Jada Pinkett Smith is set to reveal the untold truths about her relationship with Will Smith in an upcoming NBC News prime-time special with Hoda Kotb. Scheduled to air on Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, Pinkett Smith discloses to Kotb that her marriage has been more complex than previously shared.
According to Pinkett Smith, she and Smith have been living "completely separate lives" since 2016, nearly two decades after their marriage in 1997. While legally married, they are no longer romantically involved. Pinkett Smith delves deeper into their relationship's evolution, from its beginnings to its current state, in her upcoming memoir "Worthy," set to be released on Oct. 17.
In a preview clip, Kotb questions Pinkett Smith about the marriage revelation in her memoir, highlighting it as one of the "many surprising things" in the book. Pinkett Smith clarifies that although they remain legally married, they are indeed divorced.
When asked why they hadn't shared their relationship status earlier, Pinkett Smith explains that they were not ready and were still figuring out how to navigate their partnership publicly. She cites exhaustion and being stuck in their respective fantasies about each other as factors leading to the fracture in 2016.
Despite considering a legal divorce, Pinkett Smith reveals she has never been able to go through with it, emphasizing a promise she made that there would be no reason for them to divorce, and they would work through whatever challenges they faced.
The Smiths' enduring partnership has been marked by public incidents, including Pinkett Smith's "entanglement" with singer August Alsina and Will Smith's reaction at the 2022 Academy Awards. In her memoir, Pinkett Smith also details her relationship with rapper Tupac Shakur.
Joining Pinkett Smith in her hometown of Baltimore for the one-hour special, Hoda's prime-time interview promises an intimate exploration of the actress's personal journey. The revelation adds a new layer to the public understanding of the Smiths' marriage and brings to light aspects of their relationship previously unknown to the public. The special can be followed on today.com starting at 8 P.M.