Hollywood actress Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that she publicly admitted to having an “entanglement” with singer August Alsina during her marriage to Will Smith largely to protect her husband and help their family move past the controversy.
Speaking while promoting her memoir, I Am, You Are, We Are, Worthy!, Jada said she could have chosen to keep the relationship private but decided to speak openly about it because she believed it was necessary for Will to process the situation and for their family to move forward.
She explained that she was prepared to accept the public backlash and negative perception if it meant shielding her husband from further pain.
“I could love myself and love others, that we could all be on the road together. So I’m like, well, I might have to speak my truth, but I’m also going to protect you,” she said.
“So if I got to look like the adulterous wife to make sure you’re good, I’m gonna do it.”
Jada added that at the time she prioritised Will’s emotional well-being over her own public image.
“I learned how to love myself and not leave Will on the side of the road. And I hadn’t learned how to love Will and not leave myself on the side of the road. In that moment, because I felt so bad that he was in this situation, I decided I’m gonna love you, Will, and I’m gonna leave myself at the side of the road.”
According to the actress, she deliberately accepted being portrayed as the villain in order to bring closure to the situation and allow the family to move on.
“Okay, I’m the bad guy. I’m the worst. Great. Let’s be done with it. I wanted it done. You got your answer. I’m the adulterous wife. Let’s be done. And let’s move on.”
The revelation comes years after the couple’s widely discussed appearance on Red Table Talk in 2020, where Jada first addressed her relationship with Alsina, describing it as an “entanglement” during a period when she and Will were separated.
Public scrutiny of their marriage intensified again in 2022 following the infamous moment at the Academy Awards, when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage after a joke about Jada’s shaved head. The incident, widely referred to as “The Slap,” sparked global debate and became one of the most talked-about moments in entertainment history.
Despite the controversies surrounding their relationship, Jada said the experience ultimately became a major lesson in personal growth and emotional balance.
“I had to learn that was a big learning moment for me. I wouldn’t have been able to see that aspect of myself that needed to learn that I could love myself and love others, that we could all be on the road together,” she said.
Jada and Will, who married in 1997, have often spoken openly about the unconventional dynamics of their relationship, describing themselves as life partners who have navigated significant challenges together.
Jada Pinkett Smith says she admitted to cheating on Will Smith to protect his ego, claiming she could’ve taken it to the grave but chose to come clean to protect her family and put her own happiness aside to support his 😳🤔 pic.twitter.com/Bi2PKsGSSJ
— Dubs⛧ (@onlydubsX) April 14, 2026