The Smith Family Exposed: A Closer Look at Will and Jada's Relationship

About as quickly as Will and Jada met, they got married and started a family. But "For years and years, there's been a lot of speculation about us and our family," acknowledged Will Smith. Join us as we understand the reasons why.

The Smith Family

Jada and Will Smith spent years balancing their family and professional lives. When they met, Will was a star on the rise, and Jada, a woman with many talents of her own. But living in the spotlight didn't always allow them to live a comfortable life.

Life in the Smith family has included infamous entanglements and unconventional parenting, with many exciting details in between. To find out all of the details of one of Hollywood's most unstoppable families, let's dig a bit deeper into the motivations behind their fame and fortune.

Will Was the 'Fresh Prince'

At just over twenty-years-old, before Will took Hollywood by storm, the young star landed his first big break. Need a hint? In west Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground was where he spent most of his days. Will became the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air without knowing that his life and career would never be the same.

Will captivated viewers' hearts for more than six years on the hit TV show. But the Fresh Prince was just getting started. Will's budding career would soon help him become the international star we know today. But that wasn't the sole reason the sitcom proved to be a great starting point for the actor. 

They Met On Set

"I don't know what it was…[but] I knew that there was something in our energy that would be magic," Will said after laying eyes on Jada for the first time. In 1994, nineteen-year-old Jada Pinkett joined Smith on the set of Fresh Prince, but unfortunately, their time together was cut short. 

Pinkett was an aspiring actress and was set to star as Will's on-screen girlfriend (which he was thrilled by). But her audition was deemed unsuccessful. Nonetheless, their connection was undeniable. It was only a matter of time before Will and Jada's relationship would flourish.

Will Was Already Hitched

It's challenging to remember a time where Will and Jada weren't side by side. Even though they had an undeniable spark in 1994, Will was already a taken man. The actor had married his girlfriend, Sheree Zampino, two years prior. This meant that even though he couldn't stop thinking about Jada, Smith certainly had to try.

As Will recalled, he was never planning on getting divorced, but with Sheree, it just happened. Had things worked out differently, the confused star would have "Went back out, sat back down with Sheree, and started going back on with [his] life." But alas, we know that's not how this story ends.

Smith Became Single Again

Will attempted to untangle the jumbled thoughts in his mind, but nothing seemed to feel right. "I had a realization that I wasn't with the person that I was supposed to be with," Smith explained. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't stop thinking, "I knew [Jada] was the [one]."

Smith's mind was more confused now than ever. If you asked him, he would have said, "I was happy that I figured it out, but devastated emotionally." However, in his head, "[I thought] it was never gonna happen." Sure enough, on Valentine's Day in 1995, it happened. Will's wife of three years formally filed for divorce.

The Beginning of Will & Jada

As soon as Will was a single man, he didn't skip a beat in listening to his heart's desire. As he walked out of the courthouse, Smith knew what to do next. "I remember [after signing divorce papers]…I walked out of there and…I had Jada's number," he revealed. "I literally called [her]." That one phone call changed everything.

"Cool, you're seeing me now," Smith said to Pinkett when they met up in-person after the phone call. But, how did Jada take his forwardness? She packed a bag and said goodbye to Baltimore as she joined Smith in L.A. The rest was history, as from that moment on, the new couple felt unstoppable.

Married & Expecting

About as quickly as they began dating, they took numerous large steps in their relationship. In the span of several months, Will and Jada went from dating to engaged, to expecting a child, to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The whirlwind began in November 1997, when the actor got down on one knee to pop the big question.

"What am I gonna do now?" Jada thought out of sheer panic. Shortly after saying "yes," she found out that she was pregnant. Neither Jada nor Will was prepared for this unexpected surprise. But, they knew they loved each other. So, as the ball dropped ringing in 1998, they exchanged "I do's" and braced themselves for their future.

The Smith Family Grew

On July 8th 1998, the world welcomed Jaden Christopher Syre Smith. From the moment he was born, nothing about him was conventional. "It took me twenty minutes to [deliver him]," Jada proudly gushed. "My mother's a nurse, and she was in there with me, and she was amazed!"

The Smiths were officially a family of three! In a short amount of time, Jaden would follow in his parents' famous footsteps. But long before the young child was propelled into the spotlight, new parents, Jada and Will welcomed another addition to their family.

Welcoming Willow

Roughly two years later, the Smiths became a family of four. In 2000, Will and Jada welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Willow Camille Reign Smith, into the world on spooky Halloween. Similar to her older brother, Willow and Jaden were both named after their parents.

But, that's not the only similarity Willow shared with her mom and dad. Years later, her talents would surprise many. With the help of her supportive parents, she would soon morph into a star. Before her life skyrocketed through Hollywood, other significant changes were happening inside the Smith household.

Will's Career Skyrocketed

Will was racking up Golden Globe nominations and popularity, but he was merely getting started. As the years flew by, the actor's success skyrocketed, which Smith welcomed with open arms. In fact, by the early 2000s, the star had officially taken over Hollywood.

There was no denying it. The troublemaking teen that viewers fell in love with on TV had officially grown up. Smith had become a staple in Hollywood, a force that took the entertainment world by storm. Soon, his equally talented children would follow in his footsteps.

The Kids' Big Breaks

Jaden and Willow marked many items off of their become-famous-at-a-young-age bucket list. It all started back in 2006 when eight-year-old Jaden joined his father on screen. Jaden made his film debut in Pursuit of Happiness, a heartfelt film where viewers got to witness their special and unique relationship on display.

The child-star made quite the name for himself, from co-starring alongside his dad to landing critically acclaimed roles. Films aside, young Smith has celebrated recent musical successes as well! As for Willow? Her debut single, Whip My Hair, turned out to be such a hit that she landed a deal with Jay-Z's label, Roc Nation.

Famous Friendships

So what follows adoring fans and record-breaking deals? A-list acquaintances, of course! It's no surprise the Smiths have added some pretty famous friends to their inner circle throughout the years. But, besides Jay-Z and friends of his label, who else became close with Will's gifted family?

From Tom Cruise to Oprah, it's hard to find a Hollywood face who wasn't part of the family's circle. There's a reason Will's title of Fresh Prince has remained tried and true. Even back then, he was as charming as he is talented. This propelled Will across our screens in the '90s and opened many hearts to his enchantment. 

The Smith's Net Worth

The Smiths undeniably dominate the world of Hollywood. With their many movies, songs, and public appearances, the family seemed to be unstoppable. And they had the fortune to prove it. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Will and Jada allegedly have a combined net worth of $400 million in the bank. But wait, that's not all.

Once again, their mini-me's have followed in their steps. As revealed by Celebrity Net Worth, both Jaden and Willow have already landed themselves millionaire status. As for how much they've earned? Apparently, a whopping $8 and $6 million, respectively. The family undoubtedly set the bar high, but could money buy happiness? 

They Seemed Picture-Perfect

In the eyes of their millions of fans, The Smiths were living out their very own fairytale. "The Karate Kid, Whip My Hair, Hawthorne, and the Nobel Peace Price: Our family did that within a 6 month period," Will proudly gushed. "We were on top of the world." Or, at least thats how it seemed.

But, what was the reality? Behind the gates of their 25,000 square foot mansion, there was more happening than anyone realized. It wasn't long before fans began to notice something was wrong and started asking questions. Could fans sense signs of a crumbling relationship? The Smiths couldn't hide the truth much longer.

Trouble in Paradise

Fast forward to 2011, and life for the Smith family abruptly took a visible turn. Instead of their immense fame spewing across headlines, murmurs of infidelity took its place. Jada's relationship with married Hawthorne co-star, Marc Anthony came under question.

But, were the rumors true? Will and Jada raced to share their side of the story before the media spun its own. "The rumors circulating…are completely false," the couple assured. But, when it came to rumors of a separation? "I'm not commenting," answered Jada's rep, leading fans to have even more dire questions.

The Relationship's Turning Point

Whether the rumors were true or not was still unknown. The stability of the Smiths took a sharp plunge months later. Ringing in Jada's 40th birthday should have been a joyous occasion, spent celebrating with her loved ones. But while it was marked with family and friends closeby, life was far from comfortable for the family.

They celebrated with an elaborate birthday gathering, put on by Jada's doting husband. But it didn't end well. "'I can't do this like this anymore,'" Jada revealed. His pride entirely shot, Will said, "She told me the party was the most ridiculous display of my ego." He continued, "I was crushed because it was true."

Open Marriage Rumors

Unfortunately, by the time 2013 rolled around, Jada and Will's relationship strains were only beginning. This time, everything their marriage stood for was being viewed under a microscope. Fans continued to speculate. Rumors that the two were actually in an open relationship grew too large to ignore.

This time, people pointed their fingers at someone new: Margot Robbie. Fans were convinced she had cozied up too close to Will, her Focus co-star. Jada smashed rumors saying, "Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship…this means we have a GROWN one."

A Secret Separation

With rumors flying left and right of everything from infidelity to an open marriage, the couple's relationship had been put to the test. But by 2016, Will and Jada simply couldn't take it anymore: "We decided we were going to separate for a period of time," Smith revealed about their secret separation.

No, they didn't head to the courthouse to make it official. "You go figure out how to make yourself happy, and I figure out how to make myself happy," the actor recalled of his wife's reply. Instead, in classic Smith style, they had their own approach to handling things. Something that would soon come back to plague them.

August Alsina Made Headlines

Will's heart soon became crushed. The former sweethearts went their separate ways. But this led Jada down a slippery path. To understand the events that occurred later that year, we have to rewind to 2020. Specifically, the moment rapper August Alsina dropped a bombshell that sent Will into a spiral and the internet ablaze.

"It's just a part of life, and it's a part of the journey," Alsina revealed to People in the summer of 2020. As he phrased it, he and Jada embarked on a relationship venture of their own shortly after her split from Will. But that's not all he divulged. According to the rapper, he even earned Will's stamp of approval.

Jada Sets The Story Straight

It took no time for the internet to ascend into chatter-mania. With their split previously kept behind closed doors, the boundaries of faithfulness and betrayal suddenly blurred. At least, as far as onlookers were concerned. Perhaps that's why Jada soon used her talk show platform, The Red Table Talk, to set the story straight.

"One thing I wanna clean up…[August is] not a homewrecker," Pinkett announced to her viewers. But, what she said next nearly crushed Will. "I just wanted to feel good. It had been so long since I had felt good." Sure enough, the choices she had made would change her relationship more than she ever could have imagined.

Relationship Repair

They say when you love something, set it free. And if it's meant to be, paths will cross again. But Will and Jada learned that the hard way. "We did everything we could to get away from each other, only to realize that that wasn't possible," an emotional Jada revealed. The events that followed shook their family to its core.

"It [was] a huge healing in my life, what I had to confront and discover, the ugly truths and the beauty," Jada recalled about their time apart. Through the ups and downs, they were determined to make it to the other side. "There's a real power in knowing somebody's riding with you no matter what." They had survived. Barely.

The Smith Kids Are in Control

Jump to the present-day, and Will and Jada are still riding their waves together. The "ugly truths," the "beauty," and everything in between had hit them where it hurt. But what about their relationships with Jaden and Willow? Where do their kids stand? Well, their family dynamic has raised questions over the years.

Will revealed the main idea behind their unique parenting approach. "The way that we deal with our kids is, they are responsible for their lives." He continued, "Our concept is, as young as possible, give them as much control over their lives." But what does this mean when your family is one of the most famous in Hollywood?

The Smith "Circle of Safety"

For starters, in the Smith household, there is no such thing as a punishment. "It has a little too much of a negative quality," Will explained. Instead? As long as Jaden and Willow admit to any wrongdoings they may have done in the past, they will not be punished for them. Thus: The Smith's "Circle of safety."

For those wondering, yes, there is a catch: If the parents ever find out either of the children withheld information, there is "H*ll to pay." You can bet this hasn't always been easy for the family. "I'm like, [Willow], you need to start lying!'" Will joked about the uncomfortable conversations this parenting role has included.

Jaden & Willow Attend "Mystery School"

It's not a secret that Willow and Jaden Smith are unlike any other children. And not only due to their famous parents either. When it came time to hit the books, the young stars enrolled in a unique form of homeschooling. The Smiths attended a "mystery school," where they learned how to make records and build pyramids.

In a T Magazine interview in 2014, a comment by the Smith kids left their fans speechless. Now more than ever, fans were full of questions about nearly everything. "Time, for me? I can make it go slow or fast. However I please. And that's how I know it doesn't exist," Willow assured. And her brother couldn't agree more.

Are the Smith's Secret Scientologists?

We previously knew that the Smiths are far from ordinary. But, what does that mean? According to former celebrity Scientologist Leah Remini, the Smith family has been hiding a massive secret for decades. "I know Jada's in," the actress began. "She's been in Scientology a long time." But that's not all Remini had to say.

As she phrased it, The New Village Leadership Academy, a school founded by the Smiths, was a secret Scientology institution. Remini's finger-pointing left the online world spinning. And with the family's closest circle consisting of famed Scientologist Tom Cruise, fans couldn't help but question if this report could be true.

Will's Eldest Felt "Abandoned"

But what about the son who never entered the spotlight? Unfortunately, Will's relationship with his firstborn, Trey, wasn't full of rainbows and happiness. "We struggled for years after my divorce from his mother [Sheree]," Smith revealed with emotion in his tone.

Life as Trey knew it changed the moment his father met Jada. Trey felt "betrayed" and "abandoned." But, exemplified by his dad and step-mom, there's always an opportunity to turn things around. "It's been a wild blessing to recover and restore a loving relationship with my beautiful son!" a proudly determined Will shared.

Jaden's "Devastating" Revelation

Unfortunately for Will and Jada, being parents came with its share of hard moments. Jada soon became faced with a heartbreaking revelation. As Jaden celebrated his 15th birthday on July 8th, 2013, he envisioned a plan. To him, it was the best "birthday gift" he could possibly receive. But was Jaden alone in that thought process?

Although it was a joyous occasion, Jada remembers it as "Probably one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life." Her baby boy came to her asking for emancipation. The same child she'd cared for and proudly called a son for fifteen years. As crushed as she was, the truth was inevitable: "He's right. The time is now.'"

Jada Set Jaden Free

But, did she understand where her son was coming from? "Being in this lifestyle, in this world, is a bubble, and he wanted out." The reality of the situation? Jada was struggling to let go of the young boy in her mind. But, he was becoming a man before her eyes. Emancipation was inevitable, and Jaden wanted to spread his wings.

After agreeing to let him move out, Jada said, "I knew the sooner I let him go, the faster he was going to come back." Sure enough, a mother knows best. Jaden never actually got around to filing the paperwork. And, when he finally packed up his bags in 2017, he moved only a short drive away from Malibu to Hidden Hills.

Willow's Struggle With Fame

As we witnessed years back, Jaden hit his limit and wanted out from the spotlight's blinding glare. But so did his little sister. Back in 2010, Willow was only ten-years-old when she gingerly stepped into the public atmosphere. Unfortunately, what no one noticed at the time, was that the fame was too much for the young child.

"Everyone was trying to make me better, trying to make my dream. But I didn't really understand what my dream entailed," Willow reflected. But by 2014, the fame that once placed her on top of the world quickly led to chaos. Thanks to rumors gone wild on the internet, an investigation from Child Protective Services commenced.

The Smith's Story Continues

Where do the Smiths go from here? There's no doubt about it: Will and Jada's Hollywood path has had quite an amount of challenging obstacles. But despite the hardships along the way, they've managed to come out even stronger on the other side. "We've really gotten to that new place of unconditional love," said a proud Jada.

We witnessed the couple start as star-crossed lovers and evolve into an unbreakable united force. All while they built an empire of their own in the process. While we cannot guess what the future has in store for the Smith family, we have a strong sense that this is just the beginning.

“Slapgate”

The Smith family found themselves right in the spotlight in 2022. Will was nominated for Best Actor, and Chris Rock was hosting the elegant affair. A third-time host, he was a seasoned pro, joking around with the audience. He looked over to Jada and said, "Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see ya."

At first, Will laughed along, but once he saw how unimpressed Jada was by the joke, the King Richard actor took action. He walked on stage and slapped Rock across the face. Everyone was in shock! Rock exclaimed, "Will Smith just smacked the **** out of me." So, why did the joke hurt Jada's feelings?

A Diagnosis

A few years earlier, Jada Pinkett Smith shared that she had been diagnosed with alopecia. According to WebMD, alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out. In some cases, the hair never grows back. Since her diagnosis, Pinkett Smith has been quite vulnerable about her "issues with hair loss."

She opened up on her Facebook show, Red Table Talk, "It was terrifying when it first started. I was in the shower one day and had just handfuls of hair in my hands, and I was like, 'Oh my god, am I going bald?'" Perhaps it makes sense why Jada did not find Chris Rock's joke funny...

Jada Shares Her Hope

Following "Slapgate," the Smith family kept a low profile. Will even took a break from social media. Finally, Jada spoke out on the Red Table Talk. She said to the camera, "My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out, and reconcile."

She continued, "The state of the world today, we need them both, and we all actually need one another more than ever." She didn't forget to mention her husband. She also shared, "Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that's... figuring out this thing called life together."

Will Breaks His Silence

Will also broke his silence. A few months after the incident at the Oscars, he went on camera to address the questions on everyone's minds. He confessed, "It's all fuzzy." He also mentioned, "I've reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is that he's not ready to talk, and when he is, he will reach out."

During the 6-minute apology video, he said, "So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk." Smith had spent all that time "replaying and understanding the nuances" of what happened that night. Hopefully, one day the two can bury the hatchet.

A Surprise From Jada’s Past

Remember August Alsina? He had a situationship with Jada Pinkett Smith that dominated headlines and fueled rumors about the status of her marriage to Will. Alsina made headlines when he announced that he had finally found love. He revealed his newfound love on an episode of VH1's The Surreal Life. So, who was it?

He suggested it was his boyfriend. He shared that their love was "a love that feels limitless." He hugged his pal and said, "love showed up, but in a new way." The Make It Home singer told fans, "I want to share that and really honor the person that I love and that loves me back and teaching me so much about love and healing."

"Not Looking for Anybody’s Sympathy"

Fans were intrigued by his new relationship status. Yet, Alsina was also combating a genetic liver disease that runs in his family. Although this news isn't anything new, it is still hard for fans to watch the rapper go through the pain. He revealed his diagnosis in 2015 and spoke about it during an episode of Red Table Talk.

He told Pinkett Smith on the show, "Reality is, I'm sick all the time, I'd like life to talk about it, and I'm not looking for anybody's sympathy." Later on, he issued an apology to fans about being closed off from speaking about the subject and being committed to dealing with his health battle.

A Word From Chris Rock

Chris Rock finally shared his thoughts about what went down that Oscars night. In his Netflix special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, he goes in-depth about the slap and more. The comedian revealed that his belief is Smith took his anger out over Jada's situationship with August on him that night with the world watching.

Rock revealed some major tea during his comedy special. He said that after Jada announced she had an affair with August Alsina, he tried to get in touch with the Fresh Prince actor. Rock had called him to offer his "condolences" over what happened, but Smith never returned his phone call.

Going Off

Chris Rock dedicated a solid 10 minutes going off on the couple's relationship during his stand-up special. He told the audience, "Will Smith practices selective outrage because everybody knows what the f*** happened." He continued, "I had nothing to do with that s***. I didn't have any entangelements."

Rock admitted that he had "rooted for Will Smith my whole life." But now? The tables have definitely turned. He joked that he watches Emancipation to see Smith get "whooped." This was the first time that Rock extensively shared his thoughts about what happened at the Oscars, and audiences couldn't wait to hear his take.

Defending Dad

Jaden and Willow Smith also spoke out about what went down with their father. Jaden took no time to react and tweeted once the Oscars were over that night, "And That's How We Do It." He also posted a selfie with the caption, "My Dad's Speech Made Me Cry," but soon after, deleted the post.

Unlike her brother, Willow took some time to reflect before sharing her opinion. She told Billboard during an interview, "I see my whole family as being human, and I love and accept them for all their humanness. Because of the position we're in, our humanness sometimes isn't accepted."

Penning Her Thoughts

The Smith family is used to being in the spotlight. From all of them working in showbiz to getting candid on Jada's Red Table Talk, they are accustomed to having their lives on display. Jada decided that she's going to get even more real and is now writing a memoir.

The book, which is due for release this Fall, will give readers an inside look into Jada's "unconventional upbringing in Baltimore," her closeness with the late Tupac Shakur, and motherhood. She will hold nothing back in the memoir that is meant to tell "two unexpected love stories," with Will and with herself… Stay tuned.