It was the word that launched a thousand memes. Entanglement. When Jada Pinkett Smith sat across from her husband, Will Smith, at that iconic red table in July 2020, she wasn't just clearing the air. She was basically rewriting the rules of how we look at celebrity "perfection." For years, people have looked at the connection between August Alsina and Will Smith through a lens of drama and betrayal, but if you look closer at the actual timeline, the story is way more complicated than a simple tabloid headline.
Most folks think August Alsina just popped out of nowhere to cause chaos. Honestly? That's not what happened. This wasn't some random hookup. It was a years-long saga involving health crises, a secret separation, and a marriage that had "transformed" into something the rest of us are still trying to figure out in 2026.
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The 2016 Secret: When the Marriage Actually Broke
To understand why August Alsina became such a massive part of the Smith family narrative, you have to go back to 2016. While the world saw Will and Jada as the ultimate Hollywood power couple, behind closed doors, they were done. Jada later admitted in her 2023 memoir, Worthy, that they had been living totally separate lives for seven years before the news even broke.
They were "exhausted with trying," she said.
This is the context everyone misses. When August Alsina entered the picture, he wasn't "breaking up" a happy home. He walked into a situation where the home was already structurally unsound. Jaden Smith actually introduced August to the family in 2015 at the Wireless Festival. At the time, August was struggling. He was dealing with a severe autoimmune disease and an addiction to Percocet.
The Smiths didn't just invite him to dinner; they brought him into their inner circle to help him heal. Jada, in particular, took him under her wing to support his sobriety. But as she later told Will on Red Table Talk, that mentorship turned into "a different kind of entanglement."
August Alsina’s Truth vs. The "Blessing" Controversy
In June 2020, August sat down with Angela Yee and dropped the bomb that changed everything. He didn't just say he had an affair; he claimed Will Smith gave him his "blessing."
"I actually sat down with Will and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership," August said. He sounded heartbroken. He talked about how he "totally gave himself" to that relationship for years. He even said he could die right then and be okay knowing he’d truly loved someone that deeply.
The internet lost its mind. People started calling Will a "cuckold" or claiming they were in an open marriage. But Jada later clarified something very specific: Will didn't give "permission" because she isn't property.
"The only person who could give permission in that particular circumstance was myself," Jada explained.
She noted that August probably perceived it as permission because she and Will were separated amicably at the time. Essentially, Will had told her to go find her own happiness. August was that happiness for a while.
Why the Entanglement Still Matters in 2026
You've probably seen the "Sad Will" memes. You know, the one where his eyes look watery and he looks like he's about to crumble? Will eventually cleared that up, saying he was just dehydrated and tired from filming late, but the image stuck. It became a symbol of a man being publicly humiliated.
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But here’s the nuance: the fallout from the August Alsina situation actually seemed to strengthen the Smiths' resolve to stay together, even if they aren't "together" in the traditional sense. Since the 2022 Oscars slap—which many believe was fueled by the simmering tension of these public revelations—Will and Jada have been more unified than ever.
In late 2025 and into 2026, we’ve seen them appearing together at events like the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die and family Thanksgiving gatherings. They’ve settled into a "life partnership" where they live in separate houses but remain each other’s "ride or die." It’s unconventional, sure. Some might even call it confusing. But it’s their version of the truth.
What Happened to August Alsina?
While the Smiths moved toward reconciliation and "heavy-duty work" on their marriage, August took a different path. After the 2020 explosion, he seemingly stepped back from the mainstream R&B spotlight. He focused on his skincare line, Encina Wellness, and his own personal healing.
Interestingly, August has also moved on romantically. In 2022, during a stint on the reality show The Surreal Life, he introduced the world to a man named Zu, whom he described as his "love." By September 2025, Zu officially confirmed they were in a committed relationship, telling fans that "August gives me a GREAT life."
It’s a bit of a full-circle moment. August, who once felt "butchered" by the end of his time with Jada, finally found a partnership that didn't require a secret table talk to explain.
The Takeaway: It’s Never Just Black and White
We love to pick sides. We want to label August a "homewrecker" or Will a "victim" or Jada a "manipulator." But the reality of their 2016–2020 era is a messy, human grey area.
- Marriages aren't always what they look like on Instagram. The Smiths proved that you can be separated for years while the public thinks you’re perfect.
- Communication is a double-edged sword. August felt he had a "blessing" because of a conversation with Will; Jada saw it as her own agency. Same event, two totally different perspectives.
- Healing isn't linear. August’s health struggles and the Smiths' intervention show that even "scandalous" relationships often start from a place of genuine care.
If you’re looking to navigate your own complex relationships or just trying to understand the boundaries of a "life partnership," the biggest lesson here is transparency—even if it's only with yourself. The Smiths waited years to be transparent with us, and it nearly broke their public image. August chose his own brand of transparency and found peace away from the cameras.
If you're following the latest on the Smith family, keep an eye on their Westbrook Inc. ventures. They're shifting more toward behind-the-scenes production in 2026, perhaps realizing that the less we know about their breakfast conversations, the better for everyone involved.
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For those interested in August’s journey, his latest music projects are reportedly his "last victory lap around the sun" as he prioritizes his health and his relationship with Zu. It seems everyone involved has finally found a way to untangle themselves from that 2020 moment.