Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, who have been separated since 2016 despite being married since 1997, were spotted dining together on November 7 at Crossroads Kitchen in Calabasas, California. The restaurant, co-owned by musician Travis Barker, hosted the couple for an evening meal alongside mental health podcast host Jay Shetty.
Though the couple publicly acknowledged their separation in Jada's memoir, "Worthy," they have expressed a commitment to working through their relationship, describing themselves as "still figuring it out."
Their recent dinner marks one of the few times Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been seen together since that revelation.
Photographs captured the 56-year-old actor in a casual look of a white T-shirt layered under a gray button-up, paired with dark gray pants. Jada complemented him in a gold jacket worn over a white shirt and blue jeans.
The two appeared in good spirits, chatting closely as they walked side-by-side. In one photo, Jada leaned in, wrapping her arm around Will, hinting at the warmth still shared between them.
See the photos here.
Earlier this year, they reunited on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," accompanied by their children, Jaden, 26, and Willow, 24, as well as Will's eldest son, Trey, 31, from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino.
The family appearance was the first time Will and Jada had been publicly photographed together since news of their separation became public.
"Why it fractured, that's a lot of things," the actress said of her marriage, per E! News, in October 2023. "I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying. I think we were both stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be."
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight at a May screening of "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," Will shared his enduring affection for Jada, his wife of nearly three decades, describing her as his "ride-or-die."
"I have always been blessed that there has never been a time in my life when I didn't look to the side and have a ride or die right there," he said. "Jada is one of the most gangsta ride-or-die's I've ever had."
In an interview with YOU Magazine, the "Matrix Resurrections" actress reflected on witnessing her husband slap Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, revealing that the incident solidified her commitment to him, saying it made her realize that she "will never leave him."
As The Blast reported, Will struck comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars after Rock made a joke about Jada's shaved head, referencing G.I. Jane.
Jada, who suffers from alopecia, appeared uncomfortable, prompting Will to walk onto the stage, slap Rock, and return to his seat, where he yelled, "Keep my wife's name out of your f-cking mouth."
Shortly after, Will won the Oscar for Best Actor and apologized to the Academy but not to Rock directly. The incident led to significant public debate, and the Academy ultimately banned Will from attending the Oscars for 10 years.
"I nearly didn't even attend the Oscars that year, but I'm glad I did," Jada revealed. "I call it the 'holy slap' now because so many positive things came after it."
Though they live in separate homes within the same neighborhood, Set It Off star Jada has admitted she has no intention of making their split official.
"I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce," she continued. "We will work through whatever, and I just haven't been able to break that promise."
At an event promoting Jada's book release, Will also affirmed his commitment to their "sloppy public experiment in unconditional love."
"Jada is the best friend I have ever had on this planet," he said, according to The Baltimore Banner. "And I am going to show up for her and support her for the rest of my life."