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Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that the slap incident between Chris Rock and Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars reaffirmed her commitment to her husband.
During a one-on-one conversation in collaboration with CAA and Vanity Fair on Monday night at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City, Jada recalled how she and Will “worked really hard together” after he slapped Rock onstage at the Oscars. Awards when the comedian made a joke about Jada’s bald head.
“When I sat at the Oscars, something clicked. As soon as I was like, ‘Oh snap, did you hit Chris?'” Jada said. “I thought I’d go with you. I didn’t come here as your wife, but I’m going here as your wife because we have a storm that we have to deal with together. I won’t leave your side.
Jada reflected on her seven-year split from Will Smith. “In 2016, we were both exhausted – dragging each other, having power struggles – and I really had to learn to love myself before I could even recognize what love from someone else looked like,” she said.
“That’s something I really had to learn about Will,” Jada added. “I had no claim to him.”
Jada also shared with the audience that Will — along with her children Trey, Jaden and Willow — had given her permission to include something about her life in her memoir.
“[Will] was like, ‘You haven’t been able to express your authentic voice through and through,'” she explained. “‘I will be happy with whatever you have to share, I trust you.'”
Although Will had read the book before giving it to her editor, Jada revealed: “He didn’t change a word. He didn’t change anything.”
Jada’s new memoir, “Worthy,” will be released on Tuesday.