The Truth About LL Cool J's Marriage

Rap icon LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith, has had quite a career. In addition to his two Grammy Award wins, multi-platinum albums, and eight top 10 hits on the US Hot 100, he's also ventured into acting and hosting. But it's not just his career moves that fans care about; LL Cool J's relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, has been a topic of discussion since his early years in the spotlight. 

Of course, there are some references to their romance in LL Cool J's music. Speaking to BET in 2023, Smith proudly confirmed that the lollipop-loving, Fendi-toting baddie who rocks LL Cool J's world in his 1990 track "Around the Way Girl" is indeed her. "You can break hearts and manipulate minds / Or surrender, act tender, be gentle and kind," the singer gushes about the girl who stole his heart. Smith's husband doesn't sound so bad, either. In a 2013 interview with Good Housekeeping, he shared a swoon-worthy sentiment about his marriage: "Being supportive of my wife is the easiest way to show true love." However, he also admitted to not being the easiest guy to live with, due to his tendency to be a bit messy. "She might find a sock in the cookie jar," the he joked (we hope). 

While her husband might need help cleaning up after himself, Smith has learned that a little independence goes a long way in keeping their marriage strong. "You have to give your spouse space to be who they are," she told BET. "My husband has a super busy schedule and is always moving, and I respect that. Respect also comes with compromise, which is shared between us." Unfortunately, the couple experienced a lot of ups and downs before getting to such a good place.

LL Cool J and Simone Smith have been married for over 25 years and share four children together — all daughters who bear a striking resemblance to LL Cool J. The singer and the jewelry designer married in 1995, eight years after forming a romance and meeting in the 1980s. While making an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (via HuffPost), the "Hush" hitmaker recalled his first encounter with Smith was when he was 19 years old. "It was Easter and I was driving down the block in my mother's car," LL Cool J explained before mentioning he stopped the car to say hello to a friend. When the friend asked whether LL Cool J wanted to meet his cousin, he told him he had somewhere to be. However, upon seeing Smith, he quickly changed his mind.

Nevertheless, the romance of the "NCIS:LA" star and his real-life partner has had a few complications. After having his first two children with Smith, LL Cool J left his wife twice. Smith even admitted to not speaking to LL Cool J after their honeymoon for two weeks after his video for "Doin' It" saw him getting intimate with another woman. "I was so upset over that video," she told Oprah Winfrey during her "Oprah's Next Chapter" interview with her husband. "At the beginning of our marriage, he was 'Ladies Love Cool J.'" And that really is what LL Cool J's name means.

LL Cool J's wife, Simone Smith, was diagnosed with stage 3 chondrosarcoma – a rare type of bone cancer — in 2004, according to Parade. The cancer was in her right tibia bone, between her knee and her ankle. In order to replace the bone, the jewelry designer had to undergo a 15-hour surgery. During her recovery, she had to relearn how to walk. Luckily for Smith, her husband was by her side the whole time. LL Cool J even put his huge music career on pause in order to focus on his wife's health. "You don't abandon someone in that foxhole," he told Oprah Winfrey on "Oprah's Next Chapter," adding, "You gotta be there in that foxhole with them." 

Smith insists the whole situation made their marriage stronger. So strong, in fact, that LL Cool J offered to donate his bone to his wife. "I remember sitting in the doctor's office, and he wanted to give his fibula bone ... because he felt that his fibula bone would be bigger and stronger," she told Entertainment Tonight (via SurvivorNet).

With their relationship still secure, LL Cool J and Smith remain one of music's power couples. In August 2020, they celebrated their 25th anniversary with a romantic dinner. Smith wrote on Instagram, "We Still Do! After 25 years of marriage. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it!!"

LL Cool J and Simone Smith have outlasted the majority of Hollywood marriages (it's wild how many stars have divorced before age 30), but that doesn't mean their journey has been easy. The rap star, for example, has a devoted army of fans, many of whom are women — a fact he's addressed many times before. "It's a blessing," he shared about his female fanbase with OK! In 2009. "Without people embracing what you're doing and appreciating what you do, I wouldn't be able to continue to do what I do. You know I love them 150 million percent." While the "Passion" crooner appreciates the attention he's received from his largely female fanbase, his wife and better half hasn't always embraced their affection.

In actuality, Smith had a hard time dealing with her husband's swooning female fans. "I'm married to a sex symbol," she explained on the "Banking on Cultura" podcast. "When we first got together, I had my times where I would be going off — mad at this one 'cause they looked at him this way, but that was years ago," she continued. The constant demand for acknowledgement has also been an adjustment for Smith. "'Cause you can't go nowhere without anybody wanting a picture or an autograph," she continued, adding, "They don't even ask for autographs anymore. You know, everybody wants a picture now. It has its challenges, but Todd and I have really been able to balance life."

Fortunately, Smith has since learned how to cope with the attention, differentiating between innocent interactions and disrespectful fans. "The disrespect — I can't deal with. ... At 54, I'm ready to take off the hoops," she added. "It's about knowing who you are, and I know who Simone is."

LL Cool J and Simone Smith have weathered several trials throughout their marriage, but they have a solid union. It's not surprising, then, that the rap star has put ample effort into helping Smith achieve her dreams alongside his. "If there are times when I need to go in my room and close the door and relax and take a break, I know when to take a break," he shared on "Club Shay Shay" about balancing his career with his family's aspirations. "That being said, when it comes to helping somebody pursue their dreams, helping them become whatever it is they want to become, helping them be the businesswoman or have the career they want to have, I want to help and encourage that. And that not only goes for Simone, it also goes for my daughters, my son, and all of them."

One way that LL Cool J has helped Simone, specifically, is by giving his creative input about her accessory lines, which she launched after surviving stage 3 bone cancer. "[LL] gives me a lot of feedback on my designs," she shared with Swaay in 2016. "He named Infinite Love, it's another signature piece. I do trunk shows and he comes out and supports me as much as his schedule allows. He and my kids are my number one fans." She continued, "I had my days where I was home, I raised my kids, but I also have dreams and aspirations and my husband has supported me to reach them." As noted by the publication, Simone has seen great success, attracting a wide range of celebrity support from everyone from model Kendall Jenner to singer and fellow entrepreneur Rihanna.