LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jada Pinkett Smith has admitted that she was surprised when Will Smith referred to her as his "wife" during his dramatic outburst at the Oscars in 2022, which resulted in him slapping Chris Rock.
In advance of the release of her new memoir, 'Worthy,' out on October 17, the 'Red Table Talk' host offered NBC News host Hoda Kotb an account of her reaction during the chaotic live moment, including her shock that Will called her his "wife."
The infamous ceremony will be remembered by viewers as the moment Will sat back down at his table, he commanded Chris to "keep my wife’s name out of your mouth."
Jada, who was at the time separated from him, claims she was shocked to hear him refer to her as his spouse.
Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith didn't call each other husband and wife
The 'Girls Trip' actress, 52, previously disclosed that she and her husband had been separated for 6 years before the 94th Academy Awards when Smith notoriously stormed the stage and attacked Chris over a joke he made about Jada's hair.
Jada admitted that she and the 'Bad Boys' star have stopped referring to one another as "husband" and "wife" in a clip from her upcoming NBC News special with Kotb, which will debut on October 13.
"First of all, I’m really shocked, because mind you, I’m not there," Jada told Kotb, "We haven’t called each other husband and wife in a long time."
Last year at the Academy Awards, when the comedian, 57, referred to Jada as "G.I. Jane," Will yelled from his seat, saying, "Keep my wife’s name out your f**king mouth!"
At the time of the show, Jada had recently disclosed that she has alopecia, and a furious Will didn't take well to Chris's joke.
Jada said that she and Will had been apart for six years before the Oscars incident in an interview with People. She also admitted to the tabloid that, like many onlookers, she initially believed the slap to be "a skit."
Jada revealed that she was "really worried" about Will throughout the ceremony and that Chris afterward leaned over the podium to reassure her that he "meant no harm."
Internet says Will Smith doesn't deserve this
Jada's "shocked" expression for Will calling her his "wife" over the 2022 Oscars slapgate incident sparked an online meme bonanza among Internet users.
One social media user took to X (formerly Twitter) and exclaimed, "What did he do to deserve this? She wakes up every morning with the goal of embarrassing him"
Another user mocked, "Someone said Will Smith won't legally divorce her because she'll use the money on Tupac Resurrection Campaign"
"Jada when it comes to embarrassing Will," gushed another X user with a funny image.
One X user wrote, "All that oscar drama just for her to keep humiliating him in public."
"The ghost of Tupac hiding from Jada in the afterlife," another snarked.
One user wrote, "Jada Pinket Smith when it comes to being the worst woman in history," along with a funny clip.
"Jada you can’t fool us anymore," claimed another one.
"You are sure enjoying this clout right?" quipped another one.
"Jada needs to let this go," mocked another one.
One wrote, "Every time Jada Pinkett Smith gets the opportunity"
"Jada has made it her life goal to embarrass this man," said another.
One wrote, "Jada trying to go one single day without embarrassing her husband"
