Last week, August Alsina revealed that he and Jada Pinkett Smith had a relationship. Jada immediately denied the story, but people have been speculating ever since. It's long been rumored that Jada and her husband, Will Smith, have an open relationship, and this story seemed to confirm those rumors.
Jada and Will are now walking back her denial. On her show, Red Table Talk, Jada decided to open up about everything that August said.
Will joined Jada for Friday's episode and started the conversation by explaining what was going on:
“One of the reasons I wanted to come to the table, the media, the headlines, we specifically never said anything. We were purposely never saying anything. We specifically never said anything. Coming to the table, we just felt like it got to the point where you gotta say something.”
Then Jada took over and began to tell her side of what happened with August.
"It's a situation that I consider private. This is a very personal journey that became very public. Four and a half years ago … I started a friendship with August and we actually became really, really good friends. And it all started with him just needing some help, me wanting to help his health, his mental state."
She continued by adding, "The outpouring for him from our family was initially about his health. We found all those different resources to help pull him through and from there you and I were going through a very difficult time."
At this point, Will interjected, "I was done with you."
Jada explained, "We broke up. We decided that we were going to separate for a period of time." Jada then added, "From there as time went on I got into a different kind of entanglement with August. One thing I want to clean up … about you giving 'permission' which is … the only person that can give permission in that circumstance is myself."
Jada also said that August was trying to explain that he didn't destroy their marriage: "But what August was probably trying to communicate because I could see how he could see it as permission because we were separated amicably, and I think he wanted to make it clear he's not a homewrecker because he's not."
Jada even said that the relationship with August was very powerful for her.
"Through that particular journey, I learned so much about myself and was able to really confront a lot of emotional immaturity, emotional insecurity and I was really able to do some really deep healing."
"And as I came through and started to realize certain things about you and I, he decided to break all communication with me which was totally understandable. And I let that be and hadn't talked to him since so it is a little weird that all this stuff is coming out now since this was several [years ago]."
Will and Jada then recommitted to working on their marriage. Jada added, "We have really gotten to that new place of unconditional love."
Will and Jada married in 1997, and they share two children together: Jaden and Willow.
