published on in blog

Jada Pinkett Smith Says Oscars Slap Re-Affirmed Her Marriage to Will Smith After Years of Sepa

Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that the Chris Rock-Will Smith slapping incident at the 2022 Academy Awards re-affirmed her commitment to her husband.

During an in-person conversation, presented in partnership with CAA and Vanity Fair, at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City on Monday night, Jada recalled how she and Will “did some really deep work together” after he slapped Rock on stage at the Oscars ceremony when the comedian made a joke about Jada’s bald head.

“When I was sitting at the Oscars, it clicked in. As soon as I was like, ‘Oh snap, you hit Chris?'” Jada said. “I was like, I’m riding with you. I didn’t come into this place as your wife, but I’m leaving here as your wife because we got a storm we’re going to have to deal with together. I am not gonna leave your side.”

Related Stories

Two race cars side by side, with one car representing Netflix and the other representing YouTube VIP+

Netflix vs. YouTube: The Post-Streaming Wars Era’s Archrivalry

Jack Whitehall Dave Bautista Rebel Wilson Michael Buble

Jack Whitehall Lands Prime Video Christmas Special Featuring Dave Bautista, Rebel Wilson and Michael Bublé (EXCLUSIVE)

Jada Pinkett Smith recalls how she and Will Smith “did some really deep work together” after he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars. https://t.co/BVEDVOSCr8 pic.twitter.com/JUFchz2HKe

— Variety (@Variety) October 17, 2023

Jada reflected on her separation from Will Smith for the past seven years. “In 2016, we both were exhausted — pulling at each other, power struggles — and I had to go and really learn how to love myself before I could even identify what love looked like coming from somebody else,” she said.

Popular on Variety

“I had to really learn that about Will,” Jada added. “I wasn’t entitled to him.”

Jada also shared with the audience that Will — along with their children Jaden, Willow and Trey (Will’s son from his first marriage) — granted her permission to include anything about their lives in her memoir.

“[Will] was like, ‘You haven’t been able to have your authentic voice through and through,'” she explained. “‘I will be comfortable with whatever you want to share, I trust you.'”

Although Will read the book before she gave it to her editor, Jada revealed, “He didn’t change a word. He changed nothing.”

Jada’s new memoir, “Worthy,” will be released Tuesday.

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXN%2FjqyanqaVZLumw9JooZqckWK9qrrKnqutZaOitrW0jKiqnJmiqHq0uMCpZKudXZazp7XRppydZZ2Wv7O1wKCcZq%2BZobluv8yiq6FlYWeAdoOUcWxvb18%3D