Will Smith and Jada's Decision To Work Through Her Affair Speaks Volumes About Their Marriage

The latest Smith family revelation has taken the Internet by storm. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have always seemed like the perfect couple; they love each other, they respect each other, and they value each other as co-parents and life partners.

The way in which they even present their challenges has served as an inspiration to many other couples going through similar issues. There’s something to be said about how certain couples are able to come forward and speak candidly about their relationship without being hostile or confrontational. 

But many doubted whether the Smiths would be able to overcome the latest wrench thrown in the works. In June 2020, singer August Alsina shocked the world when he said in an interview that not only had he had an affair with Jada but Will had given his blessing for the relationship. 

This caused a lot of people to wonder whether the Smiths’ had an open marriage. Rumours have been circulating for years but August's testimony was probably the most definitive evidence of such an arrangement. Though Jada denied that Will ever gave his seal of approval for the affair, she did set up a Red Table Talk episode to discuss the recent allegation and it means for their marriage. 

The subsequent episode blew our minds but also made us contemplate the complexities of long-term relationships. The confessions came in hot and the aftermath has brought in a slew of opinions. At the end of the day, we have to remember that Will and Jada’s relationship spanning over twenty-three years has enough strength in it to conquer the most damning of situations. 

Jada admitted to being in an “entanglement” with August

The most shocking aspect of the episode was that Jada didn’t beat around the bush. She admitted that August’s allegations were indeed true and the two were very much seeing each other. Most celebrities don’t address so-called cheating rumors in such a straight-forward manner but the Smiths have always been different. 

Jada also took the time to clarify the context of the relationship, so that people were not misled by external rumors that had cropped up in the wake of August’s interview. Jada explained that she was first introduced to August through her son Jaden over four years ago. She and August reportedly developed a really solid friendship at first and she really wanted to help the singer deal with issues related to his physical and mental health.   

Will agreed that August received an “outpouring” of support from the family as a whole, not just Jada. But things took a turn when Will and Jada’s marriage began going through some rocky times soon after, to the extent that the couple essentially “broke up.” 

Will said that they decided to separate for a while so each of them could decide what would make them happy going forward. 

From there, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August...It was a relationship, absolutely. I was in a lot of pain and I was very broken. In the process of that relationship, I definitely realized that you can’t find happiness outside of yourself.

Jada Pinkett Smith on Red Table Talk

The relationship helped Jada do some “deep healing” 

At that point, Jada and Will both believed that their relationship had come to its end. They tried to do everything they could do to get away from each other, even though they later learnt it wasn’t that easy. 

She and Will were approaching their healing journeys in different ways. For Jada, it had been so long since she “felt good.” Pursuing a romantic and sexual relationship with August allowed her to feel fulfilled in that she was helping someone with their own healing journey as opposed to just her own. 

Jada shared that she had been suffering from “codependency” issues and as a result, she was drawn to getting together with people who needed help, whether it was related to physical help or addictions. Near the end, however, she realized that the only person that needed fixing in this scenario was herself. 

I actually don’t look at it as a transgression at all. Through that particular journey, I learnt so much about myself and was able to really confront a lot of emotional immaturity, emotional insecurity….I was really able to do some really deep healing. 

Jada Pinkett Smith in Red Table Talk

Will admits marriage is hard but admits Jada is his ride-or-die no matter what 

Throughout the whole confession episode, Will let Jada speak her truth, opting to hold back and let her finish her piece. He indicated that discussions surrounding August and Jada’s relationship had taken place years ago, including the fighting, the talking, the therapy sessions.  So it was a little strange to see it resurface in the press recently. 

He undoubtedly agreed with Jada that the pair had been separated when Jada began seeing August. Will also acknowledged that it’s important for people in a marriage to have the space to make their mistakes. 

We came together young and we were both broken in our own ways and to be able to make mistakes without the fear of losing your family is so critical. 

Will Smith in Red Table Talk

Ultimately, Will underlined what many couples already know: marriage is a tough undertaking. There are no right answers, no wrong answers, and you become connected to the other person in such a way that it’s often easy to separate your own desires and ambitions from theirs. Mistakes will be made, not once, not twice, but many, many times. 

Will’s choice to forgive Jada and maintain their marriage at all costs speaks to his development as a person. This is someone who’s spoken at length about continuously fighting with his ex-wife Sheree over their young son, someone who admitted to being particularly tough on his children based on what his father instilled in him.

Much like how he realized that he needed to evolve as a father, he discovered that the only way to heal from marital issues was to talk it out — rather than fight and run away from them. 

There's a real power in just knowing somebody’s riding with you no matter what. And you really can’t know that until you go through some stuff.

Will Smith in Red Table Talk

It’s not like it was very simple for Will to forgive Jada and move on as though nothing had happened. Will said that he wasn’t sure he would ever want to speak to his wife again. Sitting down at the table and discussing the whole ordeal in front of the world seemed like a “miracle” to Will.

I wasn’t sure I was ever going to speak to you again. Like the fact that I’m speaking to you again is a miracle. [Marriage] ain’t for the weak at heart. There’s just certain things that you have to go through. I wish it could be all magic and miracles.

Will Smith in Red Table Talk

He admitted that marriage isn’t for the faint of heart; couples have to go through many tests to determine whether they’re meant for one another. Sometimes they find that they’re not, and that’s okay. But sometimes those journeys bring them to a whole new level of appreciation for one another. 

The stumbling blocks will define you as a couple

Jada said in the episode that this obstacle in their marriage has somehow brought them closer together and allowed them to be in a place of “unconditional love.” While we cannot say for sure whether every hardship in a marriage will lead you to the same conclusion, what we can tell you is that be prepared to work through those hurdles if you want to truly understand each as a couple.

Some couples discover through those arguments and moments that they’re not suited for each other at all. Whereas some couples realized that they’ve unlocked something special through those obstructions. 

At the end of the day, it’s important that you keep an open mind and are very well aware of the boundaries you’ve set as a couple. Will and Jada have displayed resilience, patience, and understanding in the face of adversity; they know that their love for each other is far more meaningful than a short-term affair. It’s something to be said when a couple knows each other so well that they will give it their all to work through their issues amicably but still make their thoughts known to the other person. 

If you and your partner can exercise the same level of empathy, appreciation, and calmness when resolving your own challenges, then the conclusion will be worth it. Whether you’ve chosen to go your own ways or you’ve decided to give it another go, you can rejoice in the fact that your end-solution came from a place from love and respect, not hate or resentment. 

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