Will Smith opened up about his non-traditional marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith in an interview for the November cover of GQ on Monday.
“Jada never believed in conventional marriage,” he said. “Jada had family members that had an unconventional relationship. So she grew up in a way that was very different than how I grew up.”
There were significant endless discussions about, what is relational perfection? What is the perfect way to interact as a couple?” he continued. “And for the large part of our relationship, monogamy was what we chose, not thinking of monogamy as the only relational perfection.”
Smith and Pinkett Smith tied the knot in December 1997, before welcoming their son, Jaden Smith, in 1998, and their daughter, Willow Smith, in 2000. Throughout their marriage, they have been open about the evolution of their relationship, taking to Pinkett Smith’s Facebook Watch talk show Red Table Talk to delve into the details of their “unique union.”
In his interview with GQ, Smith admitted that while the unusual dynamic has worked out in his marriage with Pinkett Smith, he does not recommend their setup for other couples.
“We have given each other trust and freedom, with the belief that everybody has to find their own way,” he added. “And marriage for us can’t be a prison. And I don’t suggest our road for anybody. I don’t suggest this road for anybody. But the experiences that the freedoms that we’ve given one another and the unconditional support, to me, is the highest definition of love.”
Further in the interview, Wesley Lowery, Smith’s interviewer, writes that the actor “delicately explained” that Pinket Smith was not “the only one engaging in other sexual relationships.” Lowery claims that it was clear Smith had more to say, but the actor decided against revealing further information after telling Lowery he would speak with Pinkett Smith before their next meeting.
“It may seem hard to believe, but I would lose sleep over not giving you the answer that I know you could use,” Smith told Lowery. “I want to help you, I want you to succeed, I want you to have a headline. But by the same token, I don’t want to deal with the backlash of that in the world.”
Elsewhere, Pete Davidson is confirmed to return for Saturday Night Live season 47.
