Film stars reveal marriage troubles on Facebook show
With their marriage under social media scrutiny, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith reaffirmed their commitment to each other as Pinkett Smith admitted to having a relationship with musician August Alsina when she and Smith were separated.
In a one-on-one conversation Friday on Pinkett Smith’s series “Red Table Talk,” she said she was reluctantly discussing Alsina’s reported comments because of the public speculation they provoked.
What started as a friendship and effort to help Alsina with his health about four years ago became a “different kind of entanglement” at a time when she and Smith thought their marriage was over, Pinkett Smith said.
“An entanglement? A relationship,” Smith said, prodding his wife to be more specific, alluding to the Facebook Watch show’s dedication to candid discussion.
“Yes, it was a relationship. Absolutely. I was in a lot of pain. I was very broken,” she replied. “Now, in the process of that relationship, I definitely realize that you can’t find happiness outside of yourself. ... I would definitely say we did everything that we could to get away from each other, only to realize that that wasn’t possible.”
At one point in the conversation, they echoed each other, saying: “We ride together. We die together. Bad marriage for life,” an allusion to a catchphrase in Smith’s “Bad Boys” franchise.
The two have been married since 1997 and have two children, Jaden and Willow. Each appeared uncomfortable at times on the talk show.
In a recent interview with radio host Angela Yee, Alsina said he had been involved in a romantic relationship with Pinkett Smith.
The actress and her 51-year-old husband have long been the subject of rumors that they have an open marriage.
The couple has denied this, but said that their marriage is not traditional and that they have a “life partnership.”
The pair said they felt compelled to speak out because there was so much speculation after Alsina’s interview.