Jada Pinkett Smith has admitted to having an affair with a very unexpected celebrity.
Jada, 52, is an American actress, singer, and talk show host, recognizable for films such as The Nutty Professor, the animated Madagascar movies, and Girls Trip.
Since 1997, she’s been married to Hollywood legend Will Smith, with whom she shares two kids: Jaden, 26, and Willow, 23.
In recent years, the couple has faced intense scrutiny regarding their marriage.
The incident made global headlines when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars.
It began when Rock, who was hosting the event, joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, comparing her to Demi Moore’s character in the 1997 film G.I. Jane.
Jada had previously opened up about her struggle with alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss by attacking hair follicles.
After Rock quipped, “Jada, can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2,” Smith stunned the audience by walking onto the stage and striking him.
As he returned to his seat, Smith shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
Ironically, the night ended with Smith winning the Best Actor award for King Richard—yet the infamous slap completely eclipsed what should have been the pinnacle of his career.
In the aftermath, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences banned Smith for 10 years, condemning his actions as “unacceptable and harmful behavior” that had overshadowed the ceremony.
However, this wasn’t the couple’s only controversy—many argue an even bigger scandal rocked their lives before the Oscars.
From 2018 to 2023, Jada hosted a talk show with her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and daughter Willow, on Facebook called Red Table Talk.
The trio interviewed guests and discussed several topics – in 2020, one episode captured the world’s attention.
It involved Jada and Smith sitting down to have an intimate conversation, in which the actress opened up about having an affair.
Jada had what she described as an “entanglement” with hip-hop and R&B singer August Alsina, now 31.
Reflecting on the relationship, she explained: “It all started with him just needing some help, me wanting to support his health and mental state.
“The outpouring from our family was initially about his well-being.
“We found various resources to help him, and during that time, you and I were going through a very difficult period.”
She added that the relationship eventually came to an end.
Jada and Smith used the talk show to address the claim the actor had given his permission for the affair.
“One of the things I want to clear up that was kind of swirling in the press was you giving permission, which the only person who can give permission in that particular circumstance is myself,” the mom-of-two stated.
“But what August was actually trying to communicate – because I could actually see how he would perceive it as permission because we were separated amicably – I think he also wanted to make it clear that he’s not a homewrecker, which he’s not.”
Then, in 2023, Jada made another shocking admission.
Jada revealed that she and Will Smith had been living “completely different” lives since 2016.
In an NBC News primetime special with Hoda Kotb, she shared (per Today): “I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce.
“We will work through whatever. And I just haven’t been able to break that promise.”
Speaking to People magazine, she added: “We’re still figuring it out.
“We’ve been doing some really heavy-duty work together. We just have deep love for each other, and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.”
Smith later addressed the revelation in an email to The New York Times, writing: “When you’ve been with someone for more than half of your life, a sort of emotional blindness sets in, and you can all too easily lose your sensitivity to their hidden nuances and subtle beauties.”
