Eighteen months on from the jaw-dropping Oscars slap incident at the 2022 Academy Awards, Jada Pinkett Smith has finally broken her silence on that unforgettable night and offered a glimpse into her marriage with Will.
The world watched in shock when Will, in a fit of anger, confronted Chris Rock on the Oscars stage.
"Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth,” Will fiercely warned after storming back to his seat.
The emotional turbulence continued as he later clinched the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard.
This act of Will's not only dominated headlines but also led to a 10-year ban from the Academy Awards ceremony for the actor. As a consequence of this incident, the Oscars even instituted new crisis management measures for future ceremonies.
This is the moment Will Smith slapped Chris Rock:Reflecting on that pivotal moment, Jada, 52, recalled her initial disbelief in a recent interview with People magazine. “I thought, ‘This is a skit,’” she said, emphasizing that the incident's reality hit her only when she saw her husband returning to his seat.
Her immediate response when they finally had a moment alone was one of concern, asking him, “Are you okay?”
Will’s subsequent appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah saw him attributing the incident to “bottled rage”. He also shared his apologies to both the Academy and Chris for his “unacceptable behaviour”.
But the People magazine interview wasn’t solely about that night. Promoting her upcoming memoir, Worthy, Jada delved deeper into the intricacies of her relationship with Will.
Addressing their marital status, she candidly admitted, “We’re still figuring it out.” Despite being separated for seven years, the Girls Trip actor shed light on the ongoing effort to nurture their relationship, asserting their deep-rooted love for each other.
“We just got deep love for each other and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us,” she elaborated.
Jada also took the moment to share admiration for her children, Jaden and Willow, praising their positive influence on her. “My children, they’re little gurus. They’ve taught me a deep sense of self-acceptance.”
This revealing interview certainly offers fans a closer look into Jada's life, both personal and professional. For those eager to dive deeper, her memoir Worthy hits the shelves on October 17. Grab your copy and immerse yourself in her journey.