What is an entanglement? Timeline of Will Smith, Jada & August Alsina drama
Will and Jada Smith shocked fans after revealing in a sit-down interview that their apparently perfect marriage has in fact been tumultuous.
Fans of the couple have been fixated on Pinkett Smith's use of the word "entanglement" to describe her extramarital relationship.
What is an entanglement?
Jada Pinkett Smith, 48, used the unusual turn of phrase to describe the extramarital relationship that she had had with August Alsina in 2015.
"I got into an entanglement with August," Jada said. "The only person that can give permission in that particular circumstance is myself.
"I could actually see how he would perceive it as permission because we were separated amicably, and I think he also wanted to make it clear that he's also not a home-wrecker. Which he's not.”
The couple then clarified that the term "entanglement" could be synonymous with "relationship".
Jada explained how the relationship with American singer August started: “About four and a half years ago…[I] started a franchise with August.
"We actually became really, really good friends. It all started with him just needing some help. Me wanting to help his health, his mental state, y’know?”.
August is a 27-year-old singer-songwriter from New Orleans. He is most known for his hit I Luv This S*** with Trinidad James.
During an , August claimed that he had been in a relationship with the actress for years.
Discussing their romance in detail, August added: "I totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life, and I truly and really, really deeply love and have a ton of love for her."
He explained in the interview that their relationship was all within the approval of her husband Will.
"I actually sat down with Will [Smith] and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership … he gave me his blessing."
Timeline of events
- 1994: Will met Jada on set of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but he was married to Sheree Zampino at the time.
- December 1997: Jada and Will got married while she was pregnant with their son Jaden
- August 2011: Rumors circulated that Jada was having an affair Marc Anthony - the couple deny this and say their marriage is "intact".
- August 2013: Jada made a Facebook post to clarify that she and Will were not in an open marriage. She says "Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship...this means we have a GROWN one."
- August 2015: Will Smith denied rumours he is divorcing Jada
- 2016: August accompanied Jada and kids on holiday to Hawaii.
- June 2017: Jada and August attended the BET Awards together.
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- June 30 2020: August Alsina claimed that he had a relationship with Jada whilst she was married, and Will had given him permission.
- June 30 2020: Jada's reps say his claims were “absolutely not true.”
- July 10: Jada had a Red Table Talk with Will. They revealed they had briefly separated when Jada started seeing Alsina. Jada says she got into an entanglement with August but Will and Jada say they are committed to one another.