Jada Pinkett Smith has opened up about the Will Smith Oscars slap incident, sharing with People magazine that initially, she thought it was part of a skit when Will took the stage following Chris Rock’s joke about her bald head. The joke, presented during the Oscars for best documentary feature, touched on Jada’s public struggle with alopecia.
Jada expressed her initial disbelief, thinking it was a staged moment until Will returned to his seat. Later, when alone, she asked Will if he was okay and mentioned she would support him while allowing him to navigate the situation himself.
The controversial incident led to Will’s resignation from the Academy and a 10-year ban from its events, including the Oscars. Jada revealed to People that she and Will had quietly separated six years before the 2022 Oscars, where the slap occurred, and have now been apart for seven years. Explaining the challenges in their marriage, Jada shared that by 2016, both were exhausted, still holding onto unrealistic expectations of each other.
In an exclusive clip from her upcoming @NBCNews primetime special with @HodaKotb, Jada Pinkett Smith reveals her current relationship status with Will Smith, ahead of the release of Pinkett Smith’s memoir “Worthy.” pic.twitter.com/hMoAwi3ETz
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 11, 2023
Despite living separately, Jada emphasized their commitment to working through challenges and finding a path forward in their relationship. Will publicly apologized for the slap, acknowledging it as an inappropriate response to feeling disrespected, and expressed regret for the impact it had on his family.
Source: Variety
