Will Smith, 53, opened up to Oprah Winfrey, 67, about his long-running, unusual marriage to Jada Pinkett-Smith, 50, and answered some tough questions. Fans have been curious since Jada admitted to having a sexual connection with August Alsina, 29, last year, and Will disclosed he had previously been unfaithful. On November 5, Oprah interviewed Will for her AppleTV+ The Oprah Conversation series, in which he promoted his new memoir, Will.
“We realized that it was a fantasy illusion that we could make each other happy,” Will said of his marriage to Jada — a union that began when they wed in 1997. “We agreed that she had to make herself happy, and I had to make myself happy. Then we were going to present ourselves back to the already happy relationship — versus demanding that the other person fill our empty cup.”
As he and Jada sought this new, non-traditional path to happiness, the Aladdin star acknowledged it was more “contentious” for him. “‘Go figure out if you can be happy and show me it’s even possible,’ I responded. “I’m going to do me, and you’re going to do you.”
Will talked about “the power of loving in freedom” in his book, admitting that he and his wife are “both imperfect people” striving to “find out how to be in this world cheerfully.” The Men in Black star was then challenged by Oprah to explain what “loving freedom” meant and whether it meant he and Jada were in an open relationship. He added, “People are trying to put something on it: ‘Will and Jada — what are they doing with other people?’ Will and Jada ain’t really doing too much of nothing,’ he laughed, mocking the speculation. “Will and Jada are on a spiritual journey to cleanse the poisonous, unloving parts of our hearts. And we’re doing it together in this life no matter what.”