The Internet was abuzz with the news that Jada Pinkett Smith had been in an “entanglement” with family friend August Alsina, and she and her husband Will went on her show Red Table Talk to hash things out and share their sides of the story.
At the time, Will and Jada were going through a rough patch in their marriage. Jada explained:
“I was in a lot of pain and I was very broken. And in the process of that relationship I definitely realized that you can’t find happiness outside of yourself. And luckily enough you and I were going through a process of healing in a very different manner. I would definitely say that we did everything we could to get away from each other only to realize that that wasn’t possible. I guess about 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, and me just wanting to help his health and mental state.”
When Will asked Jada what she was looking for in this relationship with August, she said:
“I just wanted to feel good. It had been so long since I felt good. And it was really a joy to help heal somebody. I think that has a lot to do with my codependency which is another thing I had to learn to break in this cycle. Needing to fix, and being drawn to people that need help. … There’s something about that childhood trauma that feels like it can be fixed through fixing people, versus fixing me.”
Alsina took to Twitter after the video to express his frustration with being dragged into this drama, writing:
“Imagine not knowing how to mind the business that pay you. I catch all the subliminals. (Not just about today)
& you can call me whatever you like, Mess is constantly inserting yourself in topics you have nun to do w/. Go play w/ ya MAMMY! Not me!”
“If you have something to say, say it w/ ya CHEST kids.
It’s always very perplexing cause I real deal be showing people genuine love. Whole time that envy eating ya lil heart.
Anyway, NEXT!!”
If you have something to say, say it w/ ya CHEST kids.
It’s always very perplexing cause I real deal be showing people genuine love. Whole time that envy eating ya lil heart.
Anyway, NEXT!!— August Alsina (@AugustAlsina) July 10, 2020
Everyone was talking about the drama on social media, with people choosing sides in the debate. However, some pointed out that Jada’s relationships with August could be interpreted as predatory. A Reddit thread brought out a lot of people who held this opinion:
“Is it not strange to anyone how Jada mentions they were helping this kid through an illness? On top of all the shitty things here – she was taking what she wanted, he was considerably younger – she was first and foremost a support figure for a sick kid (well, like, 21 or 22). I just find that super gross, and it says something about her character.”
“Oh my god THIS! It’s crazy how many people are focusing on the ‘affair’ part. He was 21, Jaden’s best friend at the time, and was dealing with mental illness. The Smiths were allegedly getting him help and it ended with Jada sleeping with him. Imagine if the situation was reversed and Will had taken advantage of a mentally ill family friend 20 years his junior.”
“She wants to sound like this was a learning process and healing and all the crap but in reality she slept with a young kid with a mental illness.”
What do you think of all this drama?
