Jada Pinkett Smith and August Alsina’s ‘Entanglement’: A Timeline of Their Fling and Aftermath

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Jada Pinkett Smith and August Alsina's 'Entanglement': A Timeline of Their Fling and Aftermath

An unconventional relationship. Jada Pinkett Smith's dating life made major headlines when August Alsina added himself into the narrative amid the actress' decades-long marriage to Will Smith. During an interview in July 2020, Alsina claimed that he had previously been romantically involved with Pinkett Smith — and that her husband gave his blessing. “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," the New Orleans native said during an interview with “Breakfast Club” host Angela Yee. “I devoted myself to it, I gave my full self to it.” Alsina noted that he had “literally never been in love” before his connection with the Scream 2 star. After initially denying the musician's claims, Pinkett Smith later revealed that she was separated from Smith when the “entanglement" took place. “We were over. From there, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August," the Gotham alum said on Red Table Talk that same month, referring to her 2015 split from the Philadelphia native. [jwplayer V3iJUWbx-zhNYySv2] Smith, who joined his wife on the talk show, recalled the couple's decision to part ways amid ups and downs in their marriage. "We decided we were going to separate for a period of time and you go figure out how to make yourself happy and I'll figure out how to make myself happy," he shared in July 2020. “I really felt like we could be over.” At the time, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that addressing their past brought the pair closer together. “Will and Jada, at the end of the day, are like a normal couple who just happen to be glorified because they’re famous. They have fought. They have reconciled," the insider said. "At the end of the day, they do love each other.” In March 2022, Smith shut down speculation that there was cheating in his relationship. "Never. There's never been infidelity in our marriage," the Academy Award winner said on CBS Sunday Morning, noting that the duo "talk about everything" with one another. "And we have never surprised one another with anything ever." The King Richard star also opened up about coming to terms with his marriage being a topic of conversation. "I have decided that chatter about my life can be of a benefit to people," he added. "I think that chatter is the first stage to having a real conversation and being able to truly explore if some of the things in your heart are loving, or poisonous." Scroll down for a full timeline of Pinkett Smith and Alsina's "entanglement" drama: [podcast_block]

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July 2020

During an interview, the “Kissin’ on My Tattoos” artist claimed that he had a past relationship with Pinkett Smith after being introduced by her son, Jaden Smith. “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 shared on The Breakfast Club.

Pinkett Smith’s rep told Page Six at the time that the claims were “absolutely not true,” but Alsina defended his comments.

“My truth is MY truth, & it’s mine to own,” he wrote via Instagram. “There is no right or wrong here, it simply just IS. & I make room and have acceptance for your thoughts and opinions, regardless if I agree or not, you have that freedom to feel WHATEVER it is u feel because when you’re at TRUE peace, all of the noise and chatter becomes that of a whisper.”

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July 2020

After the singer detailed their past, the Girls Trip actress revealed that she briefly called it quits with Smith four years prior. 

“Yes, it was a relationship, absolutely. I was in a lot of pain, and I was very broken," she shared on Red Table Talk. "Now in the process of that relationship, I definitely realized that you can't find happiness outside of yourself.”

At the time, Pinkett Smith noted that she "just wanted to feel good" which is why she started her "entanglement" with Alsina. "It had been so long since I felt good. It was really a joy to help heal somebody," she added.

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July 2020

That same month, Alsina revealed that he didn't watch Pinkett Smith explain her side of the story on her talk show.

“I have people who’ve seen it. I saw small clips floating on Instagram and kinda backed off Instagram. But it’s definitely been brought to my attention by people around me," he told Vulture, adding that he agreed with the Maryland native's use of the word “entanglement” to describe their relationship. “If you look up the definition of ‘entanglement,’ it is a complex and difficult relationship."

Alsina continued: "It was exactly that. I definitely have to agree with it being an entanglement. It definitely was something complicated, a complicated dynamic.”

The songwriter said that he wasn't in contact with Pinkett Smith since discussing their history publicly. “I don’t have an issue with anybody. I love everybody. I love all of them/ They’ve been my family, and there’s a lot of history there. They’re beautiful people. They’re beautiful spirits. They really are," he explained. “There’s no bad blood with anybody. They [the Smiths] got [the Angela Yee interview] way before the world ever saw it. It came from a loving place. There’s no bad love with anybody. I got love for everybody on this planet.”

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July 2020

In response to Pinkett Smith's description of their fling, Alsina released a track titled "Entanglements" later that month.

"The definition of entanglement is when you tangle in the sheets,” he sang. “Girl, I know that we don't call it a relationship but you're still f--king with me.”

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February 2022

During the SAG Awards, Pinkett Smith and her husband laughed off an interview question that brought up their marriage.

“We love you. Thank you for all the years of joy you've brought us,” E! pre-show host Laverne Cox to the duo on the red carpet. “We can't wait for more Red Table Talk and more entanglements.”

The True Colors star jokingly responded, “No more of those," to which Cox replied, “No more entanglements! I love you, girl. I’m just kidding. I’m just joshing you.”

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April 2022

Nearly two years after he got candid about his history with Pinkett Smith, Alsina dropped a new song.

“Well, of course some s--t is bound to go down when there’s a billion dollars on the elevator,” the lyrics for “Shake the World" read. “Well, of course some s-—t is bound to go down when you tangled up with the world’s favorite.”

The track's release came less than two months after Smith's controversial behavior at the 2022 Oscars. During the 94th annual Academy Awards, the Hitch actor raised eyebrows for slapping Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Pinkett Smith's shaved head.

Alsina, for his part, seemingly reacted to the awards show scandal. "Choose peace," the "No Love" singer wrote in a lengthy Instagram post. "Trusting that life’s intricate puzzle pieces 🧩 are all forming together for the greater good and mastering of the seasonally sometime chaotic nature of your life’s art piece that’s being formed and painted by birthing life to your internal masterpiece; grown through external chaos-metamorphosing alchemy, dark turned 2 light and beauty within."