The 52-year-old actress openly acknowledged that they have been engaged in an ongoing process of “figuring out” the future of their marriage. Jada and Will, 55, tied the knot in Baltimore on New Year’s Eve in 1997, a marriage that coincided with her pregnancy with their son Jaden, now 25.
Reflecting on their relationship, she shared with People magazine, “We’re still in the process of navigating it. We’ve undertaken some profound work together. We share a deep love for each other, and we’re committed to discovering what that means for us.”
Addressing their children, the Red Table Talk host mentioned, “My children, they are like little guides, teaching me profound self-acceptance.” Will and Jada are parents to daughter Willow, 22, and Jaden. Additionally, Will has a son, Trey, 30, from a previous marriage.
Further insights into their relationship will be disclosed in an upcoming interview with Hota Kotb on NBC News, scheduled to air later in the morning. In a preview clip, Hoda inquired about a pivotal moment in their marriage from 2016. “From 2016, which is seven years ago now, you both have been…,” the Today anchor began, using hand gestures to indicate the distance between them. Jada responded with a simple “Yes” while pulling her hands apart.
This revelation about their separation comes after Will and Jada confirmed in 2020 that she had a romantic involvement with musician August Alsina, who was 25 at the time. This occurred during a period when she and Will were quietly separated in 2015. During their joint appearance on Red Table Talk, Jada disclosed, “Four and a half years ago, I started a friendship with August, and we became really close friends. It all started with him needing help and me wanting to support his health and well-being.”
Speaking directly to Will, she added, “Our initial concern for him was about his health. We worked together to provide various resources to help him. Then, you and I were going through a very challenging time.” Will responded, “I was done with you. Marriages have those moments,” to which Jada remarked, “We separated.”
Pushing for further details, Will asked, “What happened next, Jada?” She replied, “Over time, I became involved in a different kind of relationship. Will asked what she meant by “entanglement,” to which his wife responded, “It was a full-fledged relationship, absolutely.”
She went on to clarify that her time with August represented a “personal journey,” and while she didn’t appreciate how it began, it was rooted in love. When Will inquired about what she sought from her involvement with August, she replied, “I wanted to feel good. It had been a long time since I felt that way.” She added that this experience helped her realize that “happiness can’t be found outside of oneself.” Will and Jada reconciled after her relationship with August.
In the end, they expressed that they can now “laugh” about the situation since it was in the distant past, and they’ve successfully worked through it. They concluded their conversation with a fist bump and a high-five, with Jada praising Will for his “profound capacity to love me.”
Additionally, in her interview with People, Jada shared her thoughts on the incident where Will slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022. The incident occurred after Chris made a joke about Jada, who has alopecia, being bald. Jada, who was seated next to Will at the awards ceremony, commented, “I thought, ‘This is a skit.’ I was like, ‘There’s no way that Will hit him.’ It wasn’t until Will began walking back to his seat that I realized it wasn’t a skit.”