August Alsina, 27, says he was with Jada Pinkett Smith & Will gave his blessing

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August Alsina is a musician and friend of Jaden Smith and the Pinkett-Smith family. He’s 27, and he has a new interview with Angela Yee of “The Breakfast Club” show in which he revealed that he had an affair with Jada Pinkett Smith, 48. He claims that Will gave him his blessing to date Jada. (We’ve heard for years that the Pinkett-Smiths have an open marriage, both Jada and Will have hinted as much, and in 2018 Will said they call each other life partners, and don’t refer to themselves as married.) I watched it and found August vulnerable, genuine and completely believable. He’s a spiritual person who has experienced a lot of loss and feels things deeply. I came away from this interview feeling like I knew him. August has a new documentary series called stateofEMERGEncy available now on his website, which he’s promoting along with his music. For what it’s worth, Jada has denied this story. Her reps say this is “absolutely not true.” Will’s rep told The Sun that this story is “wrong.” Here’s part of what he said and his interview is below. You can see the part where he talks about Jada at 17 minutes in. Page Six claims this relationship started in 2015, that August traveled to Hawaii with the Pinkett-Smiths in 2016 and went to the BET Awards with them in 2017. The interviewer, Angela Yee, references a song August wrote, Nunya, which is supposedly about Jada. (Page Six says it came out in 2009, that is not correct, it came out in 2019.)

On the pressure on Black people
August: Black people have been constantly told to [shhh]. Everything, shut up about it. Black people are expected, you take it on the chin. “Black people are strong.” What happens when you are tired of being strong? What happens when you are actually weak? Since the beginning of time, we have been oppressed forever. I think that this is a new time that the universe is requiring something different from people. People are rising up and finding a strength within themselves from suffering from that type of oppression and repressing so much stuff. What happens is my spirit, and my mind and my body becomes bogged down and I am heavy. I can’t move anymore. I can’t operate my body. It starts to affect your nervous system. My body starts to shut down from the amount of weight and pressure that I feel from just being quiet about every little thing.

On his affair with Jada Pinkett Smith
Yee: You put out the song Nunya [in 2019] and a lot of people said Ok, August is dating Jada Pinkett Smith and that was circulating as a rumor. What was the real situation with Jada?
August: I’m not a troublemaker, I don’t like drama. I also don’t think that it’s ever important for people to know what I do, who I sleep with, who I date. In this instance it’s very different because so many people are side-eyeing me. I’ve lost money, friendships, relationships behind it. I’ve never done anything wrong. I love those people like my family. I don’t have a bad thing to say about them, they’re beautiful people. When something starts affecting my life… I don’t really have a choice but to express my truth.

I actually sat down with Will and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership that they’ve spoken on several times. He gave me his blessing. I totally gave myself to that relationship [with Jada] for years of my life. I truly and really deeply loved and have a ton of love fot her. I devoted myself to it, I gave my full self to it, so much so to the point that I can die right now and be okay with knowing that I truly gave myself to somebody. And I really loved a person, I experienced that and know what that feels like and some people never get that in this lifetime. I know that I am completely blessed and this conversation is difficult because it is so much, that it would be hard for people to understand but once it starts to affect me and my livelihood I have to speak up about my truth.

On if he’s disappointed that Jada never addressed it
I never can get into the thought of that because I’m only responsible for myself. I’m only responsible for what I do. I just always stay silent because I never want to be the person to cause confusion. I love these people, I really do. I never have been in love in that kind of way. So much so that being intertwined in that way, walking away from it, butchered me. I’m shaking because it almost killed me, it pushed me into being another person, my newer self. It broke me down. I want to honor myself and honor my authenticity. If honoring my authenticity means you hate me, stone me, crucify me, whatever, bury me an honest man.

[From YouTube via PageSix]

August also opened up about being sexually abused as a child, which was addressed in his docuseries. Plus he lost his sister to cancer just a year and a half ago and their brother passed in a car accident before that. He said he has three children, and is referring to his sister’s daughters, his nieces whom he is caring for after they were orphaned. He also has serious long term health problems and is battling an autoimmune disease that damages his liver.

We talked about this in our Zoom meeting last night. The general consensus was that although August was of legal age he did seem like an “impressionable young man dealing with a celebrity with a hero complex,” to quote my friend Zakia. We also all agreed that this was questionable and seemed predatory because August talked about the Smiths like they were his family. People would be looking at it much differently if the genders were reversed. Also, a few people wondered why the Smiths didn’t have August sign an NDA.

Here is a link to a tweet with photos of August and Jada.

He seems very vulnerable, he was her son’s friend and he’s way too young for her. I’m around her age and could not imagine dating someone this young. Given everything he said about Jada and the fact that he was 20 years younger than her, this doesn’t sit right.

Here’s the interview queued up to the part where he talks about Jada:

Jada’s stepson, Will’s son Trey, is August’s age, 27.
Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

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61 Responses to “August Alsina, 27, says he was with Jada Pinkett Smith & Will gave his blessing”

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  1. Jekelly says:

    The more and more I read about Jada, the less I like her.

  2. Piratewench says:

    I agree it doesn’t sit right. I’m the last one to give a crap about open marriages, like go for it people, enjoy. As long as all adults are consenting and informed then it is not for anyone to judge what people do.
    But the power dynamic in this coupling is way way off. It feels like this young man with a giant heart got taken advantage of.

    • BlinkBanana says:

      He seems like he’s in so much pain. On a different note it was good to see a man open up like that emotionally in an interview, and be so candid with his thoughts and feelings. Maybe it’s because I come from the land of the emotionally repressed, but I want to see more of that kind of candour from well-known figures. It reminds us all how vulnerable and human we are and that these things are “normal.” I can’t help but think of the number of young men who might have gone through something similar (or even not), sadly ending their lives because they didn’t have that outlet. I wasn’t familiar with August before this, but I’m a little bit in love with him now after this interview. He seems like a really beautiful person.

  3. Glorificus says:

    Well, two things can be true : there is nothing wrong with being poly and being in an open marriage.

    And it’s absolutely wrong for an older rich powerful person to date one of their children’s much younger friends. Especially if they’re vulnerable.

    I’m not seeing much nuanced discussion of either of these things.

    • sunny says:

      Absolutely this. Totally believe in couples finding what works for them and their are different partnerships beyond monogamy.

      Yes this example is challenging, not because of his young age but the power difference is enormous and that feels questionable. Yet, men do things like this all the time and we rarely discuss it(well, I mean we do here but that is because Celebitches are smart and awesome)

    • Yup, Me says:

      Absolutely, all of this.

  4. Nikki says:

    Jada gets no passes from me on this one. She put her own ego above common sense. Also, how are the Smiths have relationships with anyone and not having them sign a NDA?

  5. Erinn says:

    This is pretty shady. Not for August – sounds like he did absolutely nothing wrong, and honestly seems like a very likable guy.

    I just can’t get past the “due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership” – holy GOOP. That’s the goopiest non-goop statement I’ve heard in a while. I mean – I look at my marriage as a life partnership already? It sort of makes me sad that didn’t seem to be part of the deal before based on that statement.

    I’ve been sketched out about Will and Jada for a while, though. I think they are absolutely $cientologists – maybe not Tom Cruise level active ones, but who the hell pays for a $cientology school who isn’t a $cientologist? I also think that despite their kids seeming to be pretty decent human beings – they didn’t provide a very stable upbringing for them. It seems like the kids were left to their devices a bit too much – which also falls into $cientology territory if I remember correctly.

    • SomeChick says:

      According to Tony Ortega, they backed out some time ago. Tom Cruise was trying hard to net the Beckhams at that time as well, and the three couples were photographed together. The school was closed a while back. Seems more like they dabbled in it for a while, but got away.

    • I am Mimi says:

      I kind of get the from “married” to “life partner” thing. I’ve been married for 20+ years and while I still care for my husband (life partner), I’m no longer sexually attracted to him (“married”?). I wish him well, don’t particularly want to divorce him, but there’s no passion left. it sounds like the Smiths are going through the same thing.

    • tealily says:

      Yeah, I was all ready to be like, “not cool talking about this, dude,” but it really does seem like he did nothing wrong and they were sh–ty to him.

  6. Slowdown says:

    I appreciate Jada’s openness and I also get self-affirming vibes from her which is great. She seems to live to the beat of her own drum. As a woman, it’s easy to understand how you can feel pinned down and diminished in a marriage.
    But this does feel like she abused her position of power as an older, attractive and grown female celebrity.
    As for the open marriage yes, sure why not. Nothing to say about that except it’s their own business.

  7. Talie says:

    Looking for a mother figure maybe? I could see how that would hurt when the connection just gets severed.

    I totally believe every word he says so I’m not sure why she would deny. It also doesn’t fit her new brand to not be honest. When I think of Red Table Talk, I think of complete honesty.

  8. Ryan says:

    Not a fan of the Smiths choices when it comes to their children. Or Scientology. But this young man was a consenting adult when the affair started. I’m not willing to diagnose him as unable to think for himself or make decisions as an adult. Plenty of people can be vulnerable and make poor choices, at any age.

    Creepy at hell that Jada would be into someone near her son’s age, tho.

    • ADS says:

      Yeah, I agree. I wouldn’t call Jada sketchy for this one. Scientology? Yes. But not dating a man in his twenties – despite the life challenges he has and is facing.

  9. smee says:

    Hmmm….I wonder if my hubs would let me date 😊

    Honestly, I see nothing wrong with this. Things change over time in relationships. They must still love each other but not in a romantic sense, they have a family, they’ve built a life together, they’re financially intertwined…why blow-up the whole world over one issue as long as they both agree….

    • Also Ali says:

      +1

      • Also Ali says:

        Clarifying, that imo an open marriage thing is fine when it’s an equal partnership in the marriage and that it probably takes a high level of maturity and self awareness from all three people to keep it from being abusive.

        Based on no other information than this one article, he wasn’t the right guy to bring into this situation. He sounds emotionally wounded by the experience.

    • ennie says:

      If it were the other way around, nope.
      Even if the younger person is an adult, she was in a position of power.

      • ohrhilly says:

        I’m not one to talk about the inner workings of a marriage. As long as all adults are of age and consent then go for it. But this one wasn’t it. Jada held the power: she was older and has money. Also, she was a mother figure at one point, which makes it gross. She should have been able to see that he is a sensitive soul and their relationship could have wounded him in the end. I feel bad because he knew it wouldn’t last.

        The dynamic was off from the jump. I wonder if she wanted it that way as she isn’t the most powerful in her whatever it is with Will.

        One thing I know for sure she wasn’t that smart by not having an NDA in place.

  10. MellyMel says:

    No comment on Will & Jada’s relationship. That’s their business and it’s been an open secret for years. What I have a problem with is Jada starting a relationship with a young man who had so many mental, physical and emotional issues. I’ve heard the way she’s spoken about August in the past, and it was always in a motherly way. The power dynamic just doesn’t sit right with me. And agreed with some other ppl, they should have had him sign an NDA.

    • Christina says:

      It’s Will and Jada’s business, and everyone is a consenting adult, but Will and Jada speak in code about their open marriage so that they can deny it in interviews with the mainstream media by using psychobable. But their lovers throughout the years, and people who they have hit on, talk, and they’ve been talking for 20 years. Even I heard stories in the circles I’ve run in! One day, somebody was going to get burned and speak openly because secrets are hard to keep nowadays. Jada chose the wrong guy, someone who doesn’t care about protecting their legacy, and now Will and Jada are trying to deny an open secret.

      Will and Jada have mainstream money and projects. Most people in the US are judgmental or they are hypocrites who have affairs instead of swinging. It’s not for me, but they have the right to do it. They are just lucky that this happened after the peak of Will’s movie career.

  11. Winnie Cooper’s Mom says:

    This is disturbing. Not the open marriage part. But that first he came into the family as a friend of their child, so naturally he would view Jada as a mother figure. Then it sounds like that relationship morphed into a sexual one. It’s easy to see how he was in a vulnerable situation. A person can be of consenting age and also still vulnerable. Her 20 year age difference With him so young comes off as predatorial. Like she threw him out once she got what she wanted out of it. And now he has been cut off by a group of ppl he considered family. The whole thing is messed up and good for him speaking his truth about it. Not a fan of the Smiths.

  12. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    Reading that left me feeling a bit…mournful. Oh please Jada, bring this up at your self-fulfilling red table to wring him out a bit more.

  13. FHMom says:

    I’m one of those people who believed in the family image that Will and Jada have always presented. I’ve known for a while that it isn’t true, and who cares? BUT, what irks me the the continued denials every time anyone asks about their non traditional relationship. It’s like they will do anything for their image, including deeply hurt this vulnerable young man. I guess it’s image above all else.

    • Yup, Me says:

      They are still very much a family, just with different agreements than what you may ascribe or aspire to.

      • FHMom says:

        Yes, but we all know that a ‘traditional’ relationship implies fidelity. They can be the poster child for non traditional families if they choose, but they distance themselves from the open marriage concept.

  14. isabel says:

    Lol wait. Why are we on the one hand bemoaning the power imbalance and then on the other hand tsk-ing the Smiths for not making August sign an NDA?! So we don’t have to be inconvenienced about hearing it? F-k NDAs!!! They’ve been weaponized to silence victims!

    • Mtec says:

      @Isabel
      Right!? Seems like a contradiction to say she did him wrong, but she should have silenced him. 🤔

    • Christina says:

      This! Yup, Isabel. Everybody was grown, and it’s wise to do stuff that you don’t mind coming out later, ‘cause NDA or not, it IS going to be out eventually. NDAs are bad news, and they take people’s free will.

      Jada thought that August would be silent. He’s not 21. He’s 27. She made a poor choice for a lover if she thought he was going to prioritize her and her public marriage, or his own career, over his “truth”. The young people today are brave and want to open up their lives. They don’t think they should hide. Each generation is more open than the last, and all three of them live in that “Entertainment” bubble, where the problems of plebeians don’t matter.

  15. Mirage says:

    Jada’s denials must be so heartbreaking to him. I follow him on Instagram. He is very genuine indeed and very fragile.
    He posted this very beautiful birthday tribute to Jada last year or the year before and it was obvious he loved her so much.

  16. jaylee says:

    Growing up I loved Jada in all of her movies. Around the time she got the massive cheek fillers & went on Oprah acting like a nutter I reassessed. I think something big went down in the Smiths’ marriage during that period. They have clearly shifted to a new place in their relationship & while I find it fascinating I also understand it’s none of my business. The Red Table Talk warmed me again to Jada but I think it’s a hard no for me this time. F*cking with your sons friend is gross. What if Will did this with Jordan.

  17. lucy2 says:

    I saw this yesterday and was kind of like eh whatever, it’s their marriage, if everyone is a consenting adult fine.
    But I did NOT realize that this man was so much younger, and a friend of their son’s. That is extremely disturbing to me. Even if everyone is an adult by the point something happened, that’s a line you don’t cross.

  18. Deedee says:

    What is also off about this is the age difference between Jaden Smith and August. Jaden is only 21 and August is 27. While that may not be too odd now, in 20015, when the relationship began between August and jada, Jayden would have been 16 and August, 22. I know that the Smith’s have a different style of parenting and it is Hollywood, where connections are everything, but that would have seemed strange to me as a parent unless August was some sort of mentor or something, which is a relationship beyond just a “friend”.

  19. Lala11_7 says:

    It’s messy as hell and tacky AF due to the FACT that he was her child’s friend…PERIOD!

    When it comes to situations like THIS…you don’t do THAT!

    • Yup, Me says:

      I would agree with you except for the Hollywood aspect of the situation. The term “friend” could mean everything from “we kick it hard and have been cool for years” to “we just met yesterday and had a good time and I like him a lot.”

      I had a friend from LA/Hollywood who was in that scene and she once explained to me some of the nuances of how to tell if a celebrity “friend” was really your friend or not and it really clarified for me that LA/Hollywood people are a whole different batch of folks.

      The fact that Jada is 20 years older and he seems vulnerable- sure, I get that. The fact that she met him though her son who was allowed to run wild and pretty much come and go and do as he wanted like he was grown from a very young age is not as bothersome to me.

    • Christina says:

      Co-signing, Yup me. I grew up in LA and hung in those circles as a young adult as one of the local kids from the hood who went to college with the kids of the rich and famous who were from those circles. Me and my friends were invited to parties, and it’s a bubble of privilege whether you are in white Hollywood or Black Hollywood. I hung in both, and it was fun, but it could be creepy as hell. They are not like us. At those parties, the older folks knew that the kids who came might need money, or “help” with their careers. And the kids would be grossed out about their parents hunting in their friends circles, but there aren’t regulations in Hollywood, and everybody’s looking for a come up. I stayed in school and work a regular job far away. There is too much money and arrogance in those circles.

      Layday’s comment is on point, too. Jada has always been smart, but a hypocrite, and her image has always been important to her.

  20. KTate says:

    I lean the other way on this one. Side pieces should STAY on the side. He has an agenda. However, I do agree with the NDA. Why wouldn’t she have required one!?

  21. Layday says:

    I think it needs to be said that Jada has always been sanctimonious and hypocritical and if this opens people’s eyes to that, all the better. This is another example that she cares more about her image then actually being authentic. She wants the power coupledom dynamic with Will and to project this image on Red Table Talk for the masses to look at her aspirationally. You want to live your truth and be in a open relationship marriage, great. I don’t care. That being said, there are plenty of receipts that support everything August is saying for her to flat out deny it. She is just trying to save face because she knows it makes her look bad given the age and power dynamic. I‘ve heard Jada speak in person and she has always been next-level when it comes to peddling a narrative of the enlightened one that is above it all (which is why The Red Table Talk is such a success). She admits mistakes only as a way to “show that she’s authentically advanced her growth“ but it comes off like she’s doing it to advance an agenda. That’s the brand come hell or high water, and well now she’s being knocked off that high horse. I’m just surprised that so many people buy Into what she’s selling, but let it not be said that she isn’t an amazing actress.

    • Onomo says:

      I believe this. I think she and Will lean kinda narcissistic -and it’s Hollywood so who doesn’t right. I bet she has been a victim of abuse – outside her mom and dad’s addictions – and still has stuff to unpack to ensure she isn’t abusing people, but then as you said that probably would involve shedding her idea of herself and Will as enlightened and evolved people.

    • Jules says:

      I agree with all this. I’m sure Jada will turn this around somehow to her advantage, she just needs attention. We all know that they are tied into Scientology as well but they like to promote a perfect squeaky clean image. It’s pretty obvious they have an open marriage based on what they’ve said. Whatever on that, most couples in Hollywood do, but it’s the fake image being presented to us to try to win people over that’s gross.

    • ohrhilly says:

      +1 million. I cannot with Jada and her “faux” earnest attitude. I’ve always thought she was a bit disingenuous before Red Table. I couldn’t make it through an episode because she came off as a New Age narcissistic wanna be Iyanla Vanzant.

  22. Onomo says:

    Oof. This is why open marriages /relationships with people younger than 25 don’t work for me. In theory every one is an adult you choose carefully and get partner permission first. But in reality everyone has their sh*t to process. I bet he felt special being taken in by them but how did the fact he was a victim of abuse from a young age play into his role to enter into things with Jada? And even if he wasn’t close to Trey or Jaden, did Jada clear it with her kids? And he was young, and she had $$ and power and vacations and freedom he did not have. Just
    ..what a mess.

  23. Kat says:

    So if they have or had an open marriage it’s pretty amazing that Nobody’s come forward to talk about sleeping with will ! I’m so curious what’s happened

  24. AMM says:

    I’m not sure I’m willing to call this predatory without more Info (even if genders were reversed). He was her sons friend, but also 5 or 6 years older than her son. He wasn’t a minor who grew up with her as a second mom that she pounced on when he turned 18. He was an adult when he entered their lives. There are definitely circumstances that can push this into predatory territory, but I’m not gonna victimize someone and give them no voice in the situation.

  25. Lunasf17 says:

    Probably a lot more people are doing non monogamy and open relationships than we think. So many relationships end with cheating and affairs so something isn’t working for people so nothing wrong with what they are doing IMO as long as they are honest. He is young for sure but if they are both adults then that’s their business, I’m not going to judge the dynamics since I don’t know exactly what went down. Hopefully they had some good experiences and learned lessons from each other and take those experiences into their futures.

  26. SJR says:

    I have always thought Jada was full of herself. More so vs. average celeb.
    Will hasn’t made a good movie in years.
    Their kids did run wild at young ages, IMO.

    Why would you talk about any of this? During a routine PR interview.
    He must know that Will and Jada have the power in his situation with them, they will freeze him out for talking. Power and money, the color of America is Cash Green. He was never on equal footing.

  27. Kayleigh says:

    If I had a money/power, a family, a career that depends on my image, and I was speaking publicly against a pedophile (that Shane D YT guy, gag) atm, I’d probably do a NDA!?! Like why? This is your image and your money you’re playing with. What consenting adult people do is none of business, but this kinda slackness can cost you your career, your husband’s career, even your kids can take a hit. Why so reckless?

  28. Soupie says:

    Of course he said it, Will is gay and Jada still wants to pretend to be straight. I used to respect these people and I still like Will as an actor, but come on. I suspect Jada is bi which is fine just don’t be a hypocrite. As for Will, those photos of him with his homies on the hotel balcony in South America are pretty telling.

  29. Mina_Esq says:

    I love Will Smith and am disappointed that he would support Jada’s relationship with a man so much younger and more vulnerable. I absolutely believe that this happened, and I’m sure Jada used her distorted sense of spirituality to justify it.

  30. Eugh says:

    Anyone watch the Politician? Throuple vibes

  31. Chickaletta says:

    Maybe I’m being a bit ignorant here but I think there’s a long country mile between “open marriage” and “fine with your spouse being in a deep loving relationship with someone else”. Isn’t the idea of an open marriage to have different sexual partners while remaining emotionally faithful and committed to your spouse?

  32. Ange says:

    And this is why I side eye arrangements like these. So often someone who has committed themselves physically and emotionally with the married partner is left in the cold with nothing when the married couple either move on or re-commit to each other. In this instance there’s a whole extra layer of power dynamic that ensures this young man won’t even be able to talk about his own hurt without people doubting him due to the extensive influence of the Smiths. At least if they’d just been dating or even cohabiting he’d have been able to talk openly or have some legal protections.

  33. SM says:

    I feel sorry for the Smith kids. They have parents who act like their are their kid’s teenage friends. And sleeping with your son’s friend is just straight up predatory. Will and Jada are two entitled jackasses who think that they are so special and anyone they allow to stand beside them and be aroud should be feel blessed. Which what I read into the Will gave his blessing situation.

  34. yinyang says:

    Umm…okay, she’s old enough to be his mother, maybe even grandmother. This is just wierd. Why does WIll go around acting like a regular family guy and do this. Nothing wrong with this alternative lifestyle, but why not embrace it instead of hiding behind family man persona or get a divorce. IDK. Will and Jada always seemed kind of pushy to be in the limelight, something about them I don’t trust.

  35. Mar says:

    I have said from day one they are both bi-sexual and are fine with it.