Jada Pinkett Smith has spent years humiliating Will Smith in public, discussing their sex life, exposing their marital problems and turning their relationship into a personal publicity machine. Her memoir, Worthy, gave her yet another platform to tell her story, while Will became the punchline to an endless stream of headlines about his own marriage. From her relationship with August Alsina to her obsession with Tupac Shakur and the revelation that she and Will had been separated for years, Jada has helped turn one of Hollywood’s most famous marriages into a public circus. And somehow, she still manages to present herself as the enlightened one.
Is a prick because…
- She repeatedly humiliated her own husband in public. The August Alsina relationship became a national spectacle when Jada discussed it on Red Table Talk, sitting opposite Will as she explained their so-called “entanglement”. She later revealed that they had actually been separated at the time. Whatever the state of their marriage, turning such intimate details into televised entertainment did Will’s public image no favours.
- Her fixation on Tupac has made Will look like the second choice. Jada’s lifelong bond with Tupac Shakur has been well documented, and Will himself has admitted feeling jealous of their connection. He even wrote about wishing Jada would look at him the way she looked at Tupac. Jada has maintained that she and Tupac were never romantically involved, but repeatedly discussing their extraordinary closeness has hardly helped her husband’s insecurities.
- Her memoir, Worthy, turned private relationship drama into another publicity opportunity. Rather than allowing some of their most intimate struggles to remain private, Jada used her book and accompanying interviews to reveal more details about their marriage, including their long separation. She is entitled to tell her story, but Will’s private life became part of the promotional spectacle whether he liked it or not.
- She helped create a public image of Will as a man who cannot win. Between the relationship revelations, the Tupac comparisons and the endless public discussions of their marriage, Will has repeatedly been left looking vulnerable while Jada controls much of the narrative. Whether that is deliberate or not, the result has been a spectacular public dismantling of his dignity.
- The endless relationship speculation never seems to end. Jada’s friendships and personal life have fuelled years of rumours, including speculation about relationships with women. Rumours are not evidence, and her sexuality is not a legitimate criticism in itself. The point is that her public disclosures have repeatedly invited scrutiny of a marriage she has simultaneously presented as deeply personal.
- The Oscars slap became the ultimate Smith family embarrassment. Will was responsible for assaulting Chris Rock, not Jada. But the incident unfolded against the backdrop of years of public discussion about their relationship, and it cemented the image of a marriage surrounded by drama, insecurity and humiliation.
Is not a prick because…
- She has spoken openly about alopecia and the emotional impact of hair loss, helping raise awareness of a condition that affects many people.
- Will Smith is an adult responsible for his own actions. Jada did not force him to slap Chris Rock or make every decision that damaged his reputation.
Jada has every right to write a memoir and discuss her experiences. But she cannot spend years making her marriage public entertainment and then expect everyone to admire her honesty. At some point, the question stops being why she keeps telling the story and becomes why she seems so determined to keep telling it at Will’s expense.
