The Truth About Jada Pinkett Smith's Affair
There are a few things about Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's marriage that many people would consider to be, well, weird. For instance, the famous pair stopped calling each other husband and wife, and they don't really believe in monogamy. And on July 10, 2020, they did something that many couples definitely wouldn't be willing to do: They sat down together to publicly talk about Jada's affair. Yes, Jada admittedly to having a relationship with someone else while still technically married to Will.
During an episode of the former Gotham star's Facebook Watch show Red Table Talk, the duo who have been married since 1997 both opened up about allegations made by August Alsina, who was introduced to Jada by her son, Jaden (per Vulture). According to the singer, he had been involved in a relationship with Jada and even claimed that he had Will's "blessing," according to Page Six.
Although the outlet also notes that Jada's representatives responded at the time by saying that Alsina's claims were "absolutely not true," she's now saying something very different.
Jada says she had an 'entanglement' with August
Jada Pinkett Smith didn't seem to hold back at all during the incredibly honest July 2020 Red Table Talk discussion with her husband, Will Smith. While opening up what happened between herself and August Alsina, Jada explained, "Four and a half years ago... I started a friendship with August and we actually became really, really good friends." She added, "It all started with him just needing some help, me wanting to help his health, his mental state."
But an "entanglement" developed between the pair while Jada was separated from Will, which is why she says that she didn't consider it to be "a transgression at all." The star continued by noting that she "learned so much" about herself at the time, and was "was able to really confront a lot of emotional immaturity [and] emotional insecurity," while also "do[ing] some really deep healing."
She also says that she was able to "realize certain things" about herself and Will, which has helped them get to a "new place of unconditional love." That's surely the reason why they were able to sit down together to have what could have been (and still likely was?) such a tough conversation to have.
Jada Pinkett Smith says August Alsina is 'not a homewrecker'
Rapper and singer August Alsina met the Smith family when he was 24 years old, according to the Los Angeles Times. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith recounted the meeting on Red Table Talk and said that, at the time, Alsina was "really sick," both mentally and physically. Jada said she wanted to help, so they invited Alsina into their home. Over the following few years, Alsina and the Smiths remained close. According to Page Six, Alsina went on vacation to Hawaii with the family in 2016 and went to the BET Awards with Jada in 2017.
At some point though, Will and Jada secretly split. On Red Table Talk, Will said of that time in their lives, "I was done with you." Jada recalled that Will had kicked her to the curb, so to speak. Jada clarified Will never explicitly gave her permission to have a relationship with Alsina, though that apparently was not clear to the singer at the time. Jada said (via the Times), "I could actually see how he [Alsina] 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."
Though Jada and Alsina engaged in an "entanglement," sources told Page Six that it did not happen while Alsina was living in the Smiths' home.
Ending his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith 'broke' August Alsina down
August Alsina had a chance to share his side of the story. In late June 2020, before Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith spoke about the relationship on Red Table Talk, Alsina did a YouTube interview with radio show host Angela Yee.
In the interview, Alsina said (via Complex), "People can have whatever ideas that they like, but what I'm not OK with is my character being in question... Contrary to what some people may believe, I'm not a troublemaker. I don't like drama. Drama actually makes me nauseous... I also don't think that it's ever important for people to know what I do, who I sleep with, who I date, right?"
He continued defending himself. "But in this instance, it's very different. Because... there are so many people that are side-eyeing me... I've lost money, friendships, relationships behind it," Alsina said. "And I think it's because people don't necessarily know the truth, but I've never done anything wrong. I love those people [the Smiths]... They are beautiful people."
Alsina went on to claim that Will gave him "his blessing" in a sit-down conversation and that he shared a deep love with Jada, though the Smiths don't seem to agree Will actually gave his blessing. Alsina also revealed walking away from that relationship nearly destroyed him. "It broke me down... It probably will be the hardest thing I ever had to experience in this lifetime."