Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Taught Me Relationships Aren’t One Size Fits All
How the Hollywood power couple’s unorthodox style of love helped me embrace my own
In a recent interview with GQ, Will Smith confirmed long-standing rumors that he and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith were in an open, or ethically nonmonogamous (ENM), relationship. There are many nuances to ENM, and Will didn’t go into many specifics. But for anyone unfamiliar, an ENM relationship is one in which both parties consent to be sexually and/or romantically involved with others.
Will’s revelation is no surprise to many. Since they began dating in the 1990s, the Smiths have fielded rumors of infidelity, living a swinger lifestyle, and impending divorce. (Will gets even more candid about the origin of unconventional marriage in his newly released memoir, Will.) Before this most recent admission, the Smiths have been open about their struggles with marriage and their need to redefine their relationship. Jada has likened being a wife to “a golden cage.” She has publicly noted that Will has “all the freedom in the world” as long as he can “look himself in the mirror and be okay.”
Then, of course, there was thee Red Table Talk. Anyone tangentially aware of the Smiths watched or heard about this conversation, and the word Jada…
