Over the last week, Jada Pinkett Smith's comments regarding her relationship with Hollywood superstar Will Smith have sent shockwaves through the media. Amidst the whirlwind of speculation, Jada sat down with Hoda Kotb on Today to clarify her recent statements and revelations, sharing insights into the complexity of her marriage and the nature of their ongoing commitment. "I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce. We will work through whatever. And I just haven't been able to break that promise," Jada said in the candid interview. [[jwplayerwidget||https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/L4Be6qeG-YXhMkIor.mp4||L4Be6qeG]] While promoting her memoir, Worthy, the 52-year-old actress shocked fans by revealing that <a href="https://vt.co/entertainment/celebrity/jada-pinkett-smith-will-smith">she and Will have been separated for seven years</a>. Yet, this didn't equate to an official divorce. Addressing the subsequent media frenzy and clarifying the situation, Jada said: "People missed the point." Their relationship, she emphasized, is still very much a work-in-progress. "We are working very hard at bringing our relationship back together... back to a life partnership," she added. Elaborating on this partnership and its evolution, she explained: "Husband-wife marriage for me, for my healing process. I came into that with very specific ideas. Very specific ideas that were blocks. To me, just seeing Will for who he is. He can't be this perfect idealized husband." <img class="size-full wp-image-1263232881" src="https://img.vt.co/2023/10/GettyImages-1384938711-1.jpg" alt="Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith" width="1024" height="680" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty]] Recognizing the human essence in each other, she added: "I have to be able to accept him for the human he is. He accepts me for the human that I am, and we want to love each other there. We really have been working hard." Hoda, seeking clarity, asked about the nature of their separation and the implications of a potential legal divorce. The host asked: "So, wait. Just so I’m 100 percent sure … You were divorced not on paper?" "Right," Jada responded. Confused? You're probably not the only one. According to Jada, the couple's separation began in 2016 - revealing how their "exhaustion with trying" resulted in the breakdown of their relationship. The Girls Trip star said that she and Will were "stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be." This phase marked a turning point, prompting both to reevaluate and redefine their bond. Together, the pair have raised their children: Jaden, 25, Willow, 22, and Will's son from a previous relationship, Trey, 30. Commenting on their influence, Jada remarked: "My children, they’re little gurus. They’ve taught me a deep sense of self-acceptance." <img class="wp-image-1263232964 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2023/10/GettyImages-532225048.jpg" alt="Will Smith and his family" width="1024" height="671" />[[imagecaption|| Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, and Trey Smith in 2016. Credit: Donna Ward/Getty]] The 2016 separation coincided with Jada's much-discussed "entanglement" with singer August Alsina. While this added another layer of complexity to their story, the focus remains on Jada and Will's resilience and unwavering commitment to each other. This has perhaps never been more on display than <a href="https://vt.co/entertainment/will-smith-praised-reaction-letter-jada-pinkett-smith-book">Will Smith's reaction to her recent memoir</a>. "I applaud and honor you. If I had read this book 30 years ago, I definitely would’ve hugged you more," Will wrote in a letter to Jada. "I’ll start now. Welcome to the Authors' Club. I love you endlessly. Now go get some Merlot and take a rest." <h6>Featured image credit: Amy Sussman / Getty</h6>

Jada Pinkett Smith clarifies relationship status with Will Smith, claims people 'missed the point'

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