1997: Married, Hollywood's golden couple.
2013: Jada reveals "unconventional" marriage.
2020: August Alsina affair revealed - Jada calls it "entanglement".
March 27, 2022: Will slaps Chris Rock at Oscars for joke about Jada.
October 2023: Jada reveals they've been separated since 2016.
Public response: "Wait, WHAT?"
Current status: Still legally married, living separately, most confusing relationship in Hollywood.
This is how Will and Jada Smith went from perfect couple to the most bizarre marriage in celebrity history—and why they're still technically married despite everything.
The Beginning (1990-1997)
The Meeting (1994)
Location: A Different World audition
Will's status: Married to Sheree Zampino (1992-1995)
Jada's audition: For Will's girlfriend on Fresh Prince
She didn't get it: Too short (5'0" vs Will's 6'2")
But: Instant connection
The problem: Will was married
December 31, 1997: The Wedding
Location: The Cloisters, Baltimore
Guests: 100 intimate friends/family
Jada's condition: Already pregnant with Jaden
The pressure: Had to marry quickly
Jada later admitted: "Never wanted to get married"
Did it because: Pregnant, Will wanted it, family pressure
Her mother's reaction: Cried at wedding (knew Jada was trapped)
The Golden Years (1997-2012)
Building the Empire
Combined movies: Blockbusters
Will's hits: Men in Black, Independence Day, Ali
Jada's career: Matrix sequels, Girls Trip
Combined net worth: $400 million
Kids:
- Jaden Smith (1998)
- Willow Smith (2000)
Image: Perfect Hollywood family
Reality: Already unconventional
The First Hints (2008-2012)
2008 interview: Will mentions "we don't say we're married anymore"
Jada's comments: "I've always told Will, you can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself"
Public reaction: Confused
Their explanation: "Mature love"
Translation: Open marriage (but they didn't say that yet)
The "Unconventional" Marriage Revelation (2013)
The HuffPost Live Interview
Jada's quote: "I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay.'"
Follow-up: "Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I'm here as his partner, but he is his own man."
Interpretation: Open marriage confirmed
Public response: Shock
Their stance: "It's our business"
What "Open Marriage" Meant
Will's freedoms: Could see other people
Jada's freedoms: Same
Rules: Don't ask, don't tell (allegedly)
Purpose: "True partnership" without ownership
Reality: Both explored relationships with others
The lie: Still presenting as traditional couple publicly
The August Alsina "Entanglement" (2020)
June 30, 2020: August Alsina Interview
Who: Singer, 27 years old
Claim: Had relationship with Jada with Will's "permission"
Timeline: Around 2016
His quote: "I actually sat down with Will and had a conversation... He gave me his blessing"
Public reaction: Explosion
Jada's response: Denied it initially
July 10, 2020: Red Table Talk
Show: Jada's Facebook show
Guest: Will Smith
The admission: "We were over," Jada says about her marriage
The word: "Entanglement"
Jada's explanation:
- She and Will were separated (2016)
- She got involved with August
- Helped him with his "health issues"
- It became more
The table meme: Will's pained face became instant meme
Her phrasing: "I got into an entanglement with August"
Will's reaction: "An entanglement?"
Jada: "A relationship"
The Details
August's age: 23 when it started
Duration: Several months to a year
How it ended: Jada went back to Will
Will's knowledge: Claims he knew and approved
Jada's framing: "Journey of healing"
Public response: Confusion, memes, mockery
The Impact
Will: Humiliated publicly
Jada: Seen as manipulative
Their marriage: Exposed as fiction
Kids: Caught in middle
Memes: "Entanglement" became joke
The Oscars Slap (March 27, 2022)
The Setup
Event: 94th Academy Awards
Will's nomination: Best Actor for King Richard
Jada's condition: Alopecia (hair loss)
Her look: Shaved head
Their status: Publicly together, privately separated (we didn't know yet)
The Joke
Presenter: Chris Rock
The line: "Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see it"
Reference: Demi Moore's shaved head in G.I. Jane
Will's initial reaction: Laughed
Jada's reaction: Eye roll, visible displeasure
What happened next: Will walked on stage
The Slap
Action: Open-hand slap to Chris Rock's face
Chris's reaction: Stunned
Will's words: "Keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth"
Second time: "KEEP MY WIFE'S NAME OUT YOUR F***ING MOUTH"
Audience: Shocked silence
Broadcast: Censored in US, shown globally
World reaction: What just happened?
The Aftermath
20 minutes later: Will wins Best Actor
Acceptance speech:
- Cried
- Talked about "protecting family"
- "Love will make you do crazy things"
- No apology to Chris
Academy response: 10-year Oscar ban
Chris Rock: Declined to press charges
Will: Apologized next day via social media
The Theories
Why he did it:
- Defending Jada (his excuse)
- Overcompensating for embarrassment (entanglement)
- Proving devotion after years of humiliation
- Jada's influence (speculation)
The irony: Defending "wife" they were separated from
The tragedy: Destroyed legacy for woman who didn't want him
The 2016 Separation Revelation (October 2023)
Jada's Memoir: Worthy
Released: October 17, 2023
Bombshell: They've been separated since 2016
The timeline:
- Separated 2016
- August Alsina affair during separation
- 2018 Red Table Talk started (still separated)
- 2020 Entanglement revelation (separated)
- 2022 Oscars slap (separated)
- 2023 Revelation (still separated)
Meaning: Everything we saw was a lie
The Details
Living situation: Separate homes since 2016
Public appearances: Continued together for image
Why not divorce: "We're working on it"
Jada's explanation: "We're still figuring it out"
Will's reaction: Supported the book (somehow)
Kids: Knew the whole time
Public Response
Confusion: Why the charade?
The slap: Makes no sense if separated
The lie: 7 years of pretending
Questions:
- Why stay legally married?
- Why not just divorce?
- Why keep up appearances?
Jada's Explanations
Her reasoning:
- "Never wanted to divorce"
- "We made a promise"
- "Still life partners"
- "Haven't found a way" to divorce
Translation: Complicated, weird, confusing
The Current Situation (2024)
Still Married, Still Separated
Legal status: Married
Living situation: Separate homes
Public appearances: Occasionally together
Communication: "Still working on relationship"
Therapy: Years of it
Status: Undefined
The Kids' Response
Jaden (26): Supportive but confused
Willow (24): Has spoken about unconventional family
Trey (31, Will's son from first marriage): Stayed out of it
Impact: All three in therapy
Will's Career Impact
Post-slap:
- Oscar ban (10 years)
- Multiple projects canceled
- Bad Boys 4 released (2024) - did okay
- Reputation: Damaged
Estimated lost earnings: $50+ million
Jada's Career
Pre-revelations: Successful actress, producer
During: Red Table Talk phenomenon
Post-revelations: Less sympathetic
Book sales: Strong but controversial
Her brand: Complicated
What Makes This So Confusing
The Contradictions
They say: "Still married, working on it"
Reality: Living separately for 8 years
Public image: Loving couple
Private truth: Separated since 2016
Jada's words: "Never wanted marriage"
Actions: Won't divorce
The Questions Nobody Can Answer
- Why not divorce?
- Why did Will slap Chris for separated wife?
- What's the point of staying married?
- Is this for financial reasons?
- Religious beliefs?
- Image protection?
- What are they "working on"?
Answers: None that make sense
The Financial Angle
Combined net worth: $400 million
California law: Community property
Divorce cost: Split everything 50/50
His career: More lucrative
Potential settlement: $200 million to Jada
Reason to stay married: Financial protection?
But: Both wealthy independently
So: Probably not just money
The Theories
Theory 1: Image Management
Premise: Divorce would damage brand
Problem: Separation revelation already did that
Theory 2: Religious Beliefs
Premise: Don't believe in divorce
Problem: Living separately is functionally divorced
Theory 3: Financial Protection
Premise: Avoiding $200M settlement
Problem: Both individually wealthy
Theory 4: Genuine Commitment
Premise: Actually working on marriage
Problem: 8 years separated, no progress
Theory 5: Scientology
Rumor: Both involved with Scientology
Scientology stance: Discourages divorce
Evidence: School they founded had Scientology ties
Their denial: Not official members
Reality: Possible influence
Theory 6: They're Just Weird
Premise: Truly unconventional, own rules
Evidence: Everything they've ever said
Likelihood: High
From Perfect Couple to Most Confusing Marriage
1997: Married, new beginning
2013: "Open marriage" hints
2016: Separated (we didn't know)
2020: "Entanglement" revealed
2022: Oscars slap
2023: "We've been separated since 2016"
2024: Still married, still separated, still confusing
Duration: 27 years legally married, 8 years separated
The Lesson
A "perfect marriage" can hide:
- Separation
- Open relationships
- Affairs
- Lies to public
- Unhappiness
But: Eventually truth comes out
The cost:
- Will's career damaged
- Legacy tarnished
- Kids affected
- Public mockery
And still: No clarity on what they actually are
The Most Confusing Marriage in Hollywood
They're married but separated.
Living apart but "working on it".
Had affairs but still committed.
Slapped Chris Rock for separated wife.
Reveal separation but won't divorce.
Say they're partners but not together.
Nobody understands including them.
From Hollywood's golden couple to the most bizarre relationship story ever told.
And after 27 years, still no clear answer to: What even is this marriage?
