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Jada Pinkett Smith may have a lot of love for her husband Will Smith. Still, despite their marriage, Jada Pinkett isn’t always okay with being called his wife.

What Jada Pinkett Smith felt about being simply labeled as Will Smith’s wife

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith posing at the 22nd Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Will Smith | Rebecca Sapp/WireImage

It’s understandable why Jada Pinkett would have an issue with being solely labeled as Smith’s wife. Her husband is a global superstar with many box-office hits under his belt. Although Jada Pinkett might not have seen the same kind of career heights, she’s an accomplished actor in her own right. Still, Jada Pinkett confided that her personal sacrifices also helped Smith’s wildest dreams come true. But these compromises also led to a bit of self-reflection over the years.

“When I look back at my actual actions and ask, ‘Would I have changed the action?’ I go, ‘No, I wouldn’t.’ I would have changed why I made the choice – that’s the difference,’ she explains. ‘So, I’m not going to do that movie because I don’t want to be away from Will that long? It’s like, ‘No, I don’t want to do that movie because I don’t want to do that movie,’” Pinkett Smith told Red.

But Jada Pinkett made it clear that there was no resentment towards Smith for his success. The Matrix Reloaded star even asserted she was happy to be along for the ride. But she admitted being simply seen as Smith’s wife was “more annoying than anything else.”

At the time, however, Jada Pinkett was dealing with so many issues, that the irritation over being called Smith’s wife was pretty low on her set of priorities.

“I had so much going on in regards to so many other emotional difficulties, it was kind of down on the list,” she said.

Jada Pinkett Smith said she was shocked that Will Smith called her his wife at 2022 Oscars

While promoting her memoir Worthy last year, Jada Pinkett revealed a bombshell that surprised many. When Smith hit comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, he famously shouted at Rock not to mention his wife’s name again. After keeping silent about it for a while, Jada Pinkett shared her perspective on the matter. According to the Girls, Trip star, she was just as surprised as everyone else about her husband’s actions. But it wasn’t only what he did that caught her off guard, it was what Smith called her.

“First of all, I’m really shocked, because mind you, I’m not there. We haven’t called each other husband and wife in a long time,” Pinkett Smith once told NBC Prime Time Special. “I’m like, ‘What is going on right now? Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth?’ I’m really worried for Will because I don’t know what’s going on.”

Jada Pinkett shared that she and Smith weren’t even living together, and were working on a marriage that wasn’t in the healthiest place.

“Still trying to figure out between the two of us how to be in partnership. … In regards to, how do we present that to people? We hadn’t figured that out,” she said.

However, shortly after her remarks, Jada Pinkett clarified that she and Smith aren’t headed towards a divorce despite their separation.

“We will work through whatever. And I just haven’t been able to break that promise,” Jada Pinkett said.

Will Smith called his marriage a sloppy experiment

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Jada Pinkett Smith Once Explained How Her Fantasies Dissolved After Marrying Will Smith

Smith has also shared some interesting thoughts on his marriage with Jada Pinkett. He admitted that their relationship was far from perfect. But like his significant other, Smith seemed determined to maintain their wedding vows. He made his feelings towards Jada Pinkett clear when he helped her promote her book Worthy at the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

“Jada is the best friend I have ever had on this planet, and I am going to show up for her and support her for the rest of my life,” Smith said according to the Economic Times.

Although he asserted that their marriage could be a bit messy, it seemed to the Smith household that the mess was worth it.

“It is a sloppy public experiment in unconditional love,” he added.