A Brief History of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's Divorce Rumors

A love story as deep and complicated as the levels of Scientology.

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Complex Original

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What is love? Is it dead? Who even knows anymore? Today's celebrity chatter revolves around one long-term, high-profile couple with a possible split in the works. Radar Online reports that, after 17 years, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are going their separate ways with a $240 million divorce deal (woof). Here's a quote from an insider:

"For Will and Jada, holding it together these past few years has been tough because their marriage has been on life support for a long time [...] They're exhausted from trying to maintain the façade of a happy union. They've decided to pull the plug in a carefully choreographed manner, [and] agree announcing their split at the end of the summer is the right move."

What a carefully contrived statement! And end of summer?? That's sooooo soon! But how real is this divorce rumor, really? (*Refreshes Jaden Smith's Twitter every three seconds for answers.*) Anyone who's been remotely following the Will/Jada Pinkett Smith love story will know that this is a web as deep and complicated as the levels of Scientology. 

The divorce rumors—as well as open marriage and gay ones—have been circulating for a few years now, which is why we're understandably a bit hesitant to accept these claims. (Or perhaps we're in heavy denial.) Let's take a look back at some of their complicated will-they-or-won't-they moments with this Brief History of the Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's Divorce Rumors:

  • Aug. 23, 2011: In Touch reports that after 13 years together, Will and Jada will be ending their marriage. The cause of separation is rumored to be Jada's affair with Marc Anthony on the set of Hawthorne. A comment from Jada's rep, Karynne Tencer, quickly stomps out the rumor, though: "What? In Touch said that? I know nothing about this... Lord. I'm going back to bed." Trey Smith, Will's son from his first marriage, denies the rumors on Twitter before Will and Jada give an official statement to Us Weekly a few days later: "Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false. We are still together, and our marriage is intact."
  • September 2011: The Will Smith Gay Rumors (WillSmithGayte?) has been around since the beginning of time (including a male prostitute one back in 2008), but a "blossoming bromance" between Will and Trey Songz has everyone staying woke. (Later he would be photographed half-naked in a "compromising position" with a man who looks like Trey Songz.)
  • Jan. 4, 2012: In Touch running the rumor mill again! Five months after the previous tip, the magazine reports that Will and Jada met with celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. Anon source reportedly told In Touch that the Smiths have "finally begun to take steps to dissolve their marriage."
  • Feb. 14, 2012: Jada Pinkett Smith releases a steamy Valentine's Day song called "Burn," dedicated to Will Smith. A not-so-veiled effort to thwart those divorce rumors, perhaps.
  • Feb. 22–26, 2012: Cryptic tweets from their children, Jaden and Willow Smith:
  • March 8, 2012: The gay rumors will never go away, but a new one with actor Duane Martin is one that resonates with the public again. A source reveals to Star, "Will spends significantly more time with Duane than he does with Jada and the kids.​"
  • April 2012: In an interview with French magazine Gala, Jada Pinkett Smith addresses the unrelenting divorce rumors: "I have no idea! Every year, one celebrity couple is under the microscope. This year, unluckily, it's us! I almost want to say that we should have been expecting it. [...] Will and I know the truth. We're waiting peacefully for the storm to blow over." She also confirms that the whole family lives under the same roof.
  • September 2012: Jada graces the cover of Essence for the September issue, and stomps those rumors yet again: "It's rumored that we're getting a divorce. But no. We're not getting a divorce. Where am I gonna go? Where am I going to go?"
  • April 3, 2013: Jada stops by HuffPo Live to talk about—drumroll, please!—those open relationship rumors. "I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay,'" she says, speaking to Marc Lamont Hill. "Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I'm here as his partner, but he is his own man. He has to decide who he wants to be and that's not for me to do for him. Or vice versa."
  • April 14, 2013: Jada clarifies the above statement in a Facebook post, stating that, "Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so." She says that does not mean it's an open relationship, but a GROWN one. Hmm.
  • Sept. 2, 2013: After Realestalker.com reported that Will and Jada put up their $42 million home for sale, a rep denies the claims: "This is false. Their home is not on the market" (via NY Daily News).
  • Nov. 6, 2013: Rumors surface that Will Smith is stepping out on Jada with his Focus costar Margot Robbie after some racy photos of them getting "mighty close (and partially nude)" appear. However, a source tells Us Weekly, "They're not hooking up."
  • 2014: A rather quiet year for the two. 
  • June 3, 2015: Jada goes on Howard Stern to promote her new movie Magic Mike XXL and brings up the possibility of an open marriage again, stating, "You've got to trust who you're with. And at the end of the day, I'm not here to be anybody's watcher. I'm not his watcher. He's a grown man."
  • June 25, 2015: Jada ONCE AGAIN says the divorce rumors are untrue (note this was only a month ago): "It's actually good news and bad news. The good news is there's nothing else to talk about. This has been the only story Let's round up the divorce story again! [...] Will and I love each other so much, and our family and our relationship is so important."​
  • Aug. 3, 2015: Bringing us back to this. Radar Online is probably not the most reliable source, though. Also, Gossip Cop reports that the two are in fact NOT getting a divorce. WHICH IS TRUE? Stay tuned for more of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith: The Most Complicated Love Story of Our Time.
  • (UPDATE) Aug. 3, 2015, 4:24 p.m. EST: I told y'all the divorce rumor was probably not true! We can all relax now, since Will and Jada are in fact NOT getting a divorce, as confirmed by Will Smith's Facebook post just now (whoa it's always been Jada confirming these things up until this point). Read his statement below (P.S. so glad he acknowledges her as his QUEEN, as he very well should):​

    Under normal circumstances, I don't usually respond to foolishness. (Because it's contagious) But, so many people have extended me their "deepest condolences" that I figured - "What the hell... I can be foolish, too!"

    So, in the interest of redundant, repetitious, over & over-again-ness... Jada and I are...

    NOT GETTING A DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! : -)

    I promise you all - if I ever decide to divorce my Queen - I SWEAR I'll tell you myself!

    #‎Dumb People Should Have to Wear Scarlet D's

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