Been a little while since my last post. I promise that jump-starting the blog with a controversial topic wasn't my intention. But Jada Pinkett Smith has been on my mind these past few days, and it's not for the reasons you may think.
If you don't already know, Jada Pinkett Smith has been in the spotlight for a while now. It started with her "entanglement" statement a few years ago. Followed by the "Oscars slap" on live TV, and now, what the media is calling "Jada revelations" that are rubbing people on the internet some type of way.
It amazes me how many people are attacking this woman. This black woman. Thousands of comments on her social media are packed with hate in all proportions. I went over to Willow and Jaden's Smith pages to see whether people were bold enough to spread the hate through the kids, and surprise, surprise, same thing. Same sentiments in numbers.
Oh. I did go over to Will Smith's page as well, and that's what personally broke me. Again, thousands of comments telling the man to leave the wife and that whatever Jada did to him, they will still love the guy.
Around and Within
Do you feel like there's a heavier cross weighing on you ever since covid? For some reason, the social and economic landscape has taken its toll so badly that it's almost painful to watch nations crumble.
The cost of living has risen to peak levels, not just in Kenya but throughout the world. The harder you work, the heavier this "cross" feels to carry. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not afraid to say that since covid, living has never seemed more hopeless for everyone around me.
I feel people are looking for an outlet. I really do. It's not uncommon for celebrities to speak about their personal lives, their marriage, and their kids. Celebrities have written books so revealing you feel like you know them inside out.
Rock Bottom
Jada Pinkett Smith's book "Worthy", is coming out soon, and so she went on a couple of interviews to promote it. Now, let's backtrack a bit. The Smith family is a controversial one. I remember some of the things I used to hear about their parenting would have me questioning whether it was the kind of life I would want for myself.
Take Jada introducing Jaden to psychedelics, for example. Willow releasing "Whip My Hair" at age 10, which rocked the world, thank God. Imagine all that fame. She says so herself that it became too overwhelming, and she struggled to find her voice. Oh, she did, by the way. Go over to her page. I think you might like what you find.
Jaden, on the other hand, seems to still be struggling, but of course, I wouldn't know. Maybe his strange, weird self, dressing up with all the hoodies, is who he truly is.
Anyway, the guy asked to be emancipated from his parents at age 15. The concept is, of course, very foreign to me as a Kenyan brought up by African parents. It's unimaginable. But American kids often do it. And their reasons are often always "trouble at home."
Hills and Valleys
Will Smith married Jada Pinkett in 1997. According to Jada, the two have been living completely separate lives since 2016. Even before that, the two had been having trouble in their marriage. Different kinds of trouble, she says.
Will Smith, on the other hand, says that he built Jada a $11.3 million mansion in Hidden Hills, California. He recounts how at the end of the construction process, he tells Jada, hey, I built you this house. And Jada says, no, Will, you built this house for you.
He goes on to say that, wow, he really did build the house for him because, well, Jada never wanted the house. Jada never wanted Will, apparently. So why not divorce? Apparently, the two of them made a promise to each other that they would never divorce. So, they decide to live separate lives instead. As partners.
Why didn't they announce their separation to the world? Well, apparently, they hadn't figured out what partnership looks like for them. And I think this is where the problem lies. Not the "trying to figure out" part. That can take as long as Jada and Will want. But, the fact that they continued to go out into the world perpetrating a false marriage.
The Hills Have Eyes
It's dangerous to do so because, at the Oscars, people thought of Will and Jada as a married couple. Will called Jada "his wife." I imagine if people knew they were separated, the whole world would have been surprised at Will claiming Jada to be his wife. But we didn't know. That's the problem.
So, we're looking at a "husband" slapping Chris Rock for making an alopecia joke about his "wife." I wonder, would we have viewed the incident any differently had we known they were living separate lives?
Apparently, Jada is meant to stand by Will either way. During her interview, she's said to have "embarrassed" Will. To have made him look stupid. No. Will made himself look stupid. To say Jada controlled Will with an eye roll? Really?
It's funny because this same narrative has spun even in real life for us. Or maybe people need an extreme example. That hey, if Will killed Chris Rock for Jada, would we still expect Jada to defend him? Would you still expect Jada to stand by him?
Unmarried, But Not
Jada's entanglement with August. August was too young for her or something. August was Jaden's friend. It happens, folks. People sleep with their son's friends. If they're all of age, I don't see why not. If they're separated from their husbands, why not? To say Jada is too old to sleep around? Again, really?
What else? Jada's "obsession" with Tupac. Folks, these people grew up together. As kids. Will says as much. Just when they were both sexual, Jada began to see Will. And thereafter, they got married.
I can't tell you how many people think of their childhood friends as their soul mates. When said childhood friend passed away in the way Tupac did, and Jada wants to take centuries to grieve the man, allow it.
Persuade, She'll Say Yes
Quick question for women out there. How many men have gone above and beyond to prove their love for you? How many of them did you love? How many of them did you end up dating or marrying?
Okay. Back to everyone. The truth is men chase after women. Women don't choose who chases after them. If women did the chasing, they're more likely to get hurt. So, you're better off looking pretty at a bar until a man takes interest in you. It's up to you to decide whether you'll entertain it or not.
I think the question comes down to if a woman marries a man they don't love. Or, if they love them, or think they love them, then it fades away. Years into a marriage, things become clear. The cracks begin to show. It's the same for Will and Jada. They're not perfect.
Sadly, the woman is almost always blamed for not making it work. Jada seems to have actually been trying to make it work. Will seems like this hopeful, aloof man who thinks if he spends more money and buys Jada a house, everything will smooth over. No.
You Have a Voice. But Only to Some Extent
If Jada wants to write a book about her side of the story, she should. If she wants to say less or more in her book or interviews, that's her voice. I admit, however, that how the audience takes it is anyone's guess. But spreading hate is my problem here.
Telling Will, a grown-ass man, that he's married to a psycho. He knows everything that happens in the back scenes, and if he's deciding to remain married to Jada, let the man be. Let his family be. It's sad that the hate speech is happening globally. Everyone is watching. But no one is making it stop. Make it stop, chale.
You know, I wonder if Jada is allowed to speak about anything anymore. Because the sentiment is that she needs to shut up, and it breaks my heart because somewhere in the world, a woman is told to shut up, too, just privately and without global scrutiny. I admire Jada. I think she's a free woman.
She can sleep with whomever she wants. She can tell her story the way she wants. She doesn't feel like she should lie or take Will's side so she can show that she respects the richer, more popular guy. No. She says her truth, even though everyone continues to attack her. That's my kind of woman, and I wish everyone weren't oblivious to how transformative she's changing the "women need to shut up" narrative. Stay strong, Jada!
Had taken a bit of a breather, but I'm back! Let me know on the socials what you think. Remember to be respectful of others! Meanwhile, check out our "Keeping Up With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Is This Their Last Run Together?" article, and let me know of any lingering questions and concerns via email!