if not impossible, to change those views.

The husband of the actor from The Pursuit of Happyness did not elaborate on his wife's remarks, but he did mention that she was not the sole participant in extramarital encounters during their relationship. "It would be misleading for viewers to believe that Jada was the only one involved in other sexual relationships," Smith told me in a delicate manner, as reported by Lowery.

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March 2022

The Will author, known for his award-winning performance in King Richard, made a grand appearance on the Oscars red carpet accompanied by Jada.

Throughout the night, they captured attention even before the announcement of the best actor category, as Chris Rock humorously referenced Jada's openness about her hair loss, comparing it to the film G.I. Jane.

The actress rolled her eyes as Will strode onto the stage at the Dolby Theater. Without hesitation, he delivered a swift slap to Rock before returning to his seat. An eruption of emotions flooded over him as he shouted at the presenter, "Keep my wife's name out your f--king mouth!" This outburst came in response to Rock's previous jokes targeting Jada at past awards shows.

Shortly after, Will earned the prestigious Oscar for Best Actor. Overwhelmed with remorse, he took the opportunity in his acceptance speech to make amends. Tears welled in his eyes as he addressed the Academy and his fellow nominees, saying, "I want to apologize for my behavior. I am truly sorry. Just like Richard Williams, the portrayal of a passionate father, art imitates life. Love can push us to do irrational things."

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March 2022

The day after the Oscars, Smith expressed his remorse for slapping Rock, acknowledging the harm caused by violence in any form. In a statement posted on Instagram, he admitted his behavior at the Academy Awards was completely unacceptable and inexcusable. While he acknowledged that jokes at his expense are part of the job, he confessed that a joke about Jada's medical condition pushed him over the edge, triggering an emotional reaction.

He extended his apologies to Rock, the Academy, the Williams family and the King Richard cast and crew. "I am a work in progress," he added.

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April 2022

According to an exclusive source, Jada has a deep love and admiration for Will. They are a strong couple and their relationship will remain unaffected by the Oscars drama. Jada, who is known for her role in Madagascar, wants to put the scandal behind her and move forward. The insider revealed that the unexpected turn of events overshadowed Will's important award win, and both Will and Chris did not anticipate or desire the attention on them.

Will and the source affirm that despite Will's controversial actions at the Oscars, they will continue to support each other unconditionally. They have faced numerous challenges together, and this is just another obstacle for them.

As of April 8, the Academy has reached a verdict concerning Will's association with the organization. In a letter issued by Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson, it was announced that Will will be prohibited from participating in any Academy events or programs, whether in-person or virtual, for the next 10 years. After the Academy made their decision public, Will released a statement to Page Six expressing his acceptance and respect for their verdict.

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June 2022

Pinkett Smith expressed her sincere desire for the two highly intelligent and capable men to have a chance to mend their relationship, engage in meaningful conversation, and ultimately reconcile. This sentiment was shared on the popular talk show Red Table Talk, approximately two months following the heated confrontation between Smith and Rock during the 2022 Oscars.

"The current global landscape necessitates the presence of both aspects. In fact, our interconnectedness has become increasingly vital in this day and age." She also touched upon her bond with her spouse, stating, "In the meantime, Will and I will persist in our ongoing quest of navigating through the complexities of existence, as we have successfully accomplished over the past 28 years."

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August 2022

The two were spotted in public for the first time since the Oscars when they dined at Nobu in Malibu, California. 

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September 2022

Six months after the Oscars, Jada commemorated her 51st birthday alongside her spouse and children. "I'm simply thankful. I'm profoundly appreciative," can be heard expressing in a video posted on Instagram, following a heartwarming serenade from her loved ones. Will adds, "And that's a wrap! She embodies gratitude... it's the paramount virtue."

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December 2022

The duo made a joint appearance at the premiere of Will's film Emancipation, marking their first public red carpet event since the infamous incident at the Oscars in March 2022 when the I Am Legend star slapped Rock.

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October 2023

Pinkett Smith made a shocking revelation about her relationship with Smith, disclosing that they have been separated since 2016 and have been living apart. Despite their circumstances, the couple is actively working on their issues and navigating through challenging times together. Pinkett Smith emphasized that they still share a profound love for each other and hinted at the possibility of a divorce in the future, as they are currently not ready for such a decision.

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Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith