Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith boast one of the enduring marriages in Hollywood, but their journey has been marked by separations and personal growth.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star first encountered Jada Pinkett in 1994, but their romantic relationship did not commence until the following year. They exchanged vows on New Year's Eve in 1997.
Despite their long-standing union, Pinkett Smith openly expressed regret in 2018 for starting a relationship with Smith while he was still married to his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino. During an episode of Red Table Talk, she admitted, "Because I did not understand marriage, I did not understand divorce. I probably should have fallen back."
Despite the initial complexities, Pinkett Smith and Zampino forged a bond, especially after Pinkett Smith met Trey, Zampino's son with Smith. In July 1998, the couple welcomed their son Jaden, followed by daughter Willow in 2000.
While publicly projecting an image of marital bliss, the couple faced private challenges. In 2020, Pinkett Smith revealed that they had separated in 2015, and she had an "entanglement" with singer August Alsina. Although the couple briefly reconciled, the Scream 2 actress confessed in 2023 that they had been separated since 2016.
Their story began when Jada auditioned for the role of Smith's girlfriend on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. At the time, Smith was married to Sheree Zampino, with whom he shares son Trey. Smith recalled a pivotal moment on Red Table Talk in 2018, saying, "I had a realization I wasn't with the person I was supposed to be with. I was sitting in a [bathroom] stall, and I was crying and laughing uncontrollably, and I knew [Jada] was the woman I was supposed to be with."
