Will Smith made a surprise appearance at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore in support of Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Worthy” press tour. This gesture came after the revelation in Jada’s memoir that they had been separated in 2016.
Accompanied by several members of Pinkett Smith’s family, including their children Jaden and Willow, her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and Smith’s son from his first marriage, Trey, the event featured a talk moderated by CNN’s Laura Coates. Smith took the stage and expressed his desire to be there for his wife, just as she had been there for him throughout his career.
“I just really wanted to come out and just be here and hold it down for you the way you have held it down for me,” he stated on Wednesday night, as reported by the Baltimore Sun. “We have had a very, very long and tumultuous [relationship]. We call it ‘brutiful.’ ‘It was brutal and beautiful at the same time,’ he added.
The actor addressed their enduring relationship, which faced rumors of divorce after their living arrangement revelation. Pinkett Smith clarified in an interview with The Today Show that there is no divorce happening and that they have been working hard to rebuild their relationship.
Smith acknowledged that his wife had played a pivotal role in his professional and personal accomplishments, as she had put her own ambitions on hold for his dreams. He mentioned that his success was “largely built on the foundation of Jada’s sacrifices,” including her relationship with Trey’s mother and Smith’s ex-wife, Sheree Zampino.
“We got together when we were in our 20s,” he told the audience. “I had huge dreams of what I wanted to do in the world and in my life, and I was on fire with a vision. And as I stand here before you today, I am happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
Smith also addressed the response to an Instagram video where he turned off his notifications amid the news cycle surrounding Pinkett Smith’s separation revelation. He explained that he had been in Papua New Guinea for the past three weeks, assisting with biodiversity research, and was unaware of the divorce speculation before arriving in Sydney.
“Our union is a sloppy experiment in unconditional love,” he told the lecture crowd. “Jada is the best friend I have ever had on this planet, and I am going to show up for her and support her for the rest of my life.”
During the conversation, Pinkett Smith once again dismissed divorce rumors, emphasizing that she and Will were in a good place. She stated, “All the people who don’t understand and have something to say are just going to have to fall in line. The truth of the matter is, I’m not leaving Will’s side, and he’s not going to leave mine. We’ve been on a powerful quest. And I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
