Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Michelle Cullen

Who is Jada Pinkett Smith? Inside actress' marriage to Will Smith after Oscar's slapdown with Chris Rock

Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith have hit the headlines once again after the actor stormed the stage at the Academy Awards on Sunday following a joke from Chris Rock.

Smith, 53, appeared to slap Rock live on stage after he made a gag about his wife's short hairstyle.

Jada, 50, is battling the autoimmune disorder alopecia, which can cause hair loss and balding.

READ MORE: Oscars award show sent into chaos as Will Smith storms stage to hit Chris Rock after gag about wife

Smith was visibly emotional as he walked back to his seat in the audience and could be seen on camera shouting to the comic: "Keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth."

US actor Will Smith(L) and Jada Pinkett Smithattend the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by Angela WEISS / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Angela WEISS has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Jada Pinkett Smith] instead of [Jada Pink Smith]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. (gettyimages.ie)

However, the couple, who have been married for 25 years, remained united and continued to hold hands throughout the show before later being seen heading to an after-party together smiling.

The couple's relationship has sparked conversation at various star-studded events in recent years after Jada revealed on her show The Red Table that she had engaged in an 'entanglement' while the pair were separated.

Earlier this month, Smith addressed further chatter about his marriage after Reb Wilson made a joke after he scooped Best Actor for his role in King Richard at the 75th Annual British Academy Film Awards.

Rebel jokes on stage: "I thought his best performance over the past year was being OK with all his wife's boyfriends!"

Speaking afterwards, Smith clarified that there had "never been infidelity", despite Jada's "entanglement" with 29-year-old singer August Alsina.

He said: "There's never been infidelity in our marriage. Jada and I talk about everything, and we have never surprised one another with anything ever."

The couple clarified that they were separated at the time of the relationship.

In September 2021, Smith said his wife wasn't "the only one engaging in other sexual relationships" outside of their marriage.

He admitted his wife never "believed in conventional marriage", so they spent a long time figuring out their relationship boundaries.

Smith explained: "Jada never believed in conventional marriage.… Jada had family members that had an unconventional relationship.

"So she grew up in a way that was very different than how I grew up. There were significant endless discussions about what is relational perfection? What is the perfect way to interact as a couple? And for the large part of our relationship, monogamy was what we chose, not thinking of monogamy as the only relational perfection."

He added: "We have given each other trust and freedom, with the belief that everybody has to find their own way. And marriage for us can't be a prison.

"And I don't suggest our road for anybody. I don't suggest this road for anybody. But the experiences that the freedoms that we've given one another and the unconditional support, to me, is the highest definition of love."

The couple, who married in 1997, also split in 2011 after Smith threw Jada a 40th birthday party.

The three-day extravaganza took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and included activities such as golf and hikes.

Smith even created a documentary about his wife's family and hired Missy Elliot to perform after a dinner which included a 20-foot-long archway adorned with photos of Jada.

He said: "I was the perfect husband."

However, Jada did not like the party saying it was "the most disgusting display of ego I have ever seen in my life," and demanded he cancel the rest of the weekend.

After the argument, Smith said he told Jada: "I retire. I retire from trying to make you happy … I quit — you go do you, and I'm-a go do me."

While the couple said they "didn't want a divorce", Smith said they needed time to be apart.

READ MORE: Watch as Will Smith hits Chris Rock at the Oscars after Jada Pinkett Smith jibe

READ MORE: Will Smith son Jaden defends dad's Chris Rock smack after comic insulted his mum

Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.