The Fascinating Love and Life of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith

They remain, to this day, one of Hollywood’s most fascinating couples. Immensely famous, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith have been together since the 1990s after meeting on the set of Smith’s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” in 1994. Their relationship has endured its fair share of highs and lows, with one of the most infamous moments being when Will Smith defended Jada during the live Oscars telecast by slapping Chris Rock on stage after a joke made at Pinkett Smith’s expense. In a recent interview, Jada opens up about the evening and her reaction.

A Candid Interview with Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith is currently promoting her new book titled “Worthy.” During an interview with People magazine, she traces her career and discusses various aspects of her life. From her Baltimore roots to the formation of her family, Jada touches on deeply personal topics, including a period of deep depression that led to suicidal thoughts. Addressing “The Slap,” Jada admits that she had no idea it was going to happen or the full implications of it at the time. She shares:

“I thought, ‘This is a skit.’ I was like, ‘There’s no way that Will hit him.’ It wasn’t until Will started to walk back to his chair that I even realized it wasn’t a skit.”

Many of us felt the same way in that moment, thinking it was a planned interaction. However, the realization that it was not staged came when we witnessed Chris Rock’s attempt to recover and Will Smith angrily shouting obscenities during the live broadcast. Jada Pinkett Smith’s admission that she also believed it to be a skit is both unusual and refreshingly honest.

Brutal Honesty about Mental Health Struggles

The rest of Jada’s conversation with People is equally raw and honest. She bravely opens up about her battle with depression and the depths of her suicidal feelings, saying:

“While I was really living the dream, I hit a huge wall — a massive amount of depression. I think that I looked at having outside sources to supplement for the voids that I was feeling inside. ‘Just kill yourself. You’re not worth anything, you ain’t s—.’ I started looking for places, cliffs where I could have an accident because I didn’t want my kids to think that their mother had committed suicide.”

Will Smith has since apologized to Chris Rock following the incident but still faces the consequences of being banned from attending the Oscars. This outcome was likely not what the “King Richard” star wanted after his anticipated Best Actor win. However, it did lead to a memorable acceptance speech and an apology tour. It remains to be seen if audiences have moved on from “The Slap” as Smith gears up to reunite with Martin Lawrence for “Bad Boys 4” among other highly anticipated upcoming movies.