Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s marriage has been a major topic of discussion in recent years. The celebrity couple made headlines back in 2020 when Jada (now 54) confirmed that she engaged in an affair or “an entanglement” with rapper August Alsina. By 2023, the Smiths also confirmed that they’d been separated for years. More recently, the couple haven’t been seen together in public, though they recently stepped out in honor of their son, Jaden. With that, an insider dropped claims about how the occasion went.

Earlier this month, Jaden Smith (27) celebrated a major professional milestone as the actor, singer and designer made his debut as the first men’s creative director for Christian Louboutin. That happened during Paris Fashion Week, and plenty of people were seemingly in attendance. Among those present were Jaden’s parents, as Will (57) and Jada were photographed during the festivities. Sometime later, a source spoke with People about the vibe the pair gave off:

The last time the Smiths were seen out in public together was back in September 2025. It was at that time that the couple was spotted in Malibu, where they were grabbing something to eat at Nobu. (Interestingly enough, Nobu was also the same place Will and Jada were spotted for the first time in months after the former’s Oscar debacle in March 2022.) Based on the claims above, the couple’s latest joint outing was filled with positive energy, as they basked in the glow of their son’s success.

In recent years, the Smith kids have been carving out lanes for themselves within the entertainment landscapes. Jaden has acted more sparsely as of late, but he’s continued to put a lot of focus on his business endeavors. Meanwhile, his sister, Willow (25) is still making music, and she released her sixth studio album, Empathogen, in 2024. As the young adults continue to find their way and reckon with the notion of being considered “nepo babies,” questions continue to swirl around the state of their parents’ relationship.

Jada Pinkett and Will Smith tied the knot in the former’s hometown of Baltimore, Maryland in December 1997. Throughout the years, the two have been open about their relationship, with Pinkett Smith being particularly candid on her since-concluded show, Red Table Talk. It was during an episode of that show that the Matrix alum addressed her “entanglement.” It was also Jada who revealed in 2023 that she and Will had been separated since 2016.

Since that confirmation was shared, insiders have dropped claims about what the dynamics are amongst the Smiths. In late 2023, Jada Pinkett herself declared that she and her husband were “staying together forever” despite their separation. An insider shared alleged details about the Smiths’ marriage in 2025, saying that they were “living their own lives” but hadn’t “completely severed ties.”

That last point still seems to ring true, as the pair Jada and Will Smith have still supported each other on different occasions. Amid the separation, Jada also supported the I Am Legend star after the Oscar slap, for which she also received blame. So, given how the two stars have apparently maintained a positive relationship, it tracks that they would reportedly have no problem getting together to celebrate Jaden at his fashion show.

While the podcasting market continues to expand, with everyone and their mom seeming to have one, there truly are some gems on the airwaves. Regardless of your familiarity and regularity in dabbling, where does one start? As someone who dabbles in a few series and loves a good pop culture injection of any form, a celebrity-hosted show can offer a lot! These stars’ pods cover plenty of ground from BTS on favorite sets to politics to emotionally forward conversations. If you’re lost, in a rut or just looking for another stellar title to add to your audio arsenal, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in!

Oprah’s Super Soul - Oprah Winfrey

We know her, we love her, and the dynamic Oprah Winfrey continues to evolve and push interviewing bounds. Super Soul is more or less an adaptation of her inspiration and often a spiritual talk show that ran through the early 2020s. Be prepared to hear some deep conversations if you aren’t already, though we all know it tends to come with the unmistakable Hollywood giant.

Literally! With Rob Lowe - Rob Lowe

The 61-year-old Hollywood vet has wide-ranging conversations with plenty of well-known professionals. Whether it's well-established or rising stars in movies and TV, music or sports, Lowe jumps right in with them. And as a member of The Brat Pack, the pull he has with landing guests is pretty impressive and diverse.

Renegades: Born In The USA - Barak Obama, Bruce Springsteen

Though it only ran for one season and has 8 episodes to its name, the former president and The Boss’ collab rocked. Their conversations consisted of the changing dynamics of the USA through the lens of music, personal happenings, fatherhood and future revitalization. They also share their backstory on how the friendship and pod came to be.

Goop - Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow and Goop’s virality continues to regularly break the internet (especially those body-forward scented candles). But the Hollywood A-lister and her empire went to new heights with the addition of their own podcast, which she hosts. Naturally, it dives in holistically to grander topics with today’s ‘brightest thinkers and culture changers’ to dissect the conversation at hand.

Wiser Than Me - Julia Louis-Dreyfus

As always, when Louis-Dreyfus commits to a project, she knocks a role out of the park. One of her most recent titles as host of Wiser Than Me is no different; her interviewing women who are expert veterans in their given career is a true delight. She’s had everyone from Jane Goodall to Jane Fonda, and she’s just getting going.

Good Hang - Amy Poehler

Don’t overlook the Parks & Rec star’s Good Hang, even though it may be one of the newest entries on the list. Poehler’s sunshine bright vibes radiate through the show while she chats with A-list Hollywood names. But the most signature part shines through when she has a mini cameo from a friend of the guest who praises them ahead of the main convo. (If you haven’t seen or know where the viral clip of Rachel Dratch fumbling with headphones on a Zoom, now you do.)

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Conan O’Brien

In the comedian’s corner of the interview world, you can certainly expect his signature smart silliness he has brought to the masses over the decades. But why did he jump into the world? As the title implies, and per his summary, O’Brien realized after years of interviewing celebs, ‘the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him,’ and wanted to change that.

Fly On The Wall - David Spade, Dana Carvey

While not an outright Saturday Night Live podcast, two huge alums, Spade and Carvey, lead this industry-leaning show. The pair has their fair share of guests and covers plenty of Studio 8H lore depending on who’s with them that week. Beyond the sketch show conversations, they often jump into current pop culture, current events and even fan-submitted fare.

Bill Gates And Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions - Bill Gates, Rashida Jones

Gates and Jones came together at the beginning of the pandemic in search of musing about some big questions. Though there are only five episodes, nothing seems off the table, from climate change to the psychology behind lying. But the unexpected co-hosts tackle these larger sociological and worldly topics with intentionality and ease.

The Big Podcast With Shaq - Shaquille O'Neal

The dynamic retired basketball player continues to surprise us with his plays (he just confirmed he was a Swiftie on the Kelces’ pod), and did just that when he kicked off his new podcast network by way of his own. Aptly named, Shaq and co-host Adam Lefkoe, of course, talk sports among themselves and alongside guests, but also hit a range of topics.

Minnie Questions - Minnie Driver

The Good Will Hunting actress’ offering sets up each interview through seven thoughtful questions. Though each question is relatively simple, it’s proven time and again that it unearths quite a conversation. Her therapy session meets fireside chat structure stands apart from other celebrity podcasts since its intention dives into a soulful exploration of life’s questions.

All There Is With Anderson Cooper - Anderson Cooper

While plenty of entries on the list cover an array of subjects from casual conversations, behind-the-scenes Hollywood magic and love and relationships, Cooper dives into loss (which he’s experienced multiple times over since childhood). What started as the beloved CNN news anchor processing the passing of his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and the ins and outs that go along with it, has blossomed into something much more. He’s built a safe ground for guests and listeners alike to reflect and process the big topic.

Red Table Talk - Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris

The multi-generational, familial women-hosted show has gone viral a few times over since its inception on Facebook. Nothing, as we’ve seen, is off limits in this conversational style show and doesn’t shy away when things get nitty gritty. Though the OG got the axe in 2023, it got going again with no ties to Facebook, and its episode catalog continues to rank with some of the best Hollywood fodder out there today.

The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart - Jon Stewart

The beloved TV host has a podcast that pairs with his regularly scheduled show. The Weekly Show offers a more expansive look into our ever-developing world with notable minds in essential roles across the professional field. If you’re looking for even more Stewart material, he had a short-lived but excellent 2 season show called The Problem with Jon Stewart that dove into topics that were ‘too big for TV.’ With either, you can count on a laugh paired with some big, thought-provoking discussions.

SmartLess - Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes

SmartLess is like an improv dinner party you weren’t invited to, but somehow snuck into. Each episode brings a surprise guest to the table, and with it comes comedy, curiosity, and the kind of bromantic chaos that three A-listers with zero filters can deliver. It’s part talk show, part therapy session, and all charm—who would’ve guessed the vibe would be achieved by the Michael and Gob Bluth actors with a dash of the Jack McFarland actor.

Armchair Expert - Dax Shepard

Maybe one of the most recognizable and longstanding on the list, Shepard started his series in 2018. Though the premise is relatively simple in terms of chatting with well-known faces, things can go deep quickly. The CHiPs alum has had ex-costars like Lauren Graham, incidentally spill about Parenthood peer, Mae Whitman’s baby daddy, and Oscar-nominated stars like Michelle Williams reflect about her late ex-partner, Heath Ledger. Needless to say, there’s a lot to work with here (and a 300+ episode backlog to sift through).

Office Ladies - Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer

Of course, there was bound to be at least one rewatch pod in the bunch, and with The Office ranking as one of the best sitcoms ever, it’s a natural pick to include. Kinsey (who played Angela Martin/Lipton/Schrute) and Fischer (who played Pam Beesly Halpert) recount excellent tidbits and memories as they rewatch the NBC classic while hosting Dunder Mifflin cast and crew members.

Life Is Short - Justin Long

First and foremost, I’ve got to give the Jeepers Creepers actor’s name for his show is A+ play on words (specifically short and long). But, behind the small chuckle the title of the pod offers is a surprisingly poignant base for Long and his brother, who co-hosts the show. The siblings jump in the deep end with their guests and discuss all there is about life, which includes everything from emojis to their perspective on life.

LeVar Burton Reads - LeVar Burton

Fiction lovers and previous PBS Kids unite! The beloved Reading Rainbow star’s pod is a modern-day take on the classic 26-year run show, but now catered toward adults. Short form stories are the main genre he dives into each week, and the whole thing feels just like a little bit of a time machine, for those who tuned in regularly to RR.

New Heights - Jason, Travis Kelce

No, I’m not talking about their mom, Donna Kelce, landing a spot on S4 of The Traitors US, but it’s worth mentioning. The NFL family show is full of BTS looks into being brothers while also playing football professionally. They also often go out of bounds of the shared ground and discuss everything from pop culture to UFOs.

The High Life - Ricki Lake

The former television host is getting back to her roots with The High Life. And while she still has plenty of Tinseltown names as guests, the focus with her offering is health and wellness. Nothing is off the table within the larger landscape; she hits everything from menopause to energy healing.

Las Culturistas - Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers

In case you’d like to know, this is my ride or die pick of the list. The college besties-turned-Hollywood-darling co-hosts have amassed a cult turned mainstream following thanks to culture catch-ups, regular bits they have A-list guests participate in (what sparked their interest in culture and their wry ‘I Don’t Think So Honey!’ critique of something) and their own award show. Clearly, I could go on about it, but if you need more proof, Tina Fey’s iconic advice to Yang speaks to why we, ‘readers, kayteighs, publicists, finalists and kyles,’ love it all.

WTF With Marc Maron - Marc Maron

The rough around the edges comedian and actor’s podcast is one of the most well-known celebrity series. As a blueprint of public figures' iterations to come, Maron got started in 2009 after his radio show got canned. In the decade-plus he’s been at it, he hosted writers, directors, comedians, actors and many more in the typical style that is commonplace today. But, heads up, he just announced his show will end this fall, so don’t miss out!

Podcrushed - Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, Sophie Ansari

The Gossip Girl alum’s shared show isn’t a far cry from the hit teen series fodder. They’ve just spun the clock a little further back to schoolyard drama and middle school crushes. Badgley, alongside Kavelin and Ansari, takes on listeners' stories, reads them and explores all the ins and outs of starting to grow up (and all the turmoil that tags along).

Broad Ideas - Rachel Bilson, Olivia Allen

While you may know of Bilson’s other pod, Beyond The O.C., involving ex-castmate Melinda Clarke, Broad Ideas includes her longtime bestie, Olivia Allen. The new duo essentially cover any ground two girlfriends would in any given conversation (mental health to ghosts are promised). But hosting a new guest to join in on the fun each week brings it to the next level.

The Mess Around With Hannah And Lamorne - Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone

If you know anything about where these two co-hosts met, you can probably guess this is a New Girl rewatch series. And if you know that, you probably know they played CeCe and Winston (Bishop), respectively, and the title comes from a bit that the characters shared. Also, plenty of past cast and crew come through to reminisce about all the shenanigans that went down in 4D.

Films To Be Buried With With Brett Goldstein - Brett Goldstein

Though he’s still relatively new to the scene, the Ted Lasso star is hitting it big (and is now on Shrinking). With that success, his unique corner of the recording studio has only found more success. And while the title of Goldstein’s show is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, it has me hooked. I think it’s safe to say he’s just getting started.

At Your Service - Dua Lipa

While I haven’t actually listened to the singer and actress’ show, it may be the hidden gem on the list. Heading into her third season, she continues to host a slew of knockout guests, and her collection of candid conversations runs the gamut of interesting fare. Everything from psychedelics to running Apple.

Getting Better With Jonathan Van Ness - Jonathan Van Ness

Ever since being introduced as the current generation’s hair & grooming lead on Queer Eye, JVN has been stealing the show as they help build up others. By natural curiosity and the drive to learn, the Getting Better podcast helps them grow and build spaces to learn even more. The weekly episodic content comes in all shapes and sizes–from finance lessons to discourse on culture, they’ve got it covered.

Why Won’t You Date Me? - Nicole Byer

The Nailed It! host is also a pro-podcaster. If you go looking for Byer’s love and relationship pod, you may find quite a slew aside from the aforementioned one (Best Friends!, 90 Day Bae and Newcomers). But this humorously titled one is the most well-known and long-standing one, where she has everyone from friends and experts to an occasional ex or two dish all about dating and love.

Lovett Or Leave It - Jon Lovett

While Jon Lovett’s beginnings aren’t traditional Hollywood standards material, the comedian was a former speech writer for Barack Obama. From there, he and fellow Obama peers (Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau–not to be confused with the A-lister) then co-hosted Pod Save America. His newest show is a hybrid of political news mixed with fun, well-known guests, and a bit of shenanigans all tied into one, always providing a laugh.

The Bald And The Beautiful - Trixie Mattel And Katya Zamolodchikova

One of RuPaul’s Drag Race’s biggest winners, Trixie and ride or die fellow queen, Katya, have taken the world by storm together. After meeting on season 7, they quickly went on their way to make creative projects together, starting with their viral cult followed series, UNHhhh, to their aptly titled pod. It’s a lot of the same banter, just funneled into discussing pop culture and Tinseltown-leaning topics.

It’s been three years since Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, but that’s a scene that’s far from forgotten for those who were involved and for those who witnessed the moment. Even as Smith moves on with plenty of movies in the works, he released an album, Based on a True Story, that makes several nods to the scandal. The actor got candid about what these post-slap years have been like as he worked on himself.

Will Smith sat down with the Drink Champs podcast, where he really opened up about having to confront a part of himself that he hadn’t acknowledged or wanted to show people before. While fans knew him for light-hearted roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Men in Black, Smith has realized that public persona was a mask that he wore, and he’s taken time to look at what that means. In his words:

On March 27, 2022, though, Will Smith was very upset. While presenting the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head (the actress has alopecia), prompting Smith to walk up on stage and slap the comedian on live television.

That certainly wasn’t representative of the person Will Smith usually allowed the public to see, and to that point, he said:

Will Smith has said that the most painful part of dealing with the slap aftermath was coming to terms with the fact that he responded to hate with more hate. He’s realized since then that everybody’s going through pain, and he told N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN that there’s power to be found in confronting that pain within yourself. Smith said:

Will Smith went on to say he’s found poetry, power, patience, certainty and many other positive qualities since learning to accept the entirety of his humanity.

Chris Rock, meanwhile, has been dealing with it in his own way, including through his comedy. He addressed the Oscars slap on his comedy special Selective Outrage (available to stream with a Netflix subscription), where he had a lot to say about Will and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Ultimately, though, Chris Rock said he lives in forgiveness, and interestingly he didn’t shut down the possibility of hosting the Oscars again someday. However, he agreed with the general consensus that Conan O’Brien deserves to do it again after he crushed this year’s ceremony.

Even three years later, there’s no question that “the slap” remains as relevant as ever, and it seems Will Smith has really learned a lot about himself in that time.

Celebrity couples have a habit of fascinating the public, from Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. While combined starpower can be a powerful tool in the industry, it also makes any private drama into a very public matter. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith likely know this all too well, as they've made countless headlines over the years related to their relationship. And fans might be wondering what's going on with the pair two year after Jada's viral entanglement comments.

While Will Smith slapping Chris Rock has remained synonymous with the celebrity couple, there is also plenty of discourse about the marriage itself. Some fans connected The Slap with Jada Pinkett Smith's affair with August Alsina, which is why there are so many continued question about the Smiths. An anonymous insider close to the pair spoke to People, and claimed that they were "living independently" but staying in each other's lives. They said:

There you have it. It sounds like the Smiths are at least semi-separated, apparently continuing to live independently of each other. While they're presumably still co-parenting and staying in each other's lives, they aren't behaving as a "traditional" married couple. Then again, the pair of celebrities have always made their own rules related to their relationship.

Jada Pinkett Smith has explained why being separated from Will Smith was necessary, but that doesn't stop the public from being curious about what's going on behind closed doors. Some might be rooting for a reconciliations, while others think the drama might be too much.

Aside from his personal life, Will Smith has been on a comeback journey since The Slap stopped his career in its tracks. The same insider close to the couple offered an update on how he's doing, offering:

While his comeback was originally slow going, Will Smith has managed to shoot and release a number of projects since the Oscars drama went down. Bad Boys: Ride or Die crushed at the box office, so it's clear that the public's support of the 56 year-old Oscar winner hasn't waned. He's currently attached to a number of upcoming projects, including the remake of Planes, Trains & Automobiles as well as I Am Legend 2.

As for Jada Pinkett Smith, she's got some exciting creative ventures coming down the line, including the long-awaited Girls Trip sequel. Hopefully we get some more information about that comedy sooner rather than later. Although we probably shouldn't expect to see it on the 2025 movie release dates. But what's clear is that the Smiths are continuing to thrive despite their unique marriage.

Movies about friendship can be the warmest, funniest, and most tense experiences audiences can have. Of course, the comedy blockbuster Girls Trip fits into that incredible tradition. The all-female comedy is a view of Black friendship that is rarely given space on the big screen. The film was a display of comradery and a shot in the arm of big-screen comedies when released in 2017.

The success of the friendships in the ensemble comedy spoke volumes, as the movie raked in over $100 million. It was not only a hit with audiences but received a positive reception from critics, including a glowing review from CinemaBlend. The Black comedy has ranked amongst the best female-led buddy comedies since it premiered. With that in mind, I think Girls Trip is now the ultimate Black friendship movie, and here’s why.

Girls Trip Is About Friends Reconnecting After Drifting Apart

This comedy tackled a tried but true trope – friends reconnecting. Of course, Girls Trip’s premise revolved around a group of college friends reuniting at the Essence Festival after not connecting for five years. This trope works well as viewers get a peek into each woman’s daily life while watching flashbacks to their rowdy college days. Ryan (played by Regina Hall) is a best-selling lifestyle guru. Sasha (played by Queen Latifah) is running a gossip site. Lisa (played by Jada Pinkett Smith) is a party girl-turned-single mom still reeling from her divorce. Dina (played by Tiffany Haddish) is the impulsive and irresponsible one still living on the edge.

Like real-life friendships can, the Flossy Posse grew apart as life sent them on different paths. However, this fact doesn’t mean their bond has faltered. The group recommits to their lifelong friendship throughout the weekend. Of course, like any reconnection attempt, this comes with love and tension.

It’s A Rare Example Of Women Having Their Turn At Raunchy And Outrageous Fun

Bro (or frat) comedies have had their raunchy fun throughout cinema. However, comedies like Bridesmaids and Girls Trip proved that the ladies could get dirty like the guys. 

Of course, resident firecracker Dina kicks off the debauchery with her inappropriate prayer. She gets the girl squad high before Ryan’s career-making deal, leading to the infamous dance battle scene. She even gets reformed party girl Lisa to let loose and have adult fun with a younger guy (played by Kofi Siriboe). Of course, this relationship led to the iconic grapefruit scene (for better or worse). However, this bittersweet moment doesn’t compare to Lisa’s notorious urination scene during a fun night in New Orleans.

Those scenes (and so much more) proved Black women lose their inhibitions and have just as much outlandish fun as their male counterparts. The Flossy Posse picked the perfect time and venue for drunken and forgettable nights.

The Flossy Posse Navigates Changes And Personality Differences With Bumps Along The Way

The movie’s storyline focuses mostly on the group's tight bond. However, Ryan and co. have grown as women since graduating college. Of course, post-college life kept them together for life-changing moments, but that doesn’t mean the women know each other as adults. Ryan became a bigger-than-life media personality with fame, money, and a loveless marriage. Lisa turned in her dance card for a safe life as a mother and nurse. Sasha went from a prestigious journalist to a struggling gossip blogger. Dina has remained the same throughout the years (for better or worse).

However, the five-year friendship gap has bred animosity and hidden truths among the college best friends. This growing tension culminates in a nasty fight between the group over leaked pictures featuring Ryan’s husband. These growing pains showed that female friendships experience the same trials and tribulations as a bromance. Lifelong friendships aren’t immune to envy and jealousy, especially after a decades-long bond.

I Love Watching The Flossy Posse’s Bond Grow Through Healing And Empowerment

Something you rarely see in comedies is the healing process between devoted friends. Of course, Girls Trip deals with that as the women come to terms with their differing lifestyles and personalities. In true comedy fashion, each character faced regret and expressed forgiveness and compassion. Healing gave way to empowerment as Sasha, Lisa, and Dina supported Ryan in telling her truth to an audience of thousands.

I enjoyed watching the Flossy Posse grow apart and back together as each woman found strength in their incredible bond. The film proved soulmates aren't always romantic, as the ladies find love and companionship within their friendship.  

Girls Trip Celebrates Black Culture - Women Over 40, The Essence Festival, And New Orleans

Of course, Flossy Posse’s story took center stage throughout the raunchy comedy, but the film served as a love letter to Black American culture. Every scene brought clues and homages without drawing attention to them. Allowing the enchanting New Orleans and Essence Festival to be the backdrop was a beautiful way to salute Black women. The underserved group gathers yearly in the city to attend the multi-faceted festival, so having the friends gather there made sense. The sisterhood illustrated in the movie encapsulates the fun and fearless vibe at the three-day event.

With Essence Fest as the backdrop, the comedy gave audiences a rare treat – Black women over 40 as the focus. College-educated Black women finally got the chance to be outrageous and free like their white counterparts. So, Girls Trip was a rare feat for movie audiences. Seeing the Flossy Posse’s debaucherous misadventures was a detour from the traditional guy weekend or road trip films moviegoers usually see. The film even snuck in a small homage to the cult classic Set It Off, when Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith starred together for the first time. It showcased Black culture without pandering or over-explaining to a wider audience.

Girls Trip shifted Hollywood in a way audiences have not seen since Bridesmaids in 2011. It amplified Black women and culture reminiscent of the Black movie renaissance in the 1990s and 2000s. I loved watching Black women being fun, flawed, and unfiltered without outside societal pressures and norms. The quartet showed what real-life friendships go through as all involved parties mature and take separate paths. It was nice seeing mature women have outlandish fun like their male counterparts.

After the comedy’s tremendous success, talks of a much-buzzed-about sequel began at once. It's finally happening with the entire cast reportedly returning, including breakout star Tiffany Haddish. Producer Will Packer even confirmed the sequel was a go with THR. So, expect more debauchery and beautiful friendship moments when the second installment, which currently has no production or release date, finally arrives. 

If you want to see more movies like Girls Trip, watch the best movies about female friendship across streaming platforms and other media.

Willow Smith rarely speaks about her famous parents Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Despite her relative silence on her family’s private matters, when she has spoken about them, she has been candid about her relationship with her actor parents. Now, considering her parents' fame, she has been brought into the viral nepo baby debate, and she finally shared her thoughts on being considered one.

The musician seemed to subvert the idea while acknowledging the power of her last name. Smith explained to Allure that “her determination and creative output” don’t meet the trendy term. The multihyphenate gave her take on being different from other celebrity children, saying:

Being the daughter of two Hollywood stars has only driven the occasional actress to push harder for her career. Over time, Smith proved her versatility by carving a lane for herself. Her fortitude proved worthwhile, garnering critical acclaim and popularity over her diverse musical output. She was also correct that her parents’ fame allowed her more artistic freedom than her music contemporaries.

Even though the “Meet Me at the Spot” singer mentioned her parents were “skeptical” of her musical declaration at age 8, they schooled her on music business expectations before releasing her hit single “Whip My Hair.” Pushing the younger Smith to music fame briefly backfired after her movie star father steered her early career. This approach proved to be Will Smith’s one Hollywood regret.

Willow Smith admitted being a Smith hasn’t shielded her from racism as she recalled industry experiences where others treated her like she didn’t “belong here” or was “out of your price range.” The “Transparent Soul” singer doesn’t deny her privilege either. However, being the daughter of celebrities didn’t “exempt” her from discrimination and misperception. 

The singer mentioned that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith stressed being “very respectful” when speaking to others and looking “them in the eyes.” 

These comments are part of a greater debate about nepo babies in Hollywood. Over the last year, people like Jamie Lee Curtis have called the discourse hurtful, and Dakota Johnson called it "lame." Meanwhile, Hailey Bieber made light of the debate, while Maya and Ethan Hawke talked about nepotism in a light-hearted way, with the actor claiming he's a "nepo dad." Overall, Willow knows her parents' fame has helped her, however, she's also candid about just how hard she's worked to achieve her goals. 

The youngest Smith recently released her jazz-influenced album Empathogen. While Willow Smith hasn’t announced any new film and TV projects, it’s a different story for her famous father. Will Smith will appear on the 2024 movie schedule with Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which hits movie theaters on June 7. You can watch the Bad Boys 4 trailer to keep you occupied until then.

Fashion can truly make an impression with any character you’re trying to get across; especially with the figures we’re about to discuss. Clothing is definitely not optional, it’s a way of life for some of the snazziest dressers in all of cinematic history. So straighten your tie, smooth out your sweater, and slip on your glasses to take a look at these shining examples of sartorial supremacy.

James Bond (The James Bond Movies)

How can you not admire the costume design throughout every era of James Bond movies? No matter your chosen actor for the job, 007 has made his way into the world with a fine style that matches his cutting wit. His fashion is forever.

Holly Golightly (Breakfast At Tiffany’s)

Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) became a fashion icon for the ages in 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s certainly not hard to see why, as Hubert De Givenchy and Edith Head’s talents gave this movie its signature looks; chiefly among them some little black dresses that launched a thousand party outfits.

Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Casino)

How mythic is the wardrobe of Robert De Niro’s Sam “Ace” Rothstein from Casino? There are whole YouTube videos and posters designed to show them off. Not to mention even some of the oversized glasses that Martin Scorsese’s protagonist wears during the film have become the stuff of legend. Better still: Ace isn’t afraid to wear pink, and it suits him to a tee.

Lorelei Lee (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)

Sure, as a musical showgirl, it was technically the job of Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) to always be on point with her looks. But at the same time, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes certainly snazzed her up in everyday life, thanks to some beautiful use of patterns and color. And of course, who could forget the iconic pink dress Monroe wore during “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend?”

Django (Django Unchained)

Once he entered the world of bounty hunting, Django (Jamie Foxx) took a lot of the advice Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) gave him to heart. And part of that package was the note that your wardrobe is basically your costume for the moments in your life. Everything from rough and tumble western wear to a natty blue velvet suit with ruffles resulted from that viewpoint, and we’re all the greater for it.

Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada)

If one is going to help make the decisions that puts cerulean sweaters on the backs of those who pretend to hate fashion, one needs to look like they’ve earned that right. The Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) definitely earned that right, and then some. While Streep gave up Method acting because of the character’s miserable nature, her style never looked anything less than top-flight.

Caesar Flickerman (The Hunger Games Trilogy)

Oh Stanley Tucci: the respected actor that, early in his career, was a beefcake model for Levi’s. The man’s style sense has never left him, with Caesar Flickerman from The Hunger Games trilogy being one of his more outlandish cases of style. Bursting with color that matched his energy, it’s hard to hate Panem’s prince of propaganda.

Cruella DeVil (Cruella)

Cruella reinvented the Disney villain from 101 Dalmatians into someone who dug a lot more than Dalmatian spots. Emma Stone’s titular icon of villainy actually changed her tone in this reimagining, setting her sights on revenge in the fashion world, and adopting a sort of punk rock couture aesthetic to do so. Vengeance looked amazing in her hands.

Jinx (Die Another Day)

Yes, Halle Berry’s freezing James Bond entrance in Die Another Day showed her rocking an impressive bikini. But her outfits throughout the rest of the film didn’t slouch either, especially the red leather number that kept her warm in the ice palace of Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens). Though it probably also came in handy that time she was nearly carved up by lasers too. 

Charon (The John Wick Movies)

The entire John Wick universe is dressed to the nines, exuding a style profile that puts most action movies to shame. But if I were to highlight anyone, I’m afraid it’d have to be Charon, played by the late great Lance Reddick. Then again, The Continental is one of those places where you always have to be on your fashion game; so maybe this choice was easier than I thought.

Emily Nelson (A Simple Favor)

Paul Feig’s cinematic adaptation of A Simple Favor saw Blake Lively dipping her toe into all corners of the fashion spectrum. Through looks borrowing from both traditionally masculine and feminine modes, it all looked deadly beautiful throughout her neo-noir character’s arc. 

The Protagonist (Tenet)

Inspired by Sean Connery’s James Bond fashion, Tenet costume designer Jeffrey Kurland crafted fashions for The Protagonist (John David Washington), as well as his accomplice Neil (Robert Pattinson) that evoked the classic era of 007. Kind of fitting for a movie where incremental time travel is the game, and Christopher Nolan’s discipline for panache is also very much present. 

Astrid Leong (Crazy Rich Asians)

Astrid Leong (Gemma Chan) has a heart of gold, and the fashion sense to match it. Throughout the entirety of Crazy Rich Asians, she never failed to show up in some of the most gorgeous outfits; even in moments where her heart was breaking in devastating detail. Every time she’s on screen, it’s like watching a fairy tale.

Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)

When you’ve got a character that’s described as “the man in the cool beautiful shirts,” your costume design needs to measure up. Director Baz Luhrman’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby used the talents of costume designer Catherine Martin to do just that, giving Leonardo DiCaprio’s interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tragic character the finest threads money could buy. 

Tracy Chambers (Mahogany)

Mahogany’s Tracy Chambers (Diana Ross) has aspirations to be a fashion designer herself. So it’s only fitting that she not only found her way into modeling, but also onto this list of snazzy dressers. Epitomizing the color and opulence of the disco era, her cautionary tale saw Tracy looking absolutely fabulous, even in her most dire moments. 

Nigel (The Devil Wears Prada)

If you haven’t heard it before: Stanley Tucci is a man of great fashion. One of the best examples of this is the role of Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada. While he’s a bit nicer spreading the gospel of fashion than his boss Miranda (Meryl Streep), Nigel doesn’t let up in his keen eye for style in the process.

Jackie Brown (Jackie Brown)

Whether she’s coming home from flying the friendly skies, or keeping one step ahead of her criminal compatriots, Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) always looks fantastic. Of course, her striking blue uniform for her day job is what’s always stuck out in Quentin Tarantino’s film. That being said, Ms. Grier’s civilian clothes are no slouch either, especially in that food court outfit where she’s stylishly wearing a Kangol cap.

Thomas Crown (The Thomas Crown Affair)

Billionaire by day and thief in his downtime, The Thomas Crown Affair’s titular rogue is always sharply suited for the occasion. Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond movies certainly set a similar expectation, but this 1999 remake gave the actor some room to roam; even if he wasn’t contractually allowed to be seen in traditional black tie. 

Foxy Cleopatra (Austin Powers in Goldmember)

Borrowing from the rich fashion history of blaxploitation heroines, Austin Powers in Goldmember gave Foxy Cleopatra a whole lot of looks for a whole lot of woman. Then again, when you’ve cast Beyoncé as your female lead, it’s kind of hard to make her look anything other than stunning. Still, an abundance of color and flare is seen through every costume change in this spy movie spoof.

Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)

‘80s business attire was a unique beast that had stock brokers ready to step out into the night once the closing bell had rung. Using GQ and Esquire as a bible, it’s no wonder how American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) always looked as sharpened as a kitchen knife. Though spare a thought for the man’s dry cleaners, as he does have a bit of a temper.

Niobe (The Matrix Reloaded & Revolutions)

Pretty much everyone in The Matrix is a snazzy dresser, especially when they're in The Wachowski's cyberspace playground which gives the film its title. But extra credit has to be given to Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith), as she's not a simple black-and-white dresser. With a long red coat that sets her apart from the rest, reflecting her colorful wardrobe in the real world, The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions were a bit brighter when she battled it out on screen.

Marvello Rubini (La Dolce Vita)

There are certain fashion touchstones of cinema history that will never, ever go out of style. And one such look is the classic suit and sunglasses worn by Marcello Mastroianni’s Marvello Rubini, in one of the greatest Italian movies of all time, La Dolce Vita. You can never go wrong with that black suit, but the eyewear that Federico Fellini's protagonist wears throughout the picture really clinches the win every time.

Elle Woods (Legally Blonde)

Pink is a hard color to work with because, in the wrong context, it could be seen as much too loud. Meanwhile, Legally Blonde icon Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) never met a shade of this pigment she didn’t like. Her signature hue throughout both films, this legal eagle soars high in the sky with flying colors; and it never goes out of style. 

Danny Ocean (Ocean’s Eleven)

A friend once told me, “no one looks as cool as Danny Ocean getting out of prison.” Judging by the look George Clooney’s Ocean’s Trilogy mastermind is rocking at the beginning of that first movie, it’s hard to argue. It’s even more difficult to argue that through all three films, the man isn’t bringing his A-game every single time he steps out.

Annie Hall (Annie Hall)

Blazing a trail for women’s fashion, Annie Hall’s eponymous figure took what was traditionally seen as “men’s clothing” and used it as her own statement to the world. Played brilliantly by Diane Keaton, her keen fashion sense was matched by her wicked wit, more often than not being deployed against lovelorn Alvy Singer (Woody Allen). 

Frank Abignale (Catch Me If You Can)

What is it about confidence crooks that gives them such brilliant fashion sense? Perhaps when Frank Sr. (Christopher Walken) told his young son Frank Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) about how those Yankees pinstripes bedazzle the competition, he was onto something. As a result, Catch Me If You Can’s “real fake” is seen kitted out in everything from pilot’s uniforms to orange sweaters, and he’s always looking dapper as a result. 

Reynolds Woodcock (Phantom Thread)

“Meticulous” is one word that sums up Phantom Thread’s Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis). Paul Thomas Anderson’s dark comedy about romance, fashion, and all the illnesses in between saw the Academy Award-winning legend retire in literal style, playing a fashion designer who would never step foot out the door with even a hair out of place.

Ginger McKenna (Casino)

Martin Scorsese’s Casino shows Las Vegas through some of its most tumultuous years. And one of the indicators of how time passes is in the fashion, as Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) goes from good-time gal to the trusted wife of casino manager Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert DeNiro). Gliding through the years with an effortless eye, Ms. Stone’s costumes maintain an air of control, even when her character seems to be losing that very grasp in life.

Cher Horowitz (Clueless)

Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) is the ‘90s, period. A fashionista who made something like yellow with black plaid into a work of art, our Clueless hero is anything but when she’s putting together her outfits. Who could ever forget the first time they saw some of Cher’s most signature looks in play?

Jules Winfield (Pulp Fiction)

The look of a simple black suit cannot be understated, especially when someone like Samuel L. Jackson is the person wearing it. As imposing fixer Jules Winfield in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, Jackson wears this outfit for most of the movie’s running time; save for those sequences taking place after one catastrophic accident. Even in a random t-shirt and shorts, the man knows how to make an impression and keep all the Fonzies in the room cool. 

Rachel Chu (Crazy Rich Asians)

While Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) isn’t from the same sort of world as the family of her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding), that doesn’t stop our Crazy Rich Asians lead from engaging in a makeover. As the film progresses, and through some friendly makeover advice from her best friend (Awkwafina), confidence and fashion are both boosted in equally impressive ways.

Trent (Swingers)

Most would remember the lead characters of Swingers for their big band revival threads that play a big part in their trip to Vegas. However, if you look at the styles that Trent Walker (Vince Vaughn) displays throughout the movie, he is a true example of making anything work. Even his outbursts in a late-night dining situation look sharp, as he knows how to crush a look when he’s relaxed or when he’s switched on. 

If you were looking for some style icons to look up to for a near-future wardrobe refresh, look no further than these movie mavens. With all sorts of looks at work for all types, there’s bound to be something here that could give you the upgrade you’ve been hoping to achieve. And now that you’ve read through this handy guide to such delights, don’t you think you’ve earned it?

Celebrity couples have always fascinated the public, and there are few that have made as many headlines as Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. The pair have been together for decades and have family, but the inner workings of their relationship have continues to be a public manner, thanks to Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, as well as Jada’s recent tell-all book. But is the pair staying married? The Matrix actress revealed what’s happening after rumors swirled.

The Oscars slap resulted in Smith being banned from the Academy Awards, and his professional career is still in recovery mode. The discourse surrounding his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith got louder when she began promoting her book, and revealing more about the inner workings of their marriage, including why the Smiths temporary separation was positive. She recently appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show (via EW), where she addressed their future together. In her words:

There you have it. Despite any ongoing chatter about their relationship, it looks like the pair of actors are staying together for the long run. As Jada Pinkett Smith told Barrymore, they had already tried to separate, and found their way back to each other. And one can only imagine how the increased public scrutiny over their relationship has brought them together.

Smith’s comments on Drew Barrymore help to show where her relationship with her husband currently stands. While Jada has been open about how their temporary separation made them stronger, there has been plenty of questions about their future from the public. Still, there’s ongoing discourse about the state of their marriage, as well as rumors about them having romantic connections outside of their marriage.

Indeed, rumors continue swirling about the pair of actors. Case in point: recent rumors that Will Smith slept with Duane Martin, which have been denied by both Will and Jada. This ongoing discourse about their interpersonal dynamic has no doubt affected the entire family, with Willow and Jaden Smith reportedly wished the family had more privacy. 

But per her conversation with Drew Barrymore, the chatter and rumors about their relationship isn’t going to stop Jada Pinkett and Will Smith. One can only imagine what their conversations are like privately, but the two actors have seemingly always marched the beat of their own drum. And it looks like they’re not splitting up anytime soon.

Will Smith has a few upcoming movie projects coming down the line, including Bad Boys 3. Jada Pinkett Smith also has some movies on the way, although fans are still hoping Girls Trip gets a sequel. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s relationship has had rumors surrounding it for years. Now, a new allegation has been made that Will Smith had a sexual relationship with Duane Martin. In response, the actors set the record straight by calling the rumor "ridiculous," "nonsense" and "fabricated," among other things. 

The rumor began when Brother Bilal, who claims to be Smith’s former assistant, alleged that Will Smith slept with Duane Martin. While on The Breakfast Club show, Pinkett Smith was asked about these claims surrounding her husband and Martin. She denied these rumors, saying:

During an interview on Unwine With Tasha K, Brother Bilal claimed that he walked in on Smith and Martin having sex. Pinkett Smith explained that “this is a person that tried a shakedown, a money shakedown that didn’t work.” She said he worked with her partner on his book, and he claimed he was not paid properly for it. The actress said “this whole situation is based on that.” 

Continuing to speak about the issue on The Breakfast Club, Jada Pinkett Smith said:

Then, the Men in Black star’s rep responded to the allegation, telling TMZ:

On the radio show, Pinkett Smith was asked about these rumors as they discussed the chapter of her memoir Worthy called “No Soccer Mom.” She opened up about the allegations that have surrounded her relationship with the I Am Legend star, which is how this claim about Smith and Martin came up.

With the release of her memoir Worthy, which the Red Table Talk host discussed on the radio show, a lot of new information has come to light about her relationship with Will Smith. 

As many expected, she told her side of the story from the 2022 Oscars when the King Richard actor slapped Chris Rock. 

Then, on the flip side, the Girls Trip star revealed that she and Smith had been separated for years, however, they are not divorced. She later explained that her relationship with Smith has “benefited” from her being open about their separation. Now, that this news has been out for a while, she also opened up about why she felt this split was necessary, saying that she “needed time for emotional maturity.”

As more news came out about Pinkett Smith and Smith’s relationship through this book and press tour, a PR expert weighed in on her approach calling it a “calculated strategy.” Since the release of Worthy, there has definitely been even more attention on the couple. So, along with candidly speaking about their relationship, they’re also responding to rumors, like this one about the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star and Duane Martin. 

While they are separated, clearly, they still care deeply for each other. When it came to these rumors surrounding Will Smith and Duane Martin both the actor and Pinkett Smith were quick to deny the claims, and passionately explain that they are “fabricated” and “nonsense,” as the rep and the actress said, respectively. 

As this situation develops, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. In the meantime, you can find Worthy wherever you buy books, and you can check out the 2024 movie schedule to find out when Will Smith’s next project is coming out. 

Jada Pinkett Smith has sparked conversations as of late, thanks to her new memoir, Worthy. The actress and host’s promotional tour for the book has also been eventful due to the fact that she’s been opening up about her career and personal life amid interviews. What’s arguably been the biggest revelation shared is the fact that she and husband Will Smith, who married in 1997, have been separated since 2016. Pinkett Smith has provided more context on their decision and, now, she’s explaining why she felt it was necessary. 

The Matrix alum’s decision to reveal her and her husband’s separation took much of the public by surprise. Over the past several years, they continued to appear in public together, with the family dynamic they established with their kids seemingly still intact. Fans of the two A-listers may feel some kind of way about their situation, but Jada Pinkett Smith doesn’t seem to have any regrets. She  sat down with CBS Mornings to promote her book and opened up about the arrangement, specifically what contributed to it. And as she explained, at least part of it had to do with what she was feeling at that point in her life: 

It sounds like the 52-year-old star wanted to get introspective during that time, and that’s something plenty of us can probably relate to. Certain people may find that they need to work on themselves in order to better understand who they are as well as what kind of relationships they desire. And anyone can be in a position where they need to take this kind of inventory, even someone who seemingly lives a charmed life like the Girls Trip alum. Later in this latest interview, she spoke more about her desire to work through struggles years ago:

Up to this point, much of the public has been curious about the exact circumstances that initiated the separation. Another question that’s been floating around is why the couple waited so long to break the news. PR experts weighed in on Jada Pinkett Smith’s approach to the matter, and they believe this was a “strategic move” for her career. Other members of the family haven’t spoken out on the situation. Will Smith turned his social media “notifications off” after the announcement was made. Meanwhile, sources claim their kids wish the separation wasn’t revealed.

Jada Pinkett Smith believes her relationship with her husband has “benefitted” from her transparency, though. This press tour (and the book surrounding it) have seemingly allowed her to reckon with some elements in her life. She also thinks that as a result of her candidness, her spouse now has “intimate insight into everything in a way that he might not have had without her memoir. With that in mind, it’s probably fair to assume that the former Red Table Talk host is going to continue to open up about her life when and how she sees fit. 

Worthy is now available wherever books are sold, and those looking to see Will Smith can check him out in Bad Boys 4, which opens on June 14 as part of the 2024 movie schedule.

Saturday Night Live Season 49 got off to a great start last week with host Pete Davidson, who parodied Barbie’s “I’m Just Ken." The momentum carried into this week, as the NBC sketch comedy series welcomed actor and rapper Bad Bunny. It was a star-studded episode, as the installment also featured appearances from Mick Jagger, Pedro Pascal and Lady Gaga. The portions in which the various guest stars popped into the show were definitely memorable, yet those aren’t actually what’s weighing on this viewer’s mind. I actually can’t get over the Weekend Update moment centered around Jada Pinkett Smith. 

How Did Saturday Night Live Handle The Jada Pinkett Smith Situation?

For those who are unaware, the former Red Table Talk host has been making the rounds within the press circuit, promoting her new memoir, Worthy. In the process, she’s been divulging a lot of personal information about herself, particularly her relationship with husband Will Smith. What’s arguably been the biggest reveal is the couple’s seven-year separation (which PR experts have even weighed in on). She’s even discussed how their marriage has “benefited” from the reveals. Unsurprisingly, SNL found an opportunity to lampoon the matter, during Weekend Update. Cast member Ego Nwodim played the role and didn’t hold back while channeling the Matrix alum’s candid nature: 

There are plenty of lines that stand out here, like the assertion that the Smiths “never go to bed happy” in order to maintain their marriage, and there's also the “brunhealthy” descriptor of the relationship. A moment that really sticks out, though, is when Ego Nwodim’s Jada Pinkett is asked why she won’t just divorce Will, leading her to say because he “could mess around and end up happy.” This is definitely a wild (and admittedly funny) take on the continuing conversations surrounding the A-list couple and, like others, I won’t soon forget it. 

Pedro Pascal And Mick Jagger Had Some Memorable SNL Moments As Well

Pedro Pascal wasn’t wearing his Mandalorian armor when he took to the stage at Studio 8H. He first appeared during Bad Bunny’s monologue, helping to advise his fellow Spanish-speaker on how to proceed. Later in the broadcast, he joined forces with the music man – whose real name is Benito Ocasio – for a follow-up to Pascal’s famous “Protective Mom” sketch. Both moments in the show were very well-executed and of course, too funny. Lady Gaga also dropped in quickly to introduce Bunny’s first musical performance of the night. Her cameo was definitely a sweet surprise and is similar to those of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s last week. (The couple also introduced the musical guest’s performances.)

But it was Mick Jagger’s appearance that may have surprised viewers the most, as his sketches were simply outrageous. The 80-year-old Rolling Stones icon first appeared in a Telenovela-esque sketch, playing the father of characters played by BB and series cast member Marcello Hernández. He then popped up as a faux nun during a convent-set skit, which was later revealed to be a parody promo for Sister Act 3. You can check that out below: 

This latest SNL episode was certainly one for the books and follows up on last week’s premiere in a nice way. Bad Bunny turned out to be a solid Season 49 host and musical guest. What I’m most curious about now, though, is whether or not either of the Smiths might comment on the Weekend Update segment. Will’s been keeping his “notifications off” amid his spouse’s press tour, so it’s likely he’d tune out the show as well. But as Jada continues her tour, it’s definitely possible she could be asked about it and issue a response. Regardless, that moment is going to live rent-free in my mind for a little while.

Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC as part of the 2023 TV schedule, and past episodes can be streamed using a Peacock subscription.

Few marriages in recent history have been as public as Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s. The Hollywood power couple has not shied away from sharing the intimate details of their relationship with the world. It would be easy to think that there’s not much left to reveal – but according to the Matrix Revolutions star, she and her husband still have a lot to learn about each other. And she believes their relationship has benefitted from her willingness to be open about their separation and much more in her recent memoir. 

In Worthy, Jada Pinkett Smith is open and vulnerable about some of the most pivotal moments of her life. That may not sound like huge news – after all, the actress and Red Table Talk host has made a name for herself, in part, through her candor. But her memoir is about far more than dishing on her love life or marriage to Will Smith. Worthy gives the Set It Off star a chance to share some of her hardest truths, including her struggles with mental health. She told InStyle that the memoir hasn’t just helped her heal, it’s also helped strengthen her relationship with the King Richard actor: 

It may come as a surprise to some that the Bad Boys For Life and Scream 2 stars are still uncovering new truths about each other. However, it’s refreshing to know that even after more than two decades of marriage, they are still learning – and it’s understandable why having some of their biggest issues out in the open could help both of them grow. 

For fans of the actors, there is also a lot to learn and unpack in Worthy. Pinkett Smith doesn’t hold back when talking about her high-profile marriage, and she even reflects on the advice she’d give the “two young people in love” when they first got together. The memoir also gives the actress-turned-author a chance to unpack her reaction to the now-infamous Oscars night slap, and – more shockingly – reveal the fact that, though they have no plans to divorce, she and Smith have been separated since 2016. 

In other words, it sounds like everyone is learning something new from Worthy. And while scrutiny surrounding their relationship likely won’t die down any time soon, Will and Jada seem to be taking it in stride. Shortly after the news of their separation started making headlines, the Oscar-winner shared that he was turning his “notifications off” on social media - and if Pinkett-Smith’s laughter in the comments of his post is any indication, their relationship appears to be as strong as ever. 

For as long as there have been famous people there have been celebrity couples. But this level of fame can be a double edged sword, especially when there’s romantic trouble. Case in point: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, who have been making headlines related to their relationship for years. But despite the countless headlines circulating right now, Smith recently stepped out at an event to support his marriage, even being quoted about their relationship, saying “we call it brutiful.” Let’s break it all down.

Following the infamous Oscars slap of Chris Rock, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have once again been dominating the news cycle. The Matrix actress put out a new book which has been full of bombshell revelations, including that Jada and Will have been separated for years. It seems like there’s a new story coming from the book Worthy every day, but the pair are still making appearances together. Will Smith recently participated in a book event in Baltimore, and was quoted by the Baltimore Sun speaking about their relationship. As he put it,

Well, I’m intrigued. It looks like despite the stories running around and reports that Will Smith’s notifications being off, he’s still showing up for Pinkett Smith during this difficult time. With the separation and more being revealed via Worthy, they’ve still got some unity. And I can only imagine how the various controversies are contributing to the new book’s sales.

The book tour for Worthy has been a whirlwind one, including talk show appearances. In addition to Jada Pinkett Smith revealing her honest reaction to The Slap, she’s also been spilling the beans about the inner workings of her marriage to Will Smith. There have been countless rumors about the terms of their relationship over the years, and this time we finally get her perspective on it all. For instance, only a few years ago talks about Pinket Smith’s dalliance with another man made headlines.

With Will Smith still helping promote Worthy despite the countless headlines circulating about the couple, it definitely shows how much love is shared between the two actors. Perhaps “brutiful” is an accurate description of what it’s like from the inside. There has to be something beautiful about their connection for the pair to withstand so much talk over the years.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s book Worthy is out now. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The relationship between Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith has been in the headlines for about as long as they have been together. And while they haven't always had control over what was said, the new batch of headlines is entirely self-generated. Jada has written a memoir, and in the book, she reveals details about her life previously unknown, including the fact the famous couple have been living separate lives for years.

Pinkett Smith is remarkably open in her new memoir about the fact that, while she calls Will Smith king of her heart, their marriage has not been an easy one. When asked by InStyle if there was any advice she would give their younger selves, however, she hesitates. Because she’s not sure there’s anything to say to two young people in love. She explained…

While Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith may be separated, they are still very much part of each other’s lives, something that they are not expecting to change. Will Smith had previously revealed they were not romantically monogamous, but that never meant they were not important to each other. Pinkett Smith makes it clear in the book there are no plans to ever legally divorce. In the end, she does have advice for her younger self. But it’s not that she would change anything; she would simply make her younger self aware of the work and the perpetual learning that goes into relationships. She continued…

Considering how personal the aftermath of the Oscars slap was , it's a shock to a lot of people that Will and Jada's relationship is how it is. People are certainly going to have opinions about Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s situation due to their lives in the public eye. Even Will and Jada's children understand that their parents are public people, and that means that details of their personal lives will not always remain private.  

Will Smith, for his part, has turned “notifications off” and is trying to tune out the noise from others. Honestly, as long as both of them are happy with their lives, that’s all that matters, and whatever else comes along, they will hopefully be able to learn from it. 

Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed a lot of personal information about her relationship with Will Smith over the last several days. It certainly has to be tough for the couple to have to deal with the response from the public, but one has to believe that it is even tougher for people close to them who have even less control over the situation: their kids.

Willow Smith has previously talked about understanding her parents' relationship and that they are more than just her parents, being in the public eye. A source tells ET that the kids, including Will’s son Trey from a previous marriage, wish that less about the family was public knowledge, if only because they are sympathetic to how all of this is impacting their father. The source claimed…

It’s certainly an understandable reaction when it feels like all eyes are on your family to wish they were not. The children are in the public eye already simply by being the kids of famous people, which means they’re going to get asked about their feelings on things their parents do, which has to be more than a little awkward. It's probably not something any of them want to talk about.

Jada Pinkett Smith recently revealed that she and Will Smith have actually been separated for several years, something that was certainly a shock considering they have continued to appear to be a couple in public, and the infamous Oscar slap was connected to their relationship. Jada Pinkett Smith discussed the slap in the same interview where she revealed the separation.

For his part, the anonymous source says that Will Smith is doing his best to tune out the noise. Whatever happens with the relationship, the source claims Will will be supportive of Jada, but he also is making sure to take care of himself. The source continued…

We saw some of this battling of the “outside noise” earlier this week when Will Smith posted a video of himself on Instagram in which Smith was taking a nap at sea, with a note that he had gone “notifications off.”  Jada Pinkett Smith responded to the post with a laugh, because sometimes you have to laugh at these things. If there is one thing that is likely keeping this couple, and the family, on the same page, it's having to deal with all of this together. 

Celebrity relationships may not be the most important thing in the world, but sometimes it’s actually difficult to avoid knowing what’s going on in the personal lives of A-listers. Such is currently the case with the relationship of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. A recent interview with Jada has resulted in many new revelations about their marriage, but there’s one person who is very much not interested in hearing more, and that’s Will Smith.

While a lot of people are talking about the recent revelation that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are apparently separated, and have been for some time, Will Smith posted to Instagram that he has turned his “notifications off” and is using his skills a nap taking to just sleep through this whole mess. Honestly, this is probably the smart response.

It’s been nearly two years since the infamous Oscars slap of Chris Rock that instantly made the relationship between Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, which had always been tabloid fodder, front page news. The Matrix actress had rarely addressed the incident directly before a recent interview, where she discussed how she felt about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock and dropping the bombshell about their separation.

The news that the pair have been separated for the better part of a decade, exactly what their relationship is, is far from clear. Many people are obviously curious and are likely very interested in Will Smith's feelings on the whole thing, which makes her particular version of "no comment" especially funny.

Most seem to be on board with Will's response, and that includes Jada herself. She commented on his post, with a couple of laughing emojis. Clearly, while the two of them may not be "together" anymore, they're together in what they're going through and will likely continue to go through together for quite some time. 

One assumes Will was well aware of what Jada was going to say in the interview, and was prepared for it to cause a stir. When you’re a celebrity you are always prepared for the limelight to be on you, but it’s clear that the drama of this relationship still interests a lot of people. Even Willow Smith has feelings about his parents' relationship.

Fans and onlookers still have a lot of questions about Wil Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s relationship. Whether or not either of them will take the time to answer them remains to be seen. The fact that it took seven years for the couple to reveal this fact, and that seemingly nobody was aware previously, would seem to indicate that they are pretty good at keeping secrets when that’s what they want to do. And if Will Smith doesn’t want to talk about it, he’ll just take a nap, something he can apparently do anywhere.

It feels like Jada Pinkett Smith has been dropping bombshell after bombshell as of late. The veteran actress has been promoting her recently released memoir, Worthy and, while speaking with the press, she’s been very candid about various aspects of her life. Her relationship with husband Will Smith has been coming up frequently, and she surprisingly revealed during the past week that she and Will have been separated since 2016. In the aftermath of the reveal, some may be wondering just why the couple opted to keep that information secret for so long. On that note, public relations experts shed light on the decision. 

Within the Hollywood landscape, A-list stars announce major news quite frequently and, in many cases, it’s confirmed through their PR teams. Marital-related news like the nugget of knowledge the Nutty Professor alum dropped during her interview with NBC usually comes in the aforementioned manner. So why exactly did she choose now to reveal that she and her spouse have been apart for so long and on such a large stage. While we can’t say for sure what her reasoning for divulging that and more is, a few people have some thoughts. Crisis communication strategist Molly McPherson opined to Insider that the actress is taking a “calculated” approach: 

One could definitely argue that by dropping such significant truth bombs amid a tour for her new book, the 52-year-old star is drumming up significant interest. That could be the strategy Molly McPherson is likely referring to. McPherson went on to say that she’s somewhat shocked that the Set It Off co-lead is seemingly going that route. Using the ongoing divorce between Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, she mentioned that amid that particular case, Jonas was accused of manipulating the situation to his advantage. McPherson admitted that she’d “think that Pinkett Smith would use a different PR playbook.”

Despite that, Jada Pinkett Smith’s methods did receive some kudos from another industry professional. Liza Anderson – the head of Anderson Group Public Relations – also shared thoughts with Insider, and she seems somewhat impressed by how Pinkett Smith is proceeding: 

Whatever the star is doing, it definitely seems to be working, as much of the Internet has been fixed on the anecdotes she’s shared about her personal life. Her and Will Smith’s separation isn’t the only topic she’s discussed, as she’s also shared her account of Smith’s Oscars slap. The actress said she thought the moment was a skit, until her husband actually slapped Rock on stage. Amid her book tour, she also addressed allegations that she was to blame for the slap and asserted that commentators framed her as an “adulteress.” Additionally, the starlet recalled being hurt by the comments in Rock’s latest Netflix special, which now backs up sources claims that Jada was unhappy with the comedy show.

It’s anyone’s guess as to what Jada Pinkett Smith might reveal about her personal life as she continues to promote her book. Regardless though, based on the comments shared by the PR experts, any additional details shared on that front could continue to earn her publicity.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s marriage to Will Smith has been the subject of consistent speculation for years now. The famous couple has weathered notable ups and downs in their professional and personal lives, and they’ve often not shied away from letting fans and the world at large get an intimate glimpse into their challenges and their victories, including what happened at the 2022 Academy Awards. More than a year and a half after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed how shocked she was by the unscripted event. Now, she has opened up about the impact it had on her and how it felt for some fans to blame her for the event. 

Few Academy Award moments have been subject to as much commentary and controversy as the instance in which Will Smith, angered by a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, walked onto the Oscar stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock. He then won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard shortly after the confrontation. But the consequences of the slap were felt long after the ceremony was over – and not just by Will Smith. 

In a recent interview with People, Jada Pinkett Smith discussed the fact that many people felt she was partially responsible for her husband’s reaction to the joke, and she explained what it felt like to be in the eye of the storm: 

The Matrix Resurrections actress is likely referring to the 2020 revelation that she had a relationship outside of her marriage to Smith in 2016. In the years since, more information has come to light, including the fact that the couple agreed not to be monogamous. But, that was not widely known until after the 94th Academy Award ceremony – and, Pinkett Smith pointed out, that meant many people jumped to conclusions that were not ultimately accurate. She told People:

The ramifications of Will Smith’s response to Chris Rock’s joke have been long-lasting for the other players, too. The now-embattled actor has seen the impact on his career. The King Richard star apologized to the comedian, but he was still banned from attending future Oscar ceremonies and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy also later admitted they made mistakes in how they addressed the incident. 

Attention on Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s private lives has not calmed down, either. Chris Rock fired back at them in a recent comedy special, and both actors have continued to be open about their relationships with each other and their children. Even though they’ve felt the pain of scrutiny in the spotlight, it’s clear they are still committed to sharing their truth with the world. 

They remain, to this day, one of Hollywood’s most fascinating couples. Immensely famous, and yet, mysterious to the general public. Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith have been together since the 1990s – they met on the set of Smith’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1994 – and have endured more than their fair share of highs and lows. The most infamous has to be the moment when Will Smith defended Jada during the live Oscars telecast, slapping Chris Rock on stage after the comedian made a joke at Pinkett Smith’s defense. And now, in a new interview, Jada is opening up on the record about the evening, and her reaction.

Jada Pinkett Smith has a new book arriving in stores called “Worthy,” and as part of the promotional tour, she sat down with People magazine to trace a throughline through her career. In the interview, she touches on her Baltimore roots, the formation of her family, and a deep depression that led to suicidal thoughts. And yes, she addresses “The Slap,” telling People that she had no idea it was going to happen, or the full implications of it at the moment. Said Pinkett Smith:

That’s basically how most of us felt in the moment. I know, personally, that I thought it was a planned interaction. And it wasn’t until we watched Chris Rock try and recover, then Will Smith screaming obscenities during a live television broadcast, that I realized none of this was staged. Will Smith has opened up about the incident, and Chris Rock used it as fodder for a comedy hour that aired on Netflix. But hearing Jada Pinkett Smith admit that she, too, thought it was a skit is unusual, and more than a little honest. 

The rest of the conversation with People is brutally honest, as well. It’s admirable to read Jada Pinkett Smith’s admissions about her struggles with depression and her suicidal feelings. The way she tells it:

Will Smith has since apologized to Chris Smith following the incident, but he still has been banned from attending the Oscars, which likely wasn’t the outcome the King Richard star wanted following his anticipated Best Actor win. It led to a memorable acceptance speech, and an apology tour. And now we will see if audiences have moved on from the Slap when Smith reteams with Martin Lawrence for Bad Boys 4, one of many upcoming movies that we have on our radar. 

It’s been nearly three decades since the death of famed rapper Tupac Shakur and, in the years since, questions regarding his murder in Las Vegas have lingered. Authorities have continued to seek answers and, just this past week, there was a major development in the case. Police arrested and charged a suspect in connection to the 1996 shooting death of Shakur. Amid the renewed public interest in the situation, Jada Pinkett Smith – a close friend of the late performer – spoke out. The actress issued a brief statement in which she acknowledged the arrest. 

60-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis was charged with one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement on Thursday, according to ABC News. He was ultimately taken into custody on Friday. After the arrest was reported, the Matrix alum posted a response to her Instagram stories. In the short message, she expressed hope that this turn of events would mark a positive step forward for the Shakur family and the investigation: 

Tupac Shakur and Jada Pinkett Smith met while they were both high school students at the Baltimore School for the Arts. Smith has been candid about their close friendship and how their lives changed after they met. The actress even revealed that she was a drug dealer when she met Shakur, who gradually began to enter street life as Pinkett was getting out of it. Like so many stars and fans, the A DIfferent World alum mourned the rapper after he was killed at age 25 in the drive-by shooting in Vegas. Given her love for the star, it’s understandable that she’d want comfort and closure for his loved ones. You can see her post: 

At least one member of the Shakur clan has since spoken out about the arrest of Duane Davis, who’s discussed the night of Tupac’s murder on past occasions. The “Keep Ya Head Up” performer’s stepbrother, Mopreme, addressed the charge against Davis while speaking with the LA Times. He acknowledged the significance of the move while also noting that there’s still work to be done: 

While the Tupac Shakur has been deceased for some time now, his legacy and place within the pop culture zeitgeist remains strong today. His music is still widely regarded by fans and music critics alike. His life and work have also been depicted and dramatized in various films and TV shows. Several years ago, the latter was done through the emotional and (occasionally violent) biopic All Eyez on Me. Most recently, his legacy and that of his mother was chronicled in the documentary miniseries Dear Mama. 

Though Duane Davis has been charged, there are other variables that must be looked into as part of the investigation. Only time will tell if the Shakur family gets the answers and closure Jada Pinkett Smith mentioned in her post.

Jada Pinkett Smith has never been one to hold back on what’s on her mind. After Chris Rock cracked a joke about her bald look at the 94th Academy Awards, she posted a TikTok about having alopecia and has spoken about a lot of personal stuff with her family on her Facebook Watch show Red Table Talk. This is clearly a trait her son, Jaden Smith, shares in speaking candidly about personal subjects, as evidenced by his claim that his mother introduced the Smith family to psychedelic drugs. Here is what the Set it Off actress had to say about that. 

At the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver, Jaden Smith spoke about how his mother took these hallucinogenic drugs for a long time on her own and eventually introduced the family to them. As for if the After Earth actor’s claims about his mother’s involvement in the still-illegal drugs are true, Pinkett Smith spoke to People about how you can find the answer to that question.

The book that Pinkett Smith was referring to is her upcoming memoir Worthy. She further explained to the publication that the assumptions people have made about her family will be covered “extensively” in the book. According to the plot of Worthy, the Scream 2 actress will speak about her upbringing in Baltimore and the unconventional polygamous relationship with her husband, Will Smith. Most importantly, this autobiography plans on reclaiming the talented actress’ narrative in teaching readers who she is and the power of loving ourselves.

In a July 2021 episode of Red Table Talk, Jada Pinkett Smith came clean about the time she passed out on ecstasy on the set of The Nutty Professor (where she gave one of her best on-screen performances) and told everyone she took bad medicine. That ended up being the last time she took these drugs while at work, and she learned from the experience. These personal uses of psychedelics came from using this plant medicine to combat her battle with depression. Having used them for over a decade, Smith spoke in a November 2021 episode of Red Table Talk about how these mind-altering drugs have not only helped her feel better, but have helped her see how the problems in her life arose in the first place. In the same episode, this actress/author said she considered taking the plant-based psychedelic Ayahuasca to increase her self-esteem. 

As for how Jaden Smith benefitted using psychedelics, he described at the conference that he and his siblings, older half-brother Trey and younger sister Willow, have gotten into sibling spats in the past. Through the use of hallucinogens, the Pursuit of Happyness star's psychedelic experiences enabled a “level of love and empathy” in his siblings that he expressed as “profound and beautiful.” A 2017 study in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology would back this up as the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin has been known to heighten empathy.   

It's important to note that psychedelics are still considered illegal, with only a handful of states decriminalizing them, and more research needs to be done about the long-term effects of these drugs. According to the Bad Moms actress, it looks like we’ll have to get a copy of her memoir Worthy to see whether Jaden Smith’s claims of his mother bringing psychedelics to the family is accurate. You can get your copy of this book yourself on October 3rd.

More than a year has passed since the debacle at the 2022 Academy Awards when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage after the comedian made comments about Jada Pinkett Smith. It was the talk of Tinseltown for quite a while, with an unsurprising resurgence after the 2023 Academy Awards with Jimmy Kimmel hosting and Chris Rock’s Netflix comedy special earlier this year. Now, The Masked Singer host Nick Cannon has brought the incident up again in relation to the cancellation of Jada Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk show. 

Red Table Talk ran for five seasons as a talk show hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, daughter Willow, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris. News that the program had been cancelled broke on April 26, when Deadline announced that all Facebook Watch Originals would not return for more seasons. Production company Westbrook Studios is reportedly shopping Red Table Talk around for a new home, but Nick Cannon wasted no time in commenting on the cancellation and how he sees it related to the Will Smith/Chris Rock incident. 

Nick Cannon, who hosted his own talk show for less than a year before ending in early 2022, now hosts a radio show called The Daily Cannon. He shared his thoughts on Red Table Talk’s cancellation in no uncertain terms, saying (via Instagram): 

The Daily Cannon host didn’t get into specifics, but memes of Will Smith getting emotional on an episode of Red Table Talk over Jada Pinkett Smith’s “entanglement" (which he also discussed elsewhere) went viral in the aftermath, and images from that conversation continue to be used on social media. Cannon went on to say that Will and Jada were “royalty” before that episode of the show, which in his opinion ultimately led to Chris Rock being slapped at the Oscars last year. 

That incident was not addressed on Red Table Talk for some time, with the explanation in April 2022 that the family was “focusing on deep healing.” At the time of writing, neither Will Smith nor Jada Pinkett Smith have publicly responded to Nick Cannon’s comments. The Bad Boys star (who recently gave a filming update on Bad Boys 4) did, however, seemingly poke fun at the enduring controversy about the slap back in February via TikTok. 

Nick Cannon certainly didn’t seem to be kidding when he gave his opinion on how Will Smith’s Red Table Talk appearance ultimately led to Smith slapping Chris Rock, however. Take a look at The Daily Cannon clip:

Chris Rock has also not publicly reacted to Nick Cannon's comments. Given all of the commentary on the slap over the months since the 2022 Academy Awards, it's entirely possible that none of the parties involved are going to engage any further. For now, those still invested in the situation can decide whether or not they agree with Cannon about Red Table Talk's cancellation and the incident at the Oscars last year.

This weekend is the Academy Awards, marking the anniversary of last year's unprecedented ceremony. It's going to be a long time before anyone forgets how Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Chris Rock after the comedian made a crack at Jada Pinkett Smith's appearance. While Rock had largely kept quiet on the controversy over the last year, his new Netflix special Selective Outrage revealed his perspective and took aim at the Smith family. And there's one thing Jada Pinkett Smith was reportedly not happy about when it came to Chris Rock's Netflix special.

There has been non-stop discourse about The Slap over the last year, with plenty of conversation surrounding who was at blame, including the Film Academy. Chris Rock has largely kept quiet as Will Smith worked on his comeback, but that changed with the release of Selective Outrage. And per a report by People, Jada Pinkett Smith was "shocked at how many times Chris used the word bitch in referring to Jada." She's also reportedly taking umbrage with claims he made about her telling him not to host the Oscars. 

During his set in Selective Outrage, Chris Rock says that Jada Pinkett Smith told him to drop out of hosting the Academy Awards years ago, due to Will Smith not getting nominated for his role in Concussion. While she didn't attend that year, a source told People that she didn't have that interaction with Rock, being quoted saying:

It's been a year since the revelations about the Jada Pinkett Smith affair surfaced as well as the 2022 Academy Awards, so the Smiths and Chris Rock have had a ton of time to work through their feelings about The Slap. But between the impending Oscars and the release of Chris Rock's special, all of a sudden it all feels fresh and new again. It'll be interesting to see if this has an effect on any possible road to reconciliation between Rock and Smith.

Smart money says there will be at least one or two references to The Slap at this year's Oscars. The Academy has gone so far as to assemble a crisis team for future ceremonies. Although with Will Smith banned from the Academy Awards for the next decade, if that team is used it'll be in response to another individual. Hopefully, there's no more scuffles like this in the foreseeable future.

As previously mentioned, Will Smith has been in the midst of his professional comeback, including the release of Antoine Fuqua's Emancipation. Unfortunately, that project failed to get much attention this Awards Season, although there have been some exceptions. 

Chris Rock's Selective Outrage is streaming now on Netflix, and Will Smith has exciting future projects coming down the line including Bad Boys 4. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s hard to believe that we’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of the 95th Academy Awards, where Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock on stage and subsequently hurled expletives from his seat. Said incident occurred after Rock made a joke at the expense of the movie star’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith has since apologized for his actions, while Rock has shared few thoughts on the matter, except responding with the occasional jab in a stand-up routine. However, in his latest Netflix special, Rock finally spoke out on the slap, calling out Smith as well as the Jada Pinkett Smith affair among other things. 

This Saturday, Chris Rock took to the stage in Baltimore, Maryland for his newest special (and Netflix’s first live stand-up comedy production), Selective Outrage. While it was said this past week that Rock finally planned to open up about the slap, it was unclear as to just how far he’d go. Early in the show, the 58-year-old comedian only alluded to the event, saying early on that “everybody who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.” He also referenced it while poking fun at both Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, quipping that “the last thing I need is another mad rapper.”

But after an hour, the Bigger & Blacker performer finally let loose. He jokingly declared that the audience knew about his encounter with “Shug Smith” and gave a blunt answer when addressing those who ask if he still feels pain: 

Chris Rock, who opted not to press charges against Will Smith that night, got into even more detail in regard to the televised confrontation. He proceeded by comparing his own size to Smith’s and illustrated his point by referencing some of his and Smith’s former roles:

His critiques of the I Am Legend star didn’t stop there, either. While making additional points, the comic evoked the title of his Netflix special. Here, the star would also call out Jada Pinkett Smith for the “entanglements” they discussed in 2020 on Red Table Talk. This, of course, refers to her alleged affair with singer August Alsina. Needless to say, the Spiral star did not hold back:

During his set, the Everybody Hates Chris creator also recalled how Jada Pinkett Smith suggested he opt out of hosting the Oscars back in 2016 amid the “Oscars So White” campaign. The comedian chastised the actress for suggesting he drop out because her husband didn’t receive an Academy Award nomination for Concussion that year. He also referenced the jokes he made about her during that year’s telecast, saying that “no one’s picking on this bitch” and that “she started this shit.” Despite all of these blunt thoughts, he also gave Will props and discussed his past admiration of the A-lister:

While many have chastised the I, Robot star for what he did, some, like Jimmy Kimmel, have praised Chris Rock for not retaliating. During the show, he stated that he didn’t react “because I got parents and you know, what my parents taught me – don’t fight in front of white people!”

I think it pretty much goes without saying that Chris Rock had a lot to get off his chest here, and this may be the only time that he does. During the performance, he emphatically declared that he has no intention of expounding on any of this during a talk show appearance. As he puts it, he’s “not a victim” and that it’s “never gonna happen.” As far as he’s concerned, he “took that shit like Pacquiao.” It wouldn't be unreasonable to think that his comments are going to reverberate for some time. As for whether or not Will Smith or Jada Pinkett Smith choose to respond, that remains to be seen.

Those who want to stream Chris Rock’s Selective Outrage can do so by grabbing a Netflix subscription. 

It’s getting close to a year since one of the biggest Oscars scandals occurred, namely Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage after joking about his wife’s appearance. With all of the discourse still going about this controversial moment, there's also jokes about the scandal from comedians like Marlon Wayans and Chris Rock himself. Days before Rock’s Netflix special drops, a clip surfaced of Wayans’ stand-up routine about the slap.

Marlon Wayans has an HBO Max comedy special coming up called God Must Love Me, where he uses out his talent at impressions and physical comedy to address the Will Smith slap that's now synonymous with the 94th Academy Awards. The White Girls actor posted on Instagram a clip that offers us a glimpse of his comedy routine with his perspective on what he saw that night. 

In the clip, the Scary Movie actor jokes that Will Smith was seemingly laughing during the joke that presenter Chris Rock said when he called his wife “G.I. Jane.” This was followed by an imitation of Smith’s exaggerated leg movements and doing the running man dance, as Wayans continued to joke that Jada Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes at the joke and put a “voodoo” spell on her husband to defend her honor. He even went as far as to say that the ghost of rapper Tupac Shakur must have taken over the Men in Black actor’s body during this moment. As Wayans had a good friendship with Shakur, maybe the late rapper would find humor in using him in his comedy routine.

This American comedian clearly has a lot to say about Will Smith’s slap that he presented on the Oscars stage. He, Dave Chapelle, and others can’t seem to stop joking about the incident as he’s apparently got enough material to make audiences laugh for an hour about it. Wayans has said he loves the power comedy has in being able to bring light to what was first seen as a dark moment. He's also friends with last year’s Best Actor winner, to the point where he gave him advice after the Oscars to speak to a therapist. He reportedly felt his behavior was out of character. Wayans also reportedly made sure that Chris Rock was okay after the whole ordeal, as he didn’t like to see his two friends fight. If his job as a mediator involves invoking laughter in an audience that brings everyone together, then he’ll likely be very proud of himself for his new comedy special.

While Marlon Wayans has jokes of his own about the Will Smith slap moment, the man we have a strong urge to hear from about the incident would be Chris Rock himself. Sure, he’s dropped some jokes here and there referencing the moment when he was slapped by the I Am Legend star, but we’d like to hear how he's making light of the issue. Well, we may get our chance after all as Rock is teaming up with Netflix for its new comedy special Chris Rock: Selective Outrage. Something to know about the Netflix special is that it will be the streaming network’s first global live-streaming event that is sure to draw high ratings to see the comedian’s unedited, unfiltered performance. But, you better believe audiences will hang onto Rock’s every word to make sure he finally shares his thoughts on a certain Oscars situation once and for all.

Marlon Wayans has got some jokes of his own on the Will Smith slap situation and apparently, so does Chris Rock. If you’re ready to have a laugh about this Oscars moment too, you can watch Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me on your HBO Max subscription on March 2nd and Chris Rock: Selective Outrage on March 4th on your Netflix subscription.

In 2017, after acting and performing standup comedy for over a decade, Tiffany Haddish starred opposite Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah in Girls Trip. Haddish’s performance as Dina was among the many positively-received elements of the comedy movie, leading to Haddish becoming a well-known name in Hollywood. Haddish is now expecting to re-team with her co-stars for Girls Trip 2, and she seems surprised about the backlash over her potential return.

Girls Trip 2 has been a potential project on the table going as far back as early 2019, but in January 2022, producer Will Packer shared that the sequel was “underway.” Then last month, Tracy Oliver, who co-wrote the first movie with Kenya Barris, declared that Girls Trip 2 was “officially happening” with all four main cast member returning. Universal Pictures, the studio behind Girls Trip, has yet to confirm this is the case, but Tiffany Haddish is ready to jump back into the role of Dina, telling TMZ the following when she was asked about the push to get her character either kicked out of the sequel or recast:

So Tiffany Haddish is all in on Girls Trip 2, though as she pointed out, “Y'know every year they say this.” Whether or not this is finally the time for the sequel to move forward won’t be known until Universal Pictures chimes in, but that’s a discussion for another time. Some of you reading might be wondering why there’s backlash over Haddish’s involvement in Girls Trip 2. Well, at the end of August 2022, Haddish was accused of child sexual abuse alongside fellow comedian Aries Spears. The 22-year-old plaintiff known only as Jane Doe claimed that these two made her and her now-15-year-old brother “sexually suggestive acts on camera while underage.”

A few days later, Tiffany Haddish’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, stated that this there was no merit to this lawsuit, and that it was just an extortion attempt. Haddish soon after went on social media to share that she “deeply” regretted taking part in the sketches where these incidents took place. By the end of September, the lawsuit against Haddish was dropped, for which the actress expressed her relief and thankfulness in the following month. Nevertheless, in the aftermath of this legal saga, there are some people who feel that Haddish shouldn’t be involved in Girls Trip 2, to which she said:

Prior to the lawsuit being set aside, Tiffany Haddish shared that she’d lost a lot of work due to the accusations leveled against her, but judging by her new comments, it doesn’t sound like he’s in jeopardy of being kicked off Girls Trip 2. This follows a few weeks after Haddish stood her ground at Sundance over her new movie Landscape with Invisible Hand being showcased at the independent film festival despite being backed by a major studio. As far as Girls Trip 2 goes, while no specific plot details have been teased yet, Tracy Oliver said that the filmmaking team is “looking to set it in Ghana.”

We’ll keep you apprised of how Girls Trip 2 is coming along as more information comes in. For now, stay up to date with the movies coming out this year with our 2023 release schedule.

This week the Academy Awards nominees were announced for the year, which means we’re that much closer to the ceremony itself. We can be sure that there will be some memorable moments in this year’s show (there are always a few), but one other thing we can all but be certain of is lots of jokes about last year’s most memorable moment: when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock live on the stage.

Will Smith won’t be at the show this year, he’s been banned from attending the ceremony for the next decade, so he won’t be one of the people talking about last year’s events, but how exactly did everything get to this point? 

The Slap

At the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony Chris Rock had been tasked with presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature. As with most presenters Rock, who had hosted the show in the past, made a few lighthearted comments before getting to the business at hand. One of his jokes he aimed at Jada Pinkett-Smith, saying that he looked forward to seeing her in G.I. Jane 2. This was a reference to Pinkett-Smith’s shaved head, a result of the actress suffering from alopecia.

Initially some people laughed, and even Will Smith seemed to let the joke go. But as Rock moved on, the ABC cameras captured the comedian’s confused face as Smith quietly walked on stage and slapped him across the face. Smith then returned to his seat. Even without a microphone, he could be heard telling Rock to “keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth.”

Chris Rock, clearly a little shocked, made reference to what had just happened but did his best to move on with the evening. The rest of the show progressed without incident. The Oscar hosts for the night made oblique references to what had happened but it was never addressed directly, even when Smith later won the Oscar for Best Actor.

The Aftermath 

From the moment the slap happened, it became the thing people were talking about. Will Smith posted a statement to Instagram apologizing for what happened, and then the actor, who had always been quite active on Instagram, went silent on social media.  

Chris Rock was interviewed by the police and the option to press charges was given to him, but he declined to do so. From there, it largely fell on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It was felt they should take some steps to punish Smith for his transgression. A lot of people were very publicly critical of Smith’s actions, feeling that despite any issues with Rock’s joke, resorting to violence was not the answer. There have been some conflicting reports regarding whether Smith was asked to leave the ceremony after the slap or not.

There were many different avenues open to the Academy. As a member of the Academy, Smith could be removed from its roles. He could be banned from attending the ceremony, he could even have the Oscar he’d just won taken away from him. The actor negated one of those possibilities himself a few days after the event when Smith resigned his membership in the Academy himself.

With that option no longer available, The Academy’s verdict was that Smith would be banned from attending the ceremony for a period of 10 years. The 2023 ceremony will be the first one where the ban is in effect. He was allowed to keep his Best Actor Oscar.

Chris Rock was apparently offered the job of hosting the Oscars this year, but he declined the gig. Whether or not he shows up at all, possibly as a presenter once again, remains to be seen. Even if Rock and Smith are both missing from the show, it seems unlikely that the ceremony will take place without at least a few references to last year's events. And if Will Smith does return to the Oscars in 10 years, we'll likely hear it all again.

It's almost hard to believe it, but it's nearly a year since the 2022 Academy Awards aired on TV, and broke the internet. The discourse surrounding Will Smith slapping Chris Rock hasn't slowed down much during that time, and it'll no doubt be referenced during this year's ceremony. It happened during last night's Golden Globes, with Eddie Murphy explaining why he name-dropped the Smiths during his acceptance speech. 

Last night the Golden Globes returned to television, and a number of moments throughout the night went viral. That includes Eddie Murphy accepting the Cecil B. DeMille award and making a joke about the Oscars slap in the process. As a reminder, you can check it out below courtesy of THR's Instagram.

While Eddie Murphy's generations of fans celebrated the way he was honored at the Golden Globes, the most viral moment from his speech was obviously when he name-dropped Will Smith, and quoted him from his infamous Oscars Slap moment with Chris Rock. That included an F-bomb or two, which had to be bleeped during the Globes' live telecast. Talk about making a splash.

After receiving the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille award, Eddie Murphy did a few interviews with the press. During a chat with ET, he was asked why he decided to poke fun at the Will Smith situation. The Dreamgirls actor responded honestly, saying:

Well, there you have it. It looks like Eddie Murphy felt he could poke fun at the viral situation thanks to his personal relationships with the three main parties involved: Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Chris Rock. We'll just have to wait and see if any of them issue a response to this latest viral moment connected to The Slap. 

As previously mentioned, Will Smith walking on stage and slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars basically broke the internet, especially as he would return to the stage to accept the Best Actor Award for his performance in King Richard. There was a ton of backlash as a result of this incident, with Smith dropping out of the film academy and being banned from the ceremony for a decade. And his professional comeback is only recently starting to pick up steam. 

After the incident at the Oscars, Will Smith stepped away from the public eye for a number of months. He eventually returned to social media, while also stepping out into public and even promoting his leading role in Antoine Fuqua's drama Emancipation. And during that press tour, he fielded a number of questions about that incident. 

Emancipation is streaming now on Apple TV+. As for Eddie Murphy, he has a number of exciting projects coming down the line including Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley and Triplets. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. We'll just have to wait and see how Smith's Hollywood comeback continues on.

Every year, Google releases the most searched actors of the calendar year. The list often reflects pop culture touchstones, as well as rising stars gaining traction. This year, the top searches were unsurprising, as they reflected major events reported on by the media. Johnny Depp, who was engaged in a very public defamation trail with his ex-wife Amber Heard, topped the list at number one. He was followed by Will Smith, who became an object of much controversy when he slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars. However, as we go further down the list, it is much more surprising. 

The first four slots were taken up by individuals involved in the controversies above, with Amber Heard and Chris Rock ranking respectively at #3 and #4. However, there were some definite surprising standouts. Stranger Things breakout star Joseph Quinn came at #6, while the rest of the cast remained off of the list. This was particularly surprising considering the actor’s character, Eddie Munson, only totaled about 42 minutes of total screen time throughout the entire season. However, Eddie is a stand-out amongst fans, so maybe his placement on the list is valid. 

Coming at #9 was Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller. While Teller certainly made waves this year, including becoming a fan favorite on TikTok and even hosting SNL, the actor was not the star, nor the most bankable actor in the blockbuster hit. Tom Cruise feels like a much more obvious actor for audiences to latch onto, yet Teller seems to have been the one to peak the interest of Google users. 

Another surprise addition is Ashley Judd, who came in at #10. The Emmy-nominated actress did not have a major starring role in a movie at all this year, but she did make an appearance as herself in the film She Said. The film follows the journalists who worked to investigate the allegations around Harvey Weinstein, sparking the #MeToo movement and a major Hollywood reckoning. Judd was at the forefront of the movement and worked to expose Weinstein, so it made sense for her to be included in the movie. 

The rest of the list includes Julia Fox, who dated Kanye West earlier this year and has since been very active on social media talking about the controversies; Jada Pinkett Smith, who was the subject of the joke Chris Rock made that prompted the slap; and Ezra Miller, whose various controversies, allegations directed against them and trouble with the law looms over the future of the DCEU. You can check out the full list, as well as other Google-compiled lists from this year, via USA Today. 

Who knows what the next year may bring, and you never know who will make a splash with audiences. For a preview into what movie fans may be searching about in 2023, check out our 2023 movie release schedule. It includes exciting projects like Barbie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, so there is a lot to look forward to in the coming months. 

Long before Will Smith slapped Chris Rock live on stage at the Academy Awards over a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, the celebrity couple was making headlines. For about as long as the two have been together there has been gossip surrounding their marriage, and now another person tied to the Smiths, August Alsina is back in the headlines after coming out.

Alsina may be best known to those that don’t know his music as the man who was involved in an “entanglement” with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Pinkett Smith and Alsina apparently were engaged in a relationship previously, something that Will Smith was aware of and allegedly was ok with. Alsina’s previous public relationship is likely the reason many have been surprised by the singer’s recent reveal that he has a boyfriend. 

August Alsina is appearing on the current season of VH1’s The Surreal Life and it was there, over the closing credits of the most recent episode, that Alsina revealed his relationship status. A video of the episode was posted to Twitter and has since gone viral. 

Since this revelation was made in the final moments of the show, literally as the credits rolled, little detail was provided. Alsina says that even he found the place where he found love to be surprising. Based on replies to the tweets, there are a lot of people who were equally surprised, though just as many are supportive. 

Other replies do make reference to Alsina’s interaction with the Smiths. While the “entanglement” between the three stars was a major topic of gossip, little has ever been all that clear about what went on. Alsina mentioned the relationship in one of his songs, but certainly not in any way that explained anything. There was a rumor at one point earlier this year that Alsina was going to write a book that would include details of the relationship, but the singer denied those claims. 

Even the word entanglement took on a life of its own. Will Smith was blocking fans on Instagram for using it. The couple would laugh it off when it was used in their presence as Laverne Cox did at the SAG Awards this year. In fact the only thing that really stopped the talk about the couple’s personal relationship was the Oscars slap that, while it kept attention on the pair, changed the narrative of that attention significantly.

At the end of the day what happened between these three is their own business. Will Smith says there has been no infidelity in their relationship and it’s ultimately their issue even if there was. In the end, one hopes that everybody is happy in whatever relationship they are in. Alsina certainly seems to be happy now.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s relationship has become tabloid fodder in recent years. From Smith’s best-selling memoir to his wife’s show Red Table Talk, the Hollywood couple has been open about their relationship. But one area of their relationship fans rarely hear about is the interesting dynamic with Smith’s ex-wife Sheree Zampino. While both sides have given peaks into their relationship, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. After co-parenting for two decades, Pinkett Smith admitted to apologizing to Zampino for her relationship with the Oscar winner.

The current and former Mrs. Smith came together during an episode of Red Table Talk that focused on toxic forgiveness. The subject led to the two women reminiscing about the rough start of their relationship. Pinkett Smith admitted creating a blended family with her husband and his ex-wife wasn’t easy in the beginning. Given that Zampino and Smith had just separated, she didn’t understand the complex emotions associated with divorce. The Girls Trip star chalked her lack of understanding to immaturity. Zampino chimed in that Pinkett Smith wasn’t a mother yet.

Despite their early animosity toward each other, the two women admitted they formed a sisterhood through their shared love for Zampino and Smith’s son. Learning to coexist opened up the line of communication between them. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hill star recalled The Matrix Resurrections star apologizing to her later on about jumping into a relationship with the movie superstar too early. As she put it:

Apologizing for the fast-paced romance was a nice mature response from the Hollywood actress. Jada Pinkett Smith even echoed Zampino’s words, saying:

Looking back at her relationship two decades later allowed Pinkett Smith to own her part in the early friction. She appeared to regret coupling up with her husband too soon after his separation from Zampino. While the former Mrs. Smith accepted the actress’s apology, she was confronted with the same scenario recently but with different results:

Going through her hardships with Pinkett Smith prepared the television personality for her recent relationship. Three decades removed from the situation allowed Zampino to approach her predicament with more maturity. Being in the Hollywood actress’ shoes made her understand their bumpy start even more. Her recently ended romance led to an epiphany for the businesswoman. She said:

Having a rough co-parenting journey led to both women crossing the line early on. Jada Pinkett Smith recalled confronting the RHOBH star about her stepson’s unruly behavior. An upset Sheree Zampino took the issue up with her movie star ex-husband. Though she was offended at the time, the TV actress understood where Pinkett Smith was coming from. She wasn’t above overstepping either, as the current Mrs. Smith remembered her marching into the couple’s master bedroom to check things out. She felt Smith’s ex wanted to let her presence be known, but the 51-year-old actress refrained from saying anything considering Zampino had picked out and decorated the house.

Both women are in a better place now – personally and professionally. Jada Pinkett Smith is currently hosting Red Table Talk Season 5 on Facebook Watch, which airs every Wednesday. That will hold fans until they get an official word about Girls Trip 2. Sheree Zampino is currently a recurring cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which airs every Wednesday at 8 pm ET on Bravo. While Pinkett Smith does have any movies coming out this year, just check out our 2022 movie schedule to see what remaining films are hitting theaters this year.

Willow Smith has found success focusing on her rock music career, performing songs that completely stray away from her “Whip My Hair” days. Now rocking a bald look, the 21-year-old singer-songwriter also has a thriving relationship with her parents as they’ve supported her entertainment career and life outside of the spotlight. While Willow Smith doesn’t want to talk about the controversial Oscars incident involving her father Will Smith, she still has plenty to say about her working relationship with her parents.

When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards, all eyes were on the King Richard star and his family. When asked by The Guardian to comment about her father’s slap incident with Chris Rock, she preferred to talk instead about her love for her father. She told the paper,

We first saw the working relationship between Willow and Will Smith when she made her acting debut in his dystopian thriller I Am Legend as a seven-year-old. Willow Smith is actually the same age now as her father was when he first starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The resemblance between her and Will Smith is unreal, as you see a young Will through his daughter's mannerisms. Whether it is through her walk, how she extends her chin at the end of each sentence like her dad, or the raw talent she brings out in her music and acting, it’s easy too see a connection between the Young Artist Award winner and her father. 

Things were a bit tense between Willow Smith and her parents when they failed to understand the mental health issues she was going through. However, Smith has never been shy talking about how she feels about her own parents, offering nothing but praise for them. She told The Guardian,

According to the interview, the young artist eventually forgave her parents as they acknowledged their mistakes dismissing her mental health problems as “tantrums." While partaking in Red Table Talk with her mother and grandmother, three generations of women engaged in honest dialogues to better understand each other. Jada Pinkett-Smith has said in an episode that she felt it was hard to relate why her daughter would have mental health issues while growing up famous, as her mother didn't start out as a child star. But it shows how important it can be to have these talks with your children in order to better help them with anything life throws at them.

While Willow Smith participates in Red Table Talk to talk about the hard stuff, she knows she can count on her dad when she needs some laughter in her life. She said,

The rock star daughter of Will and Jada-Pinkett Smith is proud of her parents no matter what televised drama comes their way. You can check out her new album Coping Mechanism on October 7 and keep up with CinemaBlend’s upcoming movies so you’ll know when the next film where members of the Smith family will appear next.

Quite possibly one of the most shocking moments of the year was when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards over a joke made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance. The actress has alopecia, which is a medical condition that causes hair loss. Pinkett Smith has been extremely open about her hair loss and how it has affected her. Today, she posted a radiant photo in honor of “Bald is Beautiful Day.”

While the slap incident is seen as an overall bad situation, Pinkett Smith has spoken out about how one silver lining to the whole thing is it has made more people aware of alopecia. In the photo, the Red Table Talk host is wearing a gorgeous gold top with full glam makeup. In the caption, she wished a happy Bald is Beautiful day all her “brothers and sisters with no hair.” 

To add some context to the situation, at the Academy Awards this year Chris Rock made the joke “Jada, I love ya, G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” The actress rolled her eyes and then her husband, Will Smith, got on stage and slapped Rock. He then yelled, “keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.” 

Over the next few months, those involved have spoken out more about the situation. Smith publicly apologized saying he was “out of line” and he was “embarrassed.” Not long after Pinkett Smith posted a cryptic message about this being “a season for healing.” She also posted a TikTok not long after the incident saying she is “not giving two craps” about what people say about her hair. 

When she returned to her show Red Table Talk, which is hosted by her, her daughter Willow Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, she said the family was focusing on healing and that they would address the incident on the show when the time was right. 

Early in June, the topic was discussed on the show. The episode was focused on alopecia. She spoke about how that episode of Red Table Talk and the incident were a time to discuss what it is like to live with the autoimmune disorder and inform the public about what the condition actually is. She also expressed her hope that the two men could “heal,” talk it out and “reconcile.” 

While the Matrix Resurrections actress called for reconciliation, Rock is “not concerned with the Smiths at the moment.” The comedian and SNL alum is currently touring and preparing for a comedy special. However, Rock will occasionally reference The Slap bluntly in his stand-up. 

The drama surrounding said slap seems to be never-ending. However, it’s good to see Pinkett Smith moving forward. She is consistently working, with new episodes of Red Table Talk that can be watched on Facebook Watch and her movie Matrix Resurrections can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription. On top of her work, she is clearly using this moment as an opportunity to educate the public about alopecia and post about being bald and beautiful. 

Although Tiffany Haddish has been professionally performing for approximately 25 years, the last half decade has seen her popularity skyrocket thanks to her breakout role in the well-reviewed comedy Girls Trip, which co-starred Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah. Between the projects she’s starred in since Girls Trip (which is getting a sequel… eventually) and what she appeared in before, Haddish has built quite a lineup of memorable movies and TV shows, but now she’s in the news for a darker reason. The actress/comedian has been accused of child sexual abuse.

As reported by The Daily Beast, 22-year-old Jane Doe and her 15-year-old brother John, who have adopted pseudonyms, are claiming that there were two separate incidents where Tiffany Haddish and fellow comedian Aries Spears (whose credits include MADtv, The Proud Family and TripTank) made one of the siblings “perform sexually suggestive acts on camera while underage.” Jane, who is John’s legal guardian, is serving as the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed on Monday against Haddish and Spears both individually and on her brother’s behalf. 

Tiffany Haddish is said to have met Jane and John Doe’s mother through the comedy circuit, and Haddish developed a friendly relationship with the children. However, in the summer of 2013, when Jane was 14 years old, she attended a comedy camp where Haddish was a guest speaker, and the actress allegedly told the girl that she’d found “a perfect role for her” in a commercial, although what said commercial was about wasn’t immediately revealed. Instead, Haddish and Aries Spears allegedly had Jane watch a clip of “a group of coeds were arguing over a subway sandwich,” but this led to the individuals in the clip “moaning and making sexual noises as they both ate the sandwich in a manner that simulated the act of fellatio,” according to the lawsuit.

From there, the lawsuit states that Aries Spears “mimic what she had seen on the screen, including the noises precisely like what she heard throughout the video,” and Tiffany Haddish “verbally explained” what was expected of the girl, who was “physically, emotionally, and mentally uncomfortable” while hearing these instructions. Jane’s attempts to mimic these actions came off as “super uncomfortable,” and Haddish allegedly just paid her $100 and sent the girl home, and Jane didn’t tell her mother what had happened at the time. 

The second incident occurred a year later, with Tiffany Haddish approached Jane and John’s mother about John appearing in a video that was allegedly initially described as a sizzle reel for Nickelodeon, but ended up being a video called “Through a Pedophile’s Eyes” that was shared on Funny or Die and other websites. The children were separated during the shoot, which took place at Aries Spears’ home, and John’s portion of the shoot saw him spending most of it in his underwear in front of Spears, who, among other things, allegedly put baby oil on the kid’s back. 

You can read through The Daily Beast’s article to learn what specifically unfolded, but the whole affair ended with John in tears and his mother wondering what had happened. The mother later demanded to see the footage that was shot, but according to the lawsuit, she was told that it was deleted because John had been “uncooperative.”

Cut to today, Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears are both accused in this lawsuit of “intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence, sexual battery, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse of a minor,” while Haddish is additionally accused of “negligent supervision/failure to warn, breach of fiduciary duty, and constructive fraud.” The lawsuit, which is seeking general and special damages, as well as “any appropriate statutory damages,” also says that although Jane and John’s mother negotiated a settlement in 2019, it allegedly does not bind Haddish nor the children. Andrew Brettler, Haddish’s attorney, shared the following statement: 

Clearly this is a serious matter, and CinemaBlend will provide more updates on how this legal saga unfolds. As far as Tiffany Haddish’s professional endeavors go, she most recently appeared in Easter Sunday, is playing Olympic athlete Florence Griffith Joyner and is part of the Haunted Mansion reboot’s cast, with that Disney flick slated in the 2023 movies schedule for March 10.

Despite the Academy Awards occurring back in March, the fallout from the annual ceremony has been ongoing. This is thanks to the discourse surrounding Will Smith slapping comic Chris Rock live on national television, shortly before accepting the Best Actor award. A growing number of celebs have responded to Smith’s slap apology video, including Vivica A. Fox who was critical of the Smiths in the past.

After Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on television, plenty of folks weighed in on the incident, and how much fault should come to both the actor and the event runners. Smith’s Independence Day co-star Vivica A. Fox previously admonished his actions, but has now taken a somewhat softer approach. As she told People while appearing at the premiere of The Great Wolf Pack: A Call to Adventure,

While Vivica A. Fox admitted she hasn’t been in contact with Jada Pinkett Smith since speaking out about The Slap, she does seem to think that the family is in a state of healing. It was no doubt a challenging few months, but Will Smith’s latest video apology might have the potential to help the award winning actor’s professional comeback. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.

Vivica A. Fox’s comments to People are just the latest example of someone weighing on the Will Smith/Chris Rock situation since the recent Oscar winner posted an apology video. Oscars host Regina Hall also shared her thoughts, and she was one of the people in the room for the now-viral incident. And as Smith has only just started emerging in public and being active on social media, smart money says this discourse is going to continue for the foreseeable future.

For those you are unfamiliar with the story, Vivica A. Fox famously weighed in on Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s role in the Oscars Slap while guest hosting on The Wendy Williams Show back in June. Her quotes quickly went viral, starting with:

Vivica A. Fox shared her thoughts on a very public forum, as The Wendy Williams Show was extremely popular even while the titular host was absent in its final season. And while her latest comments are a bit softer, that wasn’t the original message. Later in her same guest host appearance, she further explained her feelings about Jada Pinkett Smith in particular, saying:

In the end, Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock seems to have a multitude of effects on the actor and his family. Both Will and Jada’s Q scores suffered as a result, and a number of his projects were put on hold. But perhaps this might change now that a longer apology was given. Regardless, he’s been banned from the Oscars for a decade, and has dropped out of the Academy. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s been months since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars and, since then, the I Am Legend star has been keeping a relatively low profile. Though Smith did break his silence on the slap just a few weeks ago and apologized to Rock for the situation. (The star also addressed his “irreparable” relationship with Rock’s brother, Tony.) Though he’s mostly been out of the public eye, it now looks like Smith is out of his self-imposed exile. At least, that’s what one might gather since he and wife Jada Pinkett Smith were spotted out in public for the first time since March.

Paparazzi captured photos of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith this past weekend, as the celebrity couple enjoyed an afternoon visit to Nobu Malibu. Based on the snapshots that were shared with People, the two stars (dressed in relatively casual attire) appeared to be feeling good as they took in their surroundings. Will seemed especially calm and was photographed throwing up a peace sign to a nearby fan. Smith’s viral apology video suggested that he’s moving into a calmer state of mind, and these photos seem to indicate just that. 

Though this is the first time the King Richard star has been spotted in public with his wife, he had reportedly been making some moves soon after the Academy Awards debacle. It was said that the actor had embarked on a “spiritual journey” of sorts, which took him to India. The star had apparently sought to attend a meditation retreat there in order to get away from the drama surrounding his actions at the award show. 

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on live TV after the comedian, who was presenting the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock declined to press charges against Smith, who gave a tearful Oscars acceptance speech later that night. In the week that followed, Smith formally resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the organization formally banned him for a decade shortly after. 

Jada Pinkett Smith has been a bit more vocal when it comes to the slap. During an episode of Red Table Talk, Pinkett Smith called for a reconciliation between her husband and the veteran comedian. While her hubby said during his apology video that he’s ready to talk whenever, the Saturday Night Live alum doesn’t seem too eager just yet. 

As it stands, Chris Rock allegedly has no plans to reach out to Will Smith, with a source claiming that the apology was done in the hopes of repairing the Oscar winner’s relationship with the public. All the while, the Everybody Hates Chris creator is still on the comedy grind, having even headlined Madison Square Garden with Kevin Hart and Dave Chappelle as of late. While he hasn’t formally addressed what went down between him and Smith, Rock did seem to respond to the apology during a stand-up routine.

All in all, it doesn’t appear that Will Smith will have an opportunity to truly mend fences anytime soon. But of course, things could change, as Smith slowly but surely re-enters the public eye.

Actor Will Smith was at the top of the entertainment business prior to the 2022 Academy Awards. But after he stepped on stage and slapped Chris Rock on national television, the public’s view of the Oscar winning multitalent has changed. And as discourse surrounding the slap continues, Smith’s ex Sheree Zampino gets honest about co-parenting with him and Jada Pinkett.

Sheree Zampino is an actress and businesswoman who recently debuted on the current drama-filled season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. While on the show it’s been mentioned that she’s Will Smith’s ex-wife, with the former couple having a child together named Trey Smith. She recently appeared on the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast to talk all things Housewives, where the conversation eventually turned to her relationship with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and co-parenting with the pair. She got honest about how the trio has made it work for all these years, saying:

Well, there you have. It looks like co-parenting with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith hasn’t been without challenges for Sheree Zampino. But so many former couples out there who are raising kids can probably relate to this issue. Celebrities: they really are just like us. And in the end leading with love was how the former couple became the poster children for co-parenting. 

Sheree Zampino’s comments offer a peek behind the curtain on the private life of both her and Will Smith. The two were married back in 1992, with their son being born later that year. The former couple would later divorce in 1995, prior to Smith starting his relationship with Jada Pinkett. Sheree’s son Trey is 29 years-old now, famously appearing as a child in Will Smith’s music video for “Just The Two Of Us.” 

Later in her same interview, Sheree Zampino explained how the love that Jada Pinkett Smith has given her son Trey helped to make co-parenting truly possible. As she shared:

The timing of Sheree Zampino’s debut on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills came as a unique time when her famous ex Will Smith’s slap is still dominating the new cycle. Her relationship with Smith has already come up on the show, filmed long before he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. Zampino didn’t weigh in on the slap on the recent podcast, but we’ll have to see if this changes in the reunion special.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Wednedays on Bravo, while Will Smith has a number of movie roles in the future. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The Academy Awards usually have a few viral moments, but this year’s was on another level entirely. It’s been months, but the public is still reeling from seeing Will Smith storm the stage and slap Chris Rock after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. As the discourse continues, Rock’s brother has brought up Tupac and Jada when asked about motivations behind the infamous Oscars slap.

The Slap happened late into Oscars Night, when Chris Rock was presenting the Best Documentary Feature category. He cracked a few jokes at the celebs in the front row, and made a jab about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, seemingly unaware of her public struggles with alopecia. Will Smith would slap Rock in the face on live television in response, before returning to his seat and continuing to scream at the comic. Since then countless people have weighed in on the viral moment, including comedian Tony Rock, who is also Chris Rock’s brother. He recently appeared on the podcast Top Billin’ with Bill Bellamy, where he mused on Smith’s reactions throughout the night. As he put it,

Well, there you have it. That’s just one person’s reaction, but clearly Tony Rock has really thought out Will Smith’s possible motivations in regards to the slap. The moment of violence was seemingly out of character for the beloved actor, who would win an Oscar for Best Actor shortly thereafter. As such, Rock seems to think that it goes deeper than his brother’s one joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jada Pinkett Smith famously had a relationship with Tupac Shakur prior to his infamous death back in 1996. They met while attending the Baltimore School for the Arts and collaborated on music videos. Whats more, she even contributed to his bail at one point. Their relationship was portrayed onscreen in the biopic All Eyez on Me, with actress Kat Graham playing Jada Pinkett. 

Tony Rock is making this connection, claiming that Will Smith’s slap might have deeper issues that go back years. He cited Tupac, as well as Smith’s previous reputation as someone who is “soft” instead of being hardened by the streets. Rock is also examining how Smith went from laughing to violence so quickly, which is definitely an aspect of the drama that folks have been mystified by. Clearly the discourse surrounding the Oscars slap isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

It remains to be seen how Will Smith’s professional career recovers from this viral incident, as a number of his projects were put on pause in response. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock were the talk of the 2022 Oscars following the surprising slapping incident that occurred on the Academy Awards stage. And they continue to be a hot topic nearly three months later, as we try to figure out "What now?" Both parties have mostly remained quiet since the viral moment, but Pinkett Smith has been open about one silver lining to the situation. 

If you recall, Chris Rock’s joke was “Jada, I love ya, G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” It led to a laugh from Will Smith and an eye roll from Jada Pinkett Smith. From the looks of it, once Smith saw how his spouse reacted to the joke, he marched on stage and slapped Rock. He then yelled at him to “get his wife’s name out of his fucking mouth” from his seat, as Rock remained on stage. Smith won his first Oscar that same night shortly after the incident.

The joke that led to the slap was in reference to Jada Pinkett Smith’s lack of hair, which is actually the result or alopecia, -- an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out. Jada Pinkett Smith shared this following the Oscar night brouhaha: 

During the first episode of her show Red Table Talk post-Oscars (which also featured her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and daughter Willow Smith), the star only just briefly mentioned the night, sharing her hopes for Smith and Rock to “reconcile.” Perhaps knowing all eyes would be on her, she instead spent the entire episode sharing others stories related to alopecia.

With that, Jada Pinkett Smith has decided to remove herself from the commentary on the night itself and focus on the positive – the “thousands” of people who reached out to her about living with alopecia. As she also shared, she wanted to use the moment to give the community to talk about their experiences with the condition. 

Given how big of a topic she and her family are, the actress could have taken the time to delve into what happened with the incident, perhaps give into the discourse, but she seems to be honed in on highlighting alopecia awareness. And following the slap on Oscar night, more people are reportedly learning about alopecia than ever, as the number of searches for “alopecia” went up by 2 million (which is a rise of 600%), per Murray Dare marketing research. Additionally, news articles mentioning the condition skyrocketed by 40,000% Unintentionally, maybe the Oscar slap has given more people awareness of what the condition is and the struggle that is often associated with it. 

Since the slap, there have been numerous people sharing their own opinions on what went down and what should happen next. Will Smith has since been banned from Academy-sanctioned celebrations for the next decade and upcoming movies of his have been placed on hold. We'll see what else transpires as a result of Smith's situation with Chris Rock.

The moment when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony has got to be the most scrutinized event in Oscars history, as everyone has an opinion. Following the slap, the show had to go on for the three Oscar hosts — Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall and Amy Schumer — but figuring out how to process what went down really only started once the cameras stopped rolling. Even months later Sykes still struggles, and she opened up about how it felt to see her friend Rock get hit on stage.

Wanda Sykes and Chris Rock have been friends for a long time and appeared together on screen in movies like Pootie Tang and Down to Earth. Sykes had some strong words for Will Smith after he responded to a joke Rock told about Jada Pinkett Smith by going on stage and slapping the comedian on live television. Sykes talked about being “traumatized” in the aftermath, and she told THR it’s something she still hasn’t been able to fully get past:

Wanda Sykes is still apparently feeling the effects of what happened to her friend, to the point where she says she should probably talk to someone about it. She said it ruined the night, and it's hard to look back at how everyone reacted to the surreal moment. Following “the slap heard around the world,” everyone was in a state of shock. Denzel Washington pulled Will Smith aside to comfort him. Chris Rock maintained his composure and presented the award he was there to present, before leaving the stage and not being shown again on the broadcast.

Will Smith, however, was allowed to stay in the audience, and a short time later he was presented with the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in King Richard. Not only that, but his acceptance speech garnered a standing ovation from the audience, which Sykes and others including Jim Carrey found sickening. The Upshaws actress has expressed that she doesn’t understand why Smith wasn’t escorted from the building after the assault. There was some confusion about what happened behind the scenes following the slap, including whether or not Smith was asked to leave, but ultimately it was reported that the SNL alum declined to press charges.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air icon did publicly apologize to Chris Rock in the days that followed the Oscars ceremony, but while Jada Pinkett Smith has expressed that she’d like the two actors to reconcile, Rock is reportedly focused on his work as he continues touring and preparing for an upcoming comedy special. His act does not include jokes about the incident, though he has mentioned it off-handedly at his shows. 

This is an issue that’s going to continue to be a topic of conversation, as it still affects those who were a part of it, and fans hope to get Chris Rock’s take — maybe in a new comedy special someday. In the meantime, check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what’s coming to theaters soon.

We knew, the moment it happened, that the ramifications of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars would extend out for a period of time, but I’m not sure any of us could have predicted how long the conversations regarding The Slap would last. Rock declined to address the matter at his standup events, leaving the door open for everyone from Ricky Gervais to Shaquille O’Neal to weigh in on what happened… and what happens next. Well, following a call from Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, for Chris Rock and Smith to “talk this out and reconcile,” the former SNL star and mainstream comic has let his feelings be known. Basically, Smith shouldn’t be sitting by his phone.

While Chris Rock remains silent on the matter – at least in the public eye – a source close to Rock told ET Online the following:

As well he should. One of the healthiest ways to work through a very public event like that would be to keep working. And for Chris Rock, thankfully, he had a comedy tour on his schedule following the Academy Awards, so he was able to get right back into his comfort zone – namely, being on a stage and making jokes. And, hopefully, not getting struck by an audience member for the words that he uses. 

So many curious onlookers paid close attention to Chris Rock’s first few show following the Oscars, wondering if he’d address The Slap in any way. And while Rock largely danced around the whole topic, promising that he’s mainly waiting to talk about it “until I get paid,” the onus has been on the Smith’s to stay on defense and explain Will Smith’s actions. 

The impromptu slap has cost Smith dearly. The Bad Boys star resigned from the Academy in the aftermath of the controversy, and several projects he had been working on were shelved, even though Sony still swears that Bad Boys 4 remains in pre-production. These delays can allow Will Smith time to continue the self-imposed “spiritual journey” he claims that he is on. Even in the explanation that Jada Pinkett Smith gave during her Red Table sessions, she explains that she and Will are continuing to figure out that thing called life. Aren’t we all, Jada? 

Chris Rock might be tipping his hand towards what his future plans could be. If he’s really smart (and Chris Rock definitely is), he plans some type of high-profile interview – get Oprah Winfrey on the phone – and he pay-per-views that conversation. We’d all pay top dollar to finally, officially, hear Rock’s response to the Will Smith slap. Or, if he continues to work references to The Slap into his stand up, he might end up with another hour of material that could fuel a second stand up special, in addition to the one that he’s currently bringing with him on tour. For now, the ball is on Rock’s court. We’ll see how he plays it. 

Months after Will Smith and Chris Rock’s Oscars Slap, actor Jada Pinkett Smith finally spoke about the incident in a public forum. Addressing the events of the night, Smith ultimately came down on the side of hoping that both Will and Chris can eventually talk the matter out, in hopes of reconciliation. Reactions to this recent statement are starting to come in, and Will Smith’s Independence Day co-star Vivica A. Fox is among the earliest to weigh in on their thoughts. 

As you can see in the full video of Fox’s take, courtesy of the official Wendy Williams Show Instagram, her summation of Jada Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk reaction considered those remarks “self-righteous.” While she acknowledges a friendship with the Smith family, Vivica A. Fox cited a lack of “accountability as a partner” in Jada’s opening to the latest episode of her Facebook talk show. 

Further explaining how she felt about the night in general, here’s Vivica A. Fox’s full statement on this Oscar Slap reaction:

Vivica A. Fox also used this opportunity to highlight how this year’s Oscar ceremony, which saw Will Smith winning Best Actor for his performance in King Richard and CODA being given the Best Picture Oscar, had become “a night of diversity for Brown and Black people, that now will forever be scarred.” As for the content of Chris Rock’s jokes, Fox didn’t object to his comments, thinking they weren’t that harsh. If anyone were to take one word from Fox’s remarks to heart, it would more than likely be “accountability.” 

Visibly upset by the situation, Vivica A. Fox’s response comes roughly two months after the altercation that put Will Smith and Chris Rock in the spotlight. As the world continues to offer various outlooks on those events, and the fallout that resulted in two Smith projects being put on ice, the conversation is only going to continue to grow. The seemingly logical endpoint to this discourse would seem to be, as Jada Pinkett Smith suggested, a reconciliation between the two men.

There’s no specific timeline for that sort of meeting, with Chris Rock in particular waiting for the right offer to talk out this past Oscar night. At this time, the conditions to get Rock to meet with Will Smith are unknown to the public at large. In the meantime, entertainers like Marlon Wayans and Dave Chappelle have their own thoughts, and much like Vivica A. Fox they’re ready to share them sooner rather than later. 

For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what the next chapter in the discourse surrounding Will Smith/Chris Rock debacle will bring. Here’s hoping that a firm and reconciling resolution arrives in the near future, if only to peacefully put the matter to rest once and for all. 

The 2022 Oscars was something to remember. There were some legendary wins, such as Ariana DeBose’s historic accolade or CODA receiving Best Picture. But nothing was quite talked about more than the slap that was heard around the world. That’s right, I’m talking about Will Smith defending his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, after Chris Rock made fun of her alopecia on stage that night, when he walked up to him and slapped the comedian straight across the face.

The response from the world has been mixed, to say the least, with some agreeing with what Smith did and others, not so much, and this comes from those in Hollywood, as well. From people who have co-starred with Smith, or were friends with Rock, to people who just wanted to share their opinion on the matter, here are nine celebrities and how they felt about that infamous slap. 

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey is known for his fun TV hosting skills and creating some viral moments on Family Feud, and he decided to comment on the incident, calling it a “punk move” on Smith’s part, during a speaking engagement that happened at Georgia State University, via Deadline. Commenting on his nature as a Christian and how he personally feels, he said:

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg has made her name in Hollywood by appearing in many movies and drawing eyes to The View, where she’s acted as a moderator for several years now. But, like everyone else, she also commented on the slap, saying that “nobody is OK” with what occurred, while on The View:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Likewise, famous NBA all-star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (who actually guest-starred on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air way back when alongside Smith) went online to express his thoughts on the matter, but did so in his own personal essay on Substack. You can read Abdul-Jabbar's full statement there, but he did talk about how it was so inappropriate for Smith to do what he did, and how it paints not only the entertainment industry but the Black community in a bad light:  

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is known for her numerous contributions to the music industry, specifically in the rap genre as a Black female artist, but on Twitter the night of the Oscars slap, she offered her thoughts on the matter, and agreed with what Smith did, saying that you have to think of it from his perspective: 

Tim Allen

Next up, we have Tim Allen, a comedic actor known for many great movie roles, who, while he wasn’t in attendance at the ceremony, wanted to express his thoughts on the manner on Twitter as well, commending Rock’s way of handling the situation and condemning what Smith did: 

Tiffany Haddish 

Tiffany Haddish has been making a name for herself in Hollywood over the last several years with appearances in several movies and TV shows, and she took the time out of her day to comment on the incident to People Magazine, defending Smith and saying it was “the most beautiful thing” she’s seen: 

Mark Hamill 

One of the most iconic actors of the last several decades is Mark Hamill, who's known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga, and like many others, he used his social media platform to express his thoughts on the slap on Twitter:  

Conan O’Brien

Comedians from all over were standing by Chris Rock after what happened, but one who decided to make a little bit of a joke out of the whole incident was Conan O’Brien. The former late-night talk show host, who hosted his TBS show, Conan, until 2021, simply released this statement about the Oscars slap on Twitter:

I would have loved to see O’Brien's take on it during an hour of late night.

Sophia Bush

Last but not least, Sophia Bush of the One Tree Hill cast fame, also condemned Smith’s actions on Twitter, but was also not completely on Rock’s side either, saying that both parties were in the wrong:  

While I doubt we’re going to get as big of a moment as this one at the Oscars again for some time, we truly won’t ever forget this - and I’m sure those in Hollywood won’t forget it either. 

Coming out of the 2022 Academy Awards, the most talked-about moment wasn’t one of the ceremony’s actual winners, but about an altercation that happened onstage. Following Chris Rock making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald appearance, a result of her alopecia, her husband, Will Smith, slapped the comedian. A little over two months later, Jada Pinkett Smith has finally spoken out about what happened between the two men.

The latest episode of Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk is focused on people who deal with alopecia, and the actress opened “Alopecia: The Devastating Impact” with the below words that also addressed the Will Smith and Chris Rock encounter at the Oscars: 

This particular bit of Oscars drama unfolded when Chris Rock came out to present the Best Documentary Feature category, and among the jokes he told was telling Jada Pinkett Smith that he can’t wait to see her in G.I. Jane 2, i.e. comparing her bald look to how Demi Moore appeared in 1997’s G.I. Jane. Will Smith was seen on camera laughing while Jada Pinkett Smith just rolled her eyes, but just seconds later, Will walked onstage, slapped Rock, returned to his seat and told the SNL alum to keep his wife’s name out of his “fucking mouth.” Months later, Jada Pinkett Smith only wants her husband and Rock to patch things up rather than remain divided. She also indicated that as far as she and Will Smith are concerned, this incident hasn’t derailed them from dealing with life’s challenges together.

Although Jada Pinkett Smith’s statement comes months after the slap happened, the incident certainly didn’t leave the public conversation quickly. The day afterwards, Will Smith issued a formal apology to Chris Rock, but it’s since been reported that the former hasn’t personally reached out to the latter. Will Smith then resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on April 1, and a week later, the organization banned the Men in Black actor from attending the Oscars and any other Academy-related event for the next 10 years. Plenty of celebrities have also given their take on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, including Seth Meyers bringing it up at NBCUniversal’s Upfront presentation and Steve Harvey discussing the incident while speaking at an Atlanta law school.

Now that Jada Pinkett Smith has responded to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, we’ll have to wait and see if her wish for them to reconcile comes true. Should that happen and it’s made public, CinemaBlend will pass that news along. Until then, you can look through our 2022 release schedule to figure out what movies to watch later this year.

When Peacock’s Bel-Air was first coming together, Will Smith was at the center of the buzz, and not just the TV character. The original Fresh Prince actor was also a key component to getting Bel-Air made, acting as an executive producer for the series, giving the young cast advice, and even attending the premiere with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and son Jaden. But the Bel-Air cast recently did another big event and Will Smith was not present this time. 

Those with a Peacock subscription can look forward to seeing Season 2 of Bel-Air in 2023; however, the cast came together before filming at NBC’s FYC event to stir up some Emmy’s buzz, as well as to talk about the show and show off some rad outfits. Take a look. 

As you can see, the only "Will Smith" on that stage is Jabari Banks, who plays the famous Philly basketball player who gets into some trouble and is shipped off to his Uncle’s house in Bel-Air. Banks and Smith had previously taken photos together ahead of the show’s Peacock premiere, but he flew solo here. 

Bel-Air landing an Emmy nod would be a big deal, and under typical circumstances you would think the show’s executive producer might want to be a part of that. Now granted, if it had been a typical day in the life and Will Smith hadn’t attended, one might assume he’d be on a movie set or doing something else as part of his busy Hollywood career, but that's not seemingly the case here.

In fact, Will Smith hasn’t really spent a lot of time out and about since the slap incident that occurred during this year’s Oscars ceremony. He was seen in India over a month ago at this point, and with projects either being halted or delayed, it’s been a slow period for the actor and producer, who had a bunch of projects lined up before the slap incident with Chris Rock on the Oscars stage. 

After the incident happened, it was revealed a couple of Will Smith projects had been put on pause, including his upcoming Netflix movie Fast & Loose (which had also recently lost Director David Leitch) and the highly anticipated Bad Boys 4. It was clarified later the fourth Bad Boys flick is still in development at Sony, but earlier this month, another Smith project Emancipation was pushed from 2022 to 2023. So there's been an effort to push back projects starring the actor.  

While the initial brouhaha has died down, it’s still a little unclear what the future will hold for the former Fresh Prince actor. I’m sure the last thing the Peacock series needed were Oscars-related questions when there’s so much to amp up for Emmys season and to talk about ahead of Season 2 of Bel-Air. On that latter note, we’ll let you know as soon as there are official updates. 

While the 2022 Academy Awards happened two months ago, the discourse surrounding the event hasn’t slowed down. This is mostly due to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on national television, with plenty of celebrities weighing in on that shocking viral moment. Now Ricky Gervais has shared his take on Rock’s Oscars joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, and how he ended up trending after the slap.

Ricky Gervais is a comedian who has plenty of experience with Awards Shows, hosting the Golden Globes a number of times throughout his career. He previously weighed in on Will Smith’s infamous slap incident, but recently offered more about his thoughts on the viral situation. When speaking with Sirius XM’s Jim Norton & Sam Roberts recently, Gervais first opened up about the source of the physical altercation: Chris Rock’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. In Gervais’ words,

While appearing as a presenter at the 2022 Oscars, Chris Rock took a few jabs at the celebrities in the audience. This includes Jada Pinkett Smith, making a reference to G.I. Jane while mentioning her short hair style. Rock was seemingly unaware that the Matrix actress had publicly revealed her struggles with alopecia, which no doubt added to the stakes of the moment. Will Smith would slap his colleague in the face as a result, before returning to his seat and continuing to shout at the comic. 

There’s been a ton of online discourse about The Slap, especially because Will Smith would stay in attendance for the remainder of the ceremony, even winning a Best Actor award for his work on King Richard. Although the fallout from that incident has been ongoing, with Smith being banned from the Oscars for ten years and seeing a number of his upcoming projects put on hold.

During his same conversation, Ricky Gervais revealed that he was trending for days after the Oscars, despite not being in attendance. Specifically because he’s known for taking aim at celebs when hosting events like the Golden Globes. As he explained,

In typically Ricky Gervais fashion, he was sure to show off his comedic talents, even when going viral for an event which he had nothing to do with. And he’s not the only comic who has been making jokes about the incident. As Marlon Wayans pointed out, Will Smith telling Chris Rock to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth in such a viral way only resulted in way more people poking fun at the situation. 

Despite the time that has passed, Will Smith slapping Chris Rock as the Oscars is still an unbelievable event for many of us. Ricky Gervais seems to be in that camp still, musing about what might have been going through the Aladdin star’s mind with:

We’ll just have to wait and see how the fallout from this incident continues to influence the careers and lives of the parties involved. Will Smith recently did a yoga retreat in India, so he seems to be seeking some clarity. It remains to be seen if/when his upcoming projects will actually be released.

Will Smith is currently attached to four different movies, including Bad Boys 4. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

While it’s a month since the Academy Awards aired, the conversation surrounding the event hasn’t slowed down. This is all due to the ongoing drama surrounding Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock on national television, which led to him being banned from the ceremony for a decade. And Marlon Wayans recently revealed the advice he gave Smith after the slap, and his honest thoughts about the Jada Pinkett of it all. 

Marlon Wayans and Will Smith have a personal relationship, recently bonding over their quest to get back in shape after rocking Dad bods. During a recent appearance on Big Boy TV, Wayans revealed the interactions he’s had with both Smith and Chris Rock since the Oscars happened. He began speaking about the advice he gave to the King Richard actor, saying:

Well, there you have it. Therapy is a great tool that more and more people have been using lately to take care of their mental health. And it looks like that was the recommendation Marlon Wayans gave Will Smith in response to the slap. Therapy, and a lot of it.

In the end it’s unclear how Will Smith is privately taking care of his mental health as the fallout from his Oscars slap continues to play out. He recently made headlines for traveling to India for a meditation retreat, so he seems to be trying to find stillness amid the noise. He and Chris Rock reportedly haven’t had a private conversation about the incident, although Smith did publish an apology on social media.

Later in his same interview, Marlon Wayans also revealed that he reached out to Chris Rock about the slap. The two share a bond as friends and comics, so this reaction makes a great deal of sense. As the White Chicks actor shared: 

For his part, Chris Rock is in the middle of a comedy tour, which seems to be selling well in the wake of the slap. He’s been making quick references to the incident, although it’s not part of his current set in any significant way.

Marlon Wayans also addressed the reason Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars: a joke the comic made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair. While the recent Oscar winner was seemingly defending his wife, Wayans seems to think it did the opposite of keeping her name out of people’s mouths. As he shared:

Points were made. The conversation around the slap hasn’t slowed down over the past month, and it’ll remain fodder for comedians for the foreseeable future. While Chris Rock might never make another joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, others certainly will.

Marlon Wayans’ next movie is titled Boo, and is expected to hit theaters sometime this year. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

For the past month now, the fallout of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars live in front of Hollywood and a worldwide telecast continues to be a hot topic. With the next major award show set to be the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, the production has already detailed new policies to make sure any other public incidents of its kind have clear regulations. 

In an FAQ portion of a Tony Awards letter, reportedly being sent out to possible ticket buyers for the upcoming show, producers have outlined a “strict no violence policy.” In the letter it says the following, per The Hollywood Reporter: 

Since the viral moment between Will Smith and Chris Rock occurred on March 27 during the Academy Awards, there has been a lot of dialogue regarding what measures the production should have taken following the slap. Following Smith going up on stage and slapping Rock ahead of the comedian presenting an Oscar, the show’s producer Will Packer shared that there were conversations to escort Smith out of the show with the LAPD, but Rock was “dismissive” of taking action. 

Not long after the incident, Will Smith won his first Oscar for King Richard to a standing ovation from the crowd and gave an emotional speech about being “called on” to “protect people” in his life. Smith later formally apologized to Chris Rock and later decided to resign from the Academy ahead of a board meeting about consequences to the slap. The Academy also ultimately banned Smith from their award show for the next decade. 

The Tony Awards decision to include a violence policy makes sense in terms of outlining a specific course of action if something of similar nature was to occur. It’s clear many of these award shows had not planned beforehand for something like this to ever happen, but now that it has, there are some internal conversations occurring to make sure the productions can react in a swift way, should it happen again. 

After COVID-19 shut down Broadway in 2020 and 2021, the Tony Awards are finally back to celebrate live theater on Sunday, June 12 in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. The 75th annual edition of the award show will be broadcast live from coast-to-coast on CBS and in part for those with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Tony Award nominations are going to be announced on May 3. Among the new musicals expected to be in the running is Michael R. Jackson’s A Strange Loop, Bob Dylan musical Girl From The North Country, pop musical Six and Billy Crystal-led Mr. Saturday Night. Hollywood actors like Hugh Jackman, Beanie Feldstein, Ruth Negga, Sarah Jessica Parker and Sam Rockwell could be among the talent being nominated, per Gold Derby. We’ll keep you posted here on CinemaBlend with future award show coverage. 

While the Academy Awards aired nearly a month ago, the conversation surrounding the event hasn’t slowed down much. This is mostly due to Will Smith’s infamous slapping of Chris Rock, and the discourse that has continued as a result. Now Jada Pinkett Smith has returned to the Red Table Talk, which opened with a message addressing what’s “happened” after the Oscars slap moment.

Late into the evening of the Academy Awards, presenter Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, seemingly unaware of her struggles with alopecia. This prompted Will Smith to step on stage and slap the comic, shortly before giving a tear-filled acceptance speech for the Best Actor award. The fallout for the slap has been ongoing, and now Jada has addressed it in the opening of the new episode of Red Table Talk. The message reads:

There you have it. While this first episode featuring Janelle Monae didn’t feature Jada Pinkett and Willow Smith focusing on the aftermath of the Oscars slap, it seems that those discussions are going to come up on the program organically in the future. Folks will just have to continue tuning in and waiting for the family to address Will Smith’s already infamous slapping of Chris Rock on national television. 

Given how much Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock has dominated the news cycle over the last month, it’s likely been a difficult time for Jada Pinkett Smith’s family. Exactly how the group of celebs are doing their “deep healing” remains a mystery for the time being, but the incident clearly had personal and professional ramifications. One can only imagine how tense things are behind the scenes.

Since the Academy Awards, Will Smith has definitely faced a professional fallout. After dropping out of the Film Academy, he was banned from attending the ceremony for a whopping ten years as a result of slapping Chris Rock. A number of Smith’s upcoming projects have also hit setbacks in the last year, and it should be interesting to see if/when the recent Oscar winner will book new jobs.

While Will Smith has issued an apology to Chris Rock and dropped out of the Academy, Jada Pinkett Smith has been noticeably more tight-lipped during the ongoing fallout from the slap. As such, the opening statement from Red Table Talk is sure to turn a few heads. And smart money says that more folks will be tuning in to see if/when the controversy is addressed. 

For her part, Jada Pinkett Smith has a number of projects coming down the line, both as an actor and producer. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Actor Faizon Love is not exactly one to hold back his opinion on things that bother him. This week, the Friday and Couples Retreat actor spoke about the time when celebrities were planning to boycott the 88th Academy Awards over lack of diversity. One of those celebrities was Jada Pinkett Smith. Now, following the eventful 2022 Oscars ceremony, Friday’s Faizon Love shared his thoughts on Jada Pinkett Smith boycotting the Academy Awards until her husband, Will Smith, got nominated. 

In 2016, a big topic of discussion was the longstanding awards ceremony  only nominating white actors in the four major categories. After Will Smith was snubbed for his lead role in Concussion that year, Jada Pinkett Smith took a stand by not attending the Oscar ceremony. On VladTV, Faizon Love expressed his irritation at Jada Pinkett Smith for ending her boycott after her husband, Will Smith, got nominated for Best Actor for King Richard.

Back in 2016, celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith spreading awareness via means of the trending hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. Smith also took out her frustration at The Academy through a Facebook video where she said she would not be attending the Oscars ceremony that year after her husband got snubbed and wouldn’t even watch at home. She stated, “begging for acknowledgment or even asking diminishes dignity and diminishes power and we are a dignified people and we are powerful, let’s not forget it." Will Smith supported his wife in her mission and also did not attend the Oscars that year. 

Everything seemingly changed when Will Smith started gaining Oscar buzz for his role as the father of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith were both present at the ceremony to hear Will Smith’s name called out after he won Best Actor and gave a passionate acceptance speech. In circumstances like these, it raises the question as to whether or not it is important to stand by your principles or stand by your man. Looks like Jada Pinkett Smith chose the latter.

This topic actually came up between Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith previously. He first called out Jada Pinkett Smith on her boycott when he hosted the 88th Academy Awards and said “Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna's panties. I wasn't invited." The Girls Trip actress claimed she wasn’t bothered by the joke and was determined to “keep moving.” 

When Chris Rock made another joke about Jada Pinkett Smith while working as a presenter for the 94th Academy Awards, her husband was not at all happy about that. After Rock called Pinkett “G.I. Jane” as a reference to her shaved head, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage. Pinkett shared her response to the joke on a TikTok about “not giving two craps” about what people say about her hair loss. 

In the time since, Will Smith formally apologized to Chris Rock, though two of his upcoming movies have been put on hold. The Academy presented Will Smith with a punishment where he has been put on a 10-year ban from the ceremony. He’s free to be nominated and win for his projects, but will not be allowed to be present at the ceremony to accept them. As Jada Pinkett Smith continues to step out into the spotlight, it looks like The Smiths will continue to “keep moving.”