It's not common for celebrities to be open about their private life. But that's not what the Smith household's all about. A celebrity couple with two celebrity children, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, are not afraid of putting their personal affairs out in the open.
Yet, nobody could have anticipated that, in the summer of 2020, Jada would open up about her relationship with singer August Alsina on her Facebook show "Red Table Talk." This is the story of how everything went down and of how a true love resisted even the most striking of challenges.
A Well-Thought Decision
Alleged celebrity romances appear in the media all the time. But when the American singer August Alsina revealed he'd been involved with Jada Pinkett Smith during a "The Breakfast Club" interview, the Smiths felt that something needed to be done.
To protect one of Hollywood's most inspiring and long-lasting marriages, Jada decided to go public with it and address Alsina's bombastic revelations head-on. What's curious about it is that, reportedly, the Smiths were warned about Alsina's interview before it aired! That's why they managed to react so promptly and effectively to it.
Clues Everywhere
What made Alsina's interview so believable was that there were some hints in the media about his involvement with Jada even before his bombastic "The Breakfast Club" interview aired. For one, Jada and Alsina had attended the BET Awards together; and yes, they looked very comfortable with one another!
More attentive fans also found some hidden references to Jada in one of Alsina's songs, "Nunya." This, of course, was nothing but speculation at this point. After attending the BET Awards together, for instance, Jada and Alsina denied having a romantic relationship.
Taking the Blame
When a marriage lasts as long as Jada and Will Smith's, it's only natural that one of the parties involved starts taking things for granted. Instead of getting angry and making a fuss on the media, Will decided to be the bigger man and admit that he was also responsible for his wife's affair.
While many men would get frustrated and walk away, Will showed great maturity by reviewing his actions, putting his relationship with Jada into perspective, and considering their children's feelings. He understood that his ego got in the way of his family's happiness.
Nowhere to Hide
When a celebrity couple faces rumors of unfaithfulness, their instinct is to make the stories go away. But this time, there was nowhere to hide. For one, Alsina wasn't just a regular guy looking for his five minutes of fame: instead, he's a well-established musician with lots of fans.
When push came to shove, and Alsina decided to let it all out in the open, the Smiths knew they couldn't simply ignore the story. Celebrity fans and tabloids believed Alsina's words, so Jada and Will knew they had to take action.
Will Knew All About It!
The strangest thing is that Jada and Alsina's affair was hardly a secret, even before it started making headlines in the tabloids. Alsina once went as far as saying that he had a sit-down with Will and that the "King Richard" star gave him his blessing! Jada did try to hide her affair with Alsina from the general public, but not from her husband.
So, given the circumstances, there's no question that Jada and Alsina's affair was a healthy one. It wasn't a toxic relationship based on lies but rather something both Jada and Will had discussed and approved.
A Matter of Reputation
From the first moment he decided to come public, Alsina stated that he was not a homewrecker. Knowing the details of his relationship with Jada, this seems pretty straightforward. But before the whole story came out, Alsina's reputation was hurt by the numerous assumptions in the tabloids and social media.
Alsina may not be as famous as Jada and Will Smith, but he is a public figure, and he needs to take good care of his reputation to protect his career. He knew then that only one thing could prevent him from becoming forever known as "Jada's secret lover:" the truth!
A Pondered Decision
When there's a love triangle involved, people assume there has to be a villain. But real life isn't as black-and-white as that, not even in Hollywood! Alsina only came out with the story because he had his back against the wall and felt he needed to do something. It wasn't an impulsive or selfish decision.
Alsina thought deeply about whether it was right for people to know details about his personal life. His decision to talk about his affair with Jada on "The Breakfast Club" was a well-pondered one.
No Bad Blood
One is not enough, two is perfect, and three is a crowd. This formula is right nine out of ten times, but that doesn't mean things need to go awry when three people share an intimate connection. The lives of Jada, Will, and Alsina were indeed entangled, but they managed to work things out in the end.
There seems to be no bad blood between Alsina and the Smiths to this day. You'd expect Alsina to shame Will in public, but he never did. Remarkably, the opposite is also true.
Were the Kids Affected?
The Smiths aren't just a celebrity couple; they're a celebrity family! With so many rumors in the media, Jada and Will's famous children felt like something was wrong, and this was possibly reflected in their behavior. Willow shaved her head out of nowhere and had to be publically defended by her parents following the backlash from her fans.
As for Jaden, he started a quite radical vegan diet and lost a noticeable amount of weight, which got his parents worried. Luckily, they managed to convince him to stick to a milder vegetarian eating regimen.
Dealing With Fame
There's no compass for navigating the dangerous world of fame. Sadly, we've all heard the stories of former celebrity kids who succumb to substance abuse and even worse. Fortunately, both Jaden and Willow have the closest thing possible to a guideline on being famous: and that's two famous parents!
Jada and Will never got in the way of their children's plans and even incentivized their acting and musical careers. But hopefully, they did their best to warn them against the dangers of fame and live as normally as possible, given the circumstances.
What's the Deal With the Smiths?
Marriages are tricky 100% of the time. But committing to just one partner is even harder when you're as famous as Jada and Will. Think about it: they've been together since the mid-'90s despite being two of the most accomplished, beautiful, and talented individuals in Hollywood.
It's hard for ordinary men and women to resist the temptation of seeing other people. Then it should be even harder for A-list celebrities—can you imagine how many gorgeous men and women try to get their attention every day? But was Jada's affair with Alsina a moment of weakness or something else entirely?
Making It Work
Instead of simply accepting that all marriages must be monogamous, Jada and Will decided to make their relationship work. Their bond was so strong that they felt comfortable making their own rules. And yes, this included the possibility of seeing other people!
We tend to assume something has got to be wrong when a husband and wife decide to commit to an open relationship. But love works in mysterious ways, and isn't it better for two people to be happy with one another (even if they see others) than for two people to be constantly frustrated just because they feel stuck?
There's Openness... But With Limits!
Jada and Will's famous children are, well, no longer children! They're young adults with their dreams, careers, and, yes, romantic lives. And that's where the famous openness of the Smith household is met with some barriers... If Jada and Will have no issues with being transparent, they respect their children's privacy.
Just like any proud father, Will admitted that he doesn't want to know exactly what Willow's up to in her private life. That saves him some embarrassment, and, to be honest, it's a lot less awkward for Willow, as any son and daughter would know!
Life Partners
What's the meaning of true love? Is it to be monogamous no matter what? Or is it to be faithful in the deepest sense of the word? Being present every day, respecting your spouse's every need, and being confident enough to allow your spouse to have the freedom they deserve: isn't this what makes a relationship truly work?
Jada and Will know better than sticking to the rules of the rest of the world. Instead, they created their own. They don't see one another as ordinary married folks but as life partners.
Taking a Break to Come Back Stronger
Jada and Will's marriage isn't unique just because they have an open relationship. It's also special because they know sometimes one has to take a break to become stronger. While it may sound strange, Jada and Will did put their marriage on hold when Jada was involved with Alsina.
For most people, the proverbial "taking a break" is the omen of the end of a relationship. But to Jada and Will, it wasn't the sign of looming divorce; it was rather a way of fixing what was wrong with their marriage!
No, It Wasn't Perfect
Considering everything we've mentioned so far, there's no doubt Jada and Will have a loving and mature relationship. But that's not to say their love story is perfect. For one, they decided to put their marriage on hold because something wrong was going on... But instead of hiding it all away, the Smiths dug deep into their feelings in an episode of "Red Table Talk."
The intimate, tell-it-all episode is a striking statement of how Jada and Will managed to work through their differences, bravely analyze their actions, and share a frank, meaningful conversation.
Blind to the Problems
One of the most significant moments of that "Red Table Talk" episode is when Will admits that he was too focused on his own needs to realize something strange was going on with his family. He said he was blind to the problems until he received a much-needed wake-up call.
Will mentioned that he only understood his actions were putting the happiness of his family in jeopardy when Willow shaved her hair. Parents have an added responsibility on top of their shoulders when children are involved, regardless of how old they are.
Coping With the Rumors
Even when your parents are open about their lives, it's always hard to reconcile with the idea they may be seeing other people. The affair between Jada and Alsina proved accurate, but Jaden and Willow have been forced to put up with countless rumored relationships involving their parents for years!
Can you imagine what it feels like to see your married father linked to a friend in the newspaper? That's got to take a toll! Will, for instance, was once romantically linked to fellow actress Margot Robbie in a story that—as far as we know—has no ground whatsoever.
No More Messing Around!
While there are some advantages to an open relationship, Jada and Will have learned that taking a break and messing around with other people is just too demanding—not only to their emotions but also to their children's emotions! Following the Alsina scandal, Jada went on social media to set things in stone.
She made it all clear and stated that her marriage would not end, assuring her followers that she and Will were NOT in an open relationship. At least from then on, they'd be solely committed to one another.
Dealing With the Online Trolls
We live in an era that's as fascinating as it is dangerous. Nowadays, virtually everybody can share an opinion online, and—trust us—there were plenty of thoughts about Jada and Will's relationship once their explosive "Red Table Talk" episode came out. Not accustomed to seeing their favorite celebs getting exposed in such a sensitive fashion, online trolls had their hands full.
Amongst the countless outrageous memes, there were also messages of support and some harsh criticism. One thing was for sure: everybody seemed to have a take on how the Smiths should live their lives!
Reputation Restored
While the Smiths were at the center of the whole controversy, there's no denying that Alsina got his reputation restored once that much-debated "Red Table Talk" episode came out. He proved to be more than just a random lover of Jada; he was also a confidant who helped her get through an emotional period of her life.
Jada once tried to reduce her relationship with Alsina to an 'entanglement' but quickly admitted it was more than that. Curiously enough, "Entanglements" is the name of one of Alsina's most popular songs.
What Doesn't Kill You...
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And the wise saying surely applies to the story of how Jada and Will overcame the most striking of challenges. Think about how tough it is for a married couple to get over an affair. Now imagine doing that under the scrutiny of the entire world!
We don't know how, but Jada and Will did more than survive it all unscathed; in fact, they came back stronger! Pretty much like shock therapy, the whole Alsina scandal proved to be the medicine Jada, and Will needed to heal their ailing marriage.
Safe but Scarred
The whole Jada-Alsina controversy seems to have worked out just fine for the Smiths. But how did it affect Alsina's career? On one side, Alsina got his reputation restored and became more famous than ever. On the other, his name's probably scarred for good.
For a music artist, it's crucial that the first thing people think about when they hear your name is your music. Alsina got many listeners with his famous 2020 album "The Product III: State of Emergency," but he still hasn't managed to shake off the fact he will always be perceived as "that guy" who was once involved with Jada.
Unusual Spouses Make For Unusual Parents
By now, you've probably realized that Jada and Will make for unusual spouses. While there's nothing wrong with their methods, which seem to be working like a charm, they're pretty different from the ones employed by most married couples. And the same is true about their parenting style.
They have three children together, including two famous young children who are on their way to becoming A-list celebs like mommy and daddy. And, surprise, surprise, the Smiths love to spend some family time with their children to discuss any pressing issues—sometimes, even in front of the camera!
It's A Family Affair
Guess who also appears on "Red Table Talk" constantly? A talk show that's pushing the envelope, "Red Table Talk" often features Jaden and Willow, and the celebrity kids aren't afraid to explore any emotional issues that may arise in their lives. That's part of what makes it such a compelling show.
It may sound strange to discuss private family matters out in public, but "Red Table Talk" happens to work as a powerful antidote against the constant scrutiny of the media. If your family is one of Hollywood's most famous and talked-about families, it makes sense for the Smiths to be transparent and take charge of the narrative.
Mom Shaming
Naturally, there are consequences to being so transparent with the public. Jada is susceptible to criticism as a celebrity, and nothing she'll ever do will be deemed consensually right. Her motherhood style, for example, was put into question on many occasions.
Jada once aired a "Red Table Talk" episode titled "Mom Shaming: The New Epidemic," in which she addressed the fact that she's constantly criticized for allowing her children to do certain things. She received a lot of backlash from the Black community when Jaden appeared in a Louis Vuitton photo shoot wearing a skirt, for instance.
Everything's On the Table
No theme or issue's not a part of the conversation in "Red Table Talk." Dialogue is the best way for a family to deal with its issues, no matter the topic. Children don't often talk with their parents about experimenting with drugs, for instance. Yet, both Jaden and Willow opened up about it in the past.
Jaden once described how an experience with psychedelic mushrooms changed his perception of life, while Willow was once open about quitting marijuana for months and feeling positive effects on her drive and general behavior.
Showbiz Family
Some entertainment-industry pros do everything to keep their professional and private lives separate. Not the Smiths. Jada and Will have fully supported Jaden and Willow's decision to step into the spotlight, working as actors, musicians, Internet celebrities, and philanthropists.
At the same time, they never forced their older son Trey into the world of fame. Instead, they respected his decision not to be as involved with the general public as his younger siblings. He did collect a few acting credits and "Red Table Talk" appearances over the years, though.
A Close-knit Bunch
Needless to say, the Smiths are a close-knit bunch. And if you have any doubt about it, you just need to watch a couple of videos on YouTube. The Smiths live together, they work together (sometimes), and they party together! In 2018, they were seen having a blast in the "A Smith Family Vacation" YouTube video uploaded by Will.
Just one year later, in 2019, the entire family got together for yet another video, "A Smith Family Coachella." When parents and children feel comfortable having fun together, that's when you know their special bond is more than just an act.
Being Famous Was Hard for Willow
Not all is perfect, though. Willow, for instance, talked about feeling anxious due to being famous at such a young age. She was just nine years old when she recorded her first hit song, titled "Whip My Hair." A well-produced music video accompanied the pop tune, but Willow once called it her "one major regret."
If you look back at the time, you were nine years old and thought about how you were spending the day, and it's easy to understand why Willow feels early fame impacted her negatively. When most of us were playing with toys, she was recording a pop song!
Together at the Top
Like pretty much everyone, you're also entitled to having an opinion on how the Smiths choose to live their lives. But one thing's undeniable: even though they're unusual and controversial, they're always together, and they will never stop relying on each other!
In 2022, Will Smith landed the Oscar for Best Actor for his memorable performance in "King Richard," and the whole team—including Trey—was there to support him. They got each other through the best and worse, and that may help to explain why they're arguably the most successful celebrity family in the world.