The Smith family Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith has had quite an eventful journey in the last few years. Will Smith who was known for his friendly and kind personality and his family have experienced some unusual things. It all started when Jada Pinkett Smith told everyone about her relationship with a younger man. They even talked about it openly on their Facebook show, Red Table Talk.
Then at an awards show, Will Smith slapped a comedian for making a joke about his wife. On the same night, he won a big award. And just when things seemed to be settling down, Jada Pinkett Smith shared a surprising secret: she and Will who got married in 1997 have been living separate lives for seven years. She wrote about this in her new book, “Worthy” which comes out on October 17.
Why They Decided to Live Apart
Jada Pinkett Smith explained that by 2016, they were both tired of trying to make their marriage work. She said, “I think we were both kind of just still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be.” What’s interesting is that when Will Smith got into a fight with the comedian, it was the first time in a long time that Jada heard him use strong language.
But when people asked why they didn’t tell anyone about their separation sooner, Jada hinted that they might not be completely finished. She said they were “still trying to figure out, between the two of us, how to be in partnership.”
In another interview, she said they were working really hard to understand what their love means and what their future could be. Will Smith on the other hand has said in the past that he doesn’t believe in divorce. He hasn’t said anything about Jada’s new book.
What Is Ambiguous Separation?
The situation that the Smiths are in is called “ambiguous separation.” It means that they haven’t decided to either get divorced or stay together. Some experts say this is more common than you might think.
Studies have shown that between 6% and 18% of married couples in the United States have gone through a period of separation. Other famous couples like former Google chairman Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy have chosen to live separately even though they are still married.
Why Some Couples Choose Ambiguous Separation
There are many reasons why couples decide to live separately without getting a divorce. Getting divorced can be really hard emotionally. It’s much harder than just saying, “We’re going to live apart for a while and see how it goes.”
Divorce involves dealing with many issues like money, children and even the family home which can have a lot of sentimental value. There are also practical reasons like health insurance or not having enough money to pay for all the legal stuff.
The Smith family’s journey through ambiguous separation shows us that relationships can be very complicated. They teach us that love and marriage are not always straightforward.
As they keep working on their unique path, they show us that there isn’t just one way to be in a relationship. They’re a reminder that couples can choose what works best for them whether it’s staying married but living separately or finding another way to be together.
FAQs
What does “ambiguous separation” mean?
Ambiguous separation is when married couples don’t decide to either get divorced or stay together. They are in the middle.
Is it common for couples to live separately like the Smiths?
Yes it’s more common than you might think. Studies show that between 6% and 18% of married couples in the US have spent some time living separately.
Why do some couples choose to live apart but not get divorced?
Getting divorced is really emotionally hard and it involves dealing with many complicated issues.
Can couples like the Smiths get back together?
It’s different for every couple. Some may find a way to rebuild their relationship while others may eventually decide to divorce.
What can we learn from the Smith family’s story?
The Smiths show us that love and marriage can be complicated. They also show us that there isn’t just one right way to be in a relationship.