Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals She Believed the Oscars Slap Was Staged

Jada Pinkett Smith is redefining the narrative surrounding one of the most polarizing moments in modern pop culture history, now referring to her husband Will Smith’s 2022 Oscar slap as a holy slap.

Speaking with PEOPLE and the Daily Mail’s YOU Magazine to promote her memoir, Worthy, the 54-year-old actress revealed that the incident served as a spiritual turning point for her marriage.

Like many watching the ceremony from home, Jada initially believed the physical confrontation between Will and comedian Chris Rock was a staged bit. It wasn’t until Will started to walk back to his chair that I even realized it wasn’t a skit, she recalled, noting that her first words to him once they were alone were Are you okay?

The actress, who previously disclosed that she and Will had been living separate lives since 2016, credits the public fallout for forcing a deeper reconciliation. That moment of the s**** hitting the fan is when you see where you really are, she explained, adding that the crisis solidified her commitment to her husband.

According to Jada, the intensity of the backlash made her realize that she would never leave Will’s side, despite the years they spent trying to figure out their future. I call it the “holy slap” now because so many positive things came after it, she said, questioning where their relationship would even be today if the event had never occurred.

Outside of her personal revelations, Jada remains a force in Hollywood both in front of and behind the camera. She is currently preparing for the highly anticipated sequel Girls Trip 2, and will reunite her with co-stars Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish for an adventure in Las Vegas.

The Smith family has also been making headlines for their business ventures and public appearances in early 2026. Jada and Will recently made a coordinated monochromatic appearance at Paris Fashion Week to support their son Jaden, who made history as the first men’s creative director for Christian Louboutin.

Will Smith is also keeping a packed schedule with several major sequels in the works. Fans are eagerly awaiting I Am Legend 2, which will see him starring alongside Michael B. Jordan, as well as a rumored fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise following the success of Ride or Die.

Jada’s multi-platform talk show, Red Table Talk, continues to be a cornerstone of her career, providing a space for the raw and vulnerable conversations that have become her trademark. Her memoir, Worthy, has also remained a bestseller, documenting her journey from her childhood in Baltimore to the pinnacle of Hollywood fame.

Share your thoughts on Jada’s perspective regarding the infamous Oscars moment in the comments.