Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were photographed together in Malibu on Saturday, their first public outing as a pair in about 10 months, as the couple continue an unconventional marital arrangement that has attracted intense public scrutiny.
The pair were seen leaving celebrity restaurant Nobu in Malibu and getting into a white Lamborghini. Photographs show Smith smiling as he exited the restaurant; he wore a short-sleeved white shirt, khaki shorts and a white cap. Pinkett Smith wore a nude-colored, strapless ensemble with a hood and open-toed sandals. The couple, who married in 1997, are parents to Jaden, 27, and Willow, 24, and have publicly said they have been living separately for years while remaining legally married.
Their most recent red-carpet appearance came in May 2024 at the premiere of Smith’s film Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The pair were last publicly photographed together in November 2024 on a rare date night in Los Angeles. In October 2023, Pinkett Smith told Hoda Kotb on Today that she and Smith have been separated since 2016 but have not divorced. "By the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying," she said, and added that she had made a promise there would never be a reason for a legal divorce.
The couple’s relationship has been the subject of prolonged public attention. In 2020, Pinkett Smith acknowledged an "entanglement" with singer August Alsina, a revelation that played out publicly on her program Red Table Talk, where she and Smith discussed the episode together. Alsina has said he was romantically involved with Pinkett Smith and that Smith had given him permission to pursue the relationship; Smith and Pinkett Smith have disputed parts of that account.
Sources have given varying descriptions of the couple’s status. In January, People reported that two sources described their arrangement as one in which they were "living their own lives but haven't completely severed ties" and that they had maintained separate homes for years.
The outing comes as the pair have also reunited professionally. Earlier this week, Paramount and Westbrook, the entertainment company co-founded by Smith, announced a first-look deal under which Westbrook will develop global theatrical films with franchise potential. Variety and press reports said two projects are already in development: Sugar Bandits, adapted from Chuck Hogan's novel Devils in Exile, and Rabbit Hole, written by Jon Spaihts. The deal calls for Westbrook to be headquartered on the Paramount lot in Hollywood.
Smith’s career has been shadowed by the onstage incident at the 2022 Academy Awards, when he struck comedian Chris Rock; the episode resulted in public apologies from Smith and a period in which some industry opportunities were limited. Paramount’s statement and industry coverage indicate Smith is expected to be involved in projects developed under the Westbrook partnership, with Pinkett Smith taking producing roles on some titles.
Smith has been undertaking a gradual public comeback. He launched a U.K. theatre tour earlier this year, and promotional material for the tour prompted debate on social media after some viewers claimed that a posted video contained AI-generated or altered imagery. Those claims circulated widely and were debated by fans and commentators online.
The couple’s Malibu outing is the latest development in a long-running, highly publicized relationship that the pair have characterized as private and complex. While they have acknowledged living separately and discussed past difficulties and choices publicly, both have also emphasized a continued connection, and recent business moves indicate they are willing to collaborate professionally. Neither issued an immediate public statement about Saturday’s appearance.