Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith made a rare public appearance together Saturday in Malibu, marking their first joint outing in about 10 months.
The pair were photographed leaving Nobu restaurant and getting into a white Lamborghini after dining at the celebrity hotspot. Smith, 56, smiled as he exited the restaurant; he wore a short-sleeved white shirt, khaki shorts and a white cap. Pinkett Smith, 53, wore a nude-colored strapless ensemble with a hood and open-toed sandals. The couple tied the knot in 1997 and are parents to Jaden, 27, and Willow, 24.
Their appearance comes amid an unconventional marriage arrangement that the couple has described publicly. In October 2023, Jada Pinkett Smith told Today’s Hoda Kotb that she and Smith have been separated since 2016 but have not divorced. She said at the time that she made a promise there would "never be a reason for us to get a divorce" and that the couple continued to work through their relationship while living separately.
The couple were last pictured together in November 2024 on a date night in Los Angeles and last attended a red carpet together in May 2024 at the premiere of Smith’s film Bad Boys: Ride or Die. At a screening earlier this year, Smith spoke warmly of Pinkett Smith, saying he had "always been blessed" to have a "ride-or-die" at his side. Sources have told People that the couple have maintained separate homes for years but have not completely severed ties.
The public outing also coincides with a major business development: Westbrook, the Smiths’ entertainment company, has signed a first‑look deal with Paramount to develop theatrical films, according to industry reports. Paramount said Westbrook would focus on global, four-quadrant theatrical movies with franchise potential. Two films already reported in development under the deal are Sugar Bandits, a thriller adapted from Chuck Hogan’s Devils in Exile, and Rabbit Hole, written by Jon Spaihts. Variety reported that Westbrook will be headquartered on the Paramount lot in Hollywood.
The Paramount agreement arrives as Smith seeks to rebuild momentum in his career after the widely publicized 2022 Academy Awards incident in which he struck comedian Chris Rock onstage. Smith has issued multiple public apologies since the episode. Despite the backlash, his company has continued to produce projects. Smith starred in Emancipation (2022), King Richard (2021) earned him an Academy Award for best actor, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die proved a commercial success in 2024.
Earlier this year Smith launched a U.K. tour as part of his return to the public stage. A promotional clip posted to social media drew attention from users who suggested portions of the footage appeared to be artificially generated; commentators pointed to visual anomalies in the video.
The couple’s private and professional lives have been the subject of intense public interest in recent years. In 2020, Jada Pinkett Smith publicly addressed an "entanglement" with singer August Alsina on her Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk, saying the relationship occurred while she and Smith were separated. Alsina previously stated he had a romantic relationship with Pinkett Smith and had said Smith had given his blessing; the Smiths later disputed some elements of those accounts.
Representatives for Smith and Pinkett Smith did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Saturday’s appearance. A person familiar with the couple’s arrangements told People earlier this year, "Call it what you want. They are living their own lives but haven't completely severed ties." The first‑look deal with Paramount suggests the pair will continue to collaborate professionally even as they maintain separate personal residences.