Renowned Hollywood actor Will Smith expressed that he was “shocked and stunned” following the release of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, ‘Worthy,’ which has been making waves in the media for its intimate revelations about their relationship.
With the book set to hit the shelves this Tuesday, it has sparked considerable interest due to Pinkett Smith’s candid disclosures, shedding light on various aspects of their journey together.
In an email correspondence with the New York Times that was made public on Saturday, Smith, 55, confessed that the memoir had a profound impact on him, stating that it served as a wake-up call of sorts.
“When you’ve been with someone for more than half of your life,” he wrote, “a sort of emotional blindness sets in, and you can all too easily lose your sensitivity to their hidden nuances and subtle beauties.”
The couple, who have been married since 1997, first crossed paths on the set of the popular TV show ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ marking the beginning of their long-standing bond.
Revealing a newfound appreciation for his wife’s resilience and tenacity, Smith acknowledged that Pinkett Smith, 52, had experienced a life that was more daring and challenging than he had previously comprehended. He further acknowledged her remarkable strength, intelligence, and compassion, which had previously gone unrecognized.
Meanwhile, in recent promotional interviews for ‘Worthy,’ Pinkett Smith disclosed to People magazine the tumultuous upbringing she endured. She candidly shared how her parents’ struggle with drug addiction cast a shadow over her formative years, coupled with the absence and occasional violence of her father.
In a courageous effort to achieve financial independence during her teenage years, Pinkett Smith delved into various jobs, ranging from retail and telemarketing to, shockingly, involvement in drug sales.
“I’m not saying that it’s right, of course,” Pinkett Smith told People. “But I wanted money so that I could be independent. I wanted to take care of myself.”
She depicted her upbringing in 1980s Baltimore as akin to existing in a battlefield, where the pervasive influence of drugs cast a shadow over everyone’s lives.
Additionally, Smith further articulated his perspectives on the memoir in a letter that was recited during an episode of the podcast ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty’.
“I just turned the final page of Worthy,” Smith wrote. “It is amazing to realize that despite having lived most of my life by your side, I still found myself shocked and stunned and caught off guard, laughing, then inspired, then heartbroken. I was all over the place.
“It’s one thing to hear anecdotes at a family barbecue, but it was truly overwhelming to take in your story, potently condensed in this way,” he continued. “You are one of one — a rare blend of power and delicate sensitivity.
“I know it wasn’t easy to excavate the depths in that way. I applaud and honor you,” he wrote. “If I had read this book 30 years ago, I definitely would have hugged you more. I’ll start now. Welcome to the Authors Club. I love you endlessly. Now go get some merlot and take a rest.”
With a chuckle, Pinkett Smith retorted that her husband is aware that she refrains from consuming merlot.
“That’s beautiful. That’s why I can’t divorce that joker,” she said.
Earlier, Pinkett Smith disclosed to People and during an interview with NBC’s Hoda Kotb that she and Smith have been living separately since 2016.
“It was not a divorce on paper,” Kotb clarified in a televised interview.
“Right,” Pinkett Smith responded.
“…but it was a divorce,” Kotb said.
“Divorce,” Pinkett Smith emphasized.
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While chatting with Kotb, Pinkett Smith also discussed “the slap heard around the world” when Smith hit comedian Chris Rock in the face during the 2022 Oscars ceremony. Rock had made a G.I. Jane joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which angered Smith. The Matrix Reloaded actor suffers from alopecia, which can cause hair loss.
After slapping Rock, Smith yelled at him saying;
“Keep my wife’s name out of your f–-ing mouth!”