5 Shocking Truths Revealed About August Alsina And Jada Pinkett Smith's 'Entanglement' After Her Memoir 'Worthy'

The infamous "entanglement" between R&B singer August Alsina and actress Jada Pinkett Smith remains one of Hollywood's most discussed and dissected celebrity scandals, a narrative that has been dramatically reshaped by recent revelations. As of December 15, 2025, the conversation has shifted from the 2020 Red Table Talk confession to the release of Pinkett Smith’s bombshell 2023 memoir, Worthy, which provided a deeper, more complex context to the affair. The book revealed that she and her husband, Will Smith, had been secretly separated for seven years prior to her relationship with Alsina, fundamentally changing the public’s perception of the timeline and the nature of her marriage.

This article dives into the complete, updated timeline, the key players, and the surprising reasons why Pinkett Smith chose not to name Alsina in her memoir, offering a fresh perspective on the emotional and professional fallout for both parties. The full story is a candid look at modern relationships, open communication, and the intense scrutiny faced by public figures navigating personal crises.

Complete Biography Profile of August Alsina and Jada Pinkett Smith

To fully grasp the dynamics of their relationship, it is essential to understand the backgrounds of the two figures at the center of the controversy: a rising R&B star and a seasoned Hollywood powerhouse.

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August Alsina Jr.

• Full Name: August Anthony Alsina Jr.
• Born: September 3, 1992, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Occupation: R&B Singer-Songwriter.
• Career Highlights: Alsina rose to prominence in the early 2010s with his debut mixtape The Product (2012). His 2014 debut album, Testimony, featured the hit single "I Luv This Shit," establishing him as a major voice in contemporary R&B. He is also known for guest features on major tracks like DJ Khaled's "Hold You Down" and "Do You Mind." His career has been marked by candidness about his personal struggles, including chronic health issues and a difficult upbringing.
• Connection to the Smiths: He was initially introduced to the family in 2015 through Jada’s son, Jaden Smith.

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith

• Full Name: Jada Koren Pinkett (married name Smith).
• Born: September 18, 1971, in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Occupation: Actress, Producer, Talk Show Host, Author.
• Career Highlights: Pinkett Smith began her acting career in the 1990s, with notable roles in films like Menace II Society, The Nutty Professor, and The Matrix Reloaded. She is the co-host of the Emmy-winning Facebook Watch talk show, Red Table Talk, alongside her daughter Willow Smith and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris. She is also an author, releasing her highly anticipated memoir, Worthy, in October 2023.
• Personal Life: She married Will Smith in 1997. They have two children, Jaden and Willow.

The Full Timeline of the 'Entanglement' and Red Table Talk Revelation

The relationship between Alsina and Pinkett Smith spanned several years, occurring during a period of extreme marital difficulty and separation between Jada and Will Smith. The term "entanglement" itself, used by Pinkett Smith, became a cultural phenomenon and a central point of media focus.

The Initial Meeting and Romantic Relationship (2015–2019)

August Alsina first met Jada Pinkett Smith in 2015 after being introduced by her son, Jaden. The two formed a close bond, initially as friends, with Jada attempting to help Alsina with his chronic pain and addiction issues. Pinkett Smith has stated that her relationship with Alsina took a romantic turn during a time when she and Will Smith were secretly separated. This romantic relationship, which she later termed an "entanglement," is generally understood to have lasted for approximately two years, ending around 2019.

The Public Bombshell (June 2020)

The private affair became a public scandal in June 2020 when August Alsina gave an interview on *The Breakfast Club*, claiming he had a romantic relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith and that her husband, Will Smith, had given the relationship his "blessing."

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The Red Table Talk Confession (July 2020)

Following Alsina's claims, Jada and Will Smith appeared together on a groundbreaking episode of *Red Table Talk* in July 2020. In the episode, Jada confirmed she had a relationship with Alsina, clarifying that it happened while she and Will were separated, though she initially denied that Will had given his "blessing." She famously used the term "entanglement" to describe the relationship, a word that quickly went viral and became a defining phrase of the entire saga.

Why Jada Didn't Name August Alsina in Her New Memoir, 'Worthy'

The release of Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir, *Worthy*, in October 2023, brought the "entanglement" back into the spotlight, but with a surprising twist: Alsina was not mentioned by name. This decision was a deliberate choice by Pinkett Smith, intended to respect his privacy and shift the narrative's focus.

Shifting the Narrative to Her Marriage to Will Smith

The core revelation of *Worthy* was not the affair itself, but the fact that Jada and Will Smith had been living completely separate lives since 2016, a fact they kept secret from the world. By focusing on the seven-year secret separation, Pinkett Smith reframed the entanglement as a natural consequence of a broken marriage, not a betrayal of a functioning one. Her decision to omit Alsina’s name was a conscious effort to make the book about her journey and her relationship with Will, rather than a tell-all about her former lover.

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Respecting Alsina's Privacy and the 'Entanglement' Term

Pinkett Smith explained in interviews promoting the memoir that she chose not to name Alsina out of respect for him and his family. The initial public fallout was intense, and by not naming him, she sought to avoid dragging him back into the media storm. Interestingly, August Alsina himself later defended Jada’s use of the word "entanglement," agreeing that it accurately described their complex relationship.

The Current Status of August Alsina's Career

The public exposure had a significant impact on Alsina’s career. While he capitalized on the viral moment by releasing a song titled "Entanglements" featuring Rick Ross in 2020, his music career has faced challenges, with some speculation that the controversy led to him being "blackballed" from certain industry circles. However, Alsina has continued to release music and has been focused on his personal health and artistic endeavors, consistently denying rumors that he was writing a tell-all book about the affair.

Topical Authority: The Ripple Effect and Lingering Questions

The "entanglement" is a pivotal moment in the Smith family’s public history, a story that continues to generate discussion and curiosity, especially in light of the *Worthy* memoir.

The Will Smith 'Slap' Connection

While the affair was over years before the 2022 Academy Awards, the public’s knowledge of the entanglement and the complex, separated nature of the Smith's marriage provided a contentious backdrop to Will Smith's infamous slap of Chris Rock. The intense scrutiny of their relationship, fueled by the *Red Table Talk* episode, is considered by many to be a contributing factor to the emotional pressure on Will Smith that night. Jada’s memoir also addressed the slap, confirming the seven-year separation at the time of the incident.

The Meaning of 'Worthy'

Pinkett Smith’s memoir, *Worthy*, is an attempt to reclaim her own narrative after years of being defined by the "entanglement" and the fallout from her marriage. By revealing the secret separation, she aimed to provide context for her actions and to present herself as a woman who sought connection and happiness during a time of marital breakdown. The book is a testament to the idea that public figures, like everyone else, navigate messy, non-traditional relationship structures.

Ultimately, the story of August Alsina and Jada Pinkett Smith is a modern celebrity saga about the blurred lines between public and private life. The most recent revelations in *Worthy* confirm that the initial "entanglement" was more complicated than a simple affair, occurring during a years-long separation, adding layers of nuance to one of the decade's most talked-about celebrity stories. Both individuals have moved forward, with Alsina focusing on his career and Pinkett Smith focusing on her journey of self-discovery and redefining her relationship with Will Smith.