Why Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk conversation was so unusual in the history of celebrity couples

Vulture

Their 12-minute conversation in which Pinkett Smith revealed they were separated when she had a relationship with R&B singer August Alsina "pushed our understanding of celebrity relationships into new territory by acknowledging the fault lines in their relationship and how they’ve grown as a couple after a rough patch that left them feeling like their marriage was over," says  Angelica Jade Bastién. "Their approach to addressing the rumors stands out in the history of celebrity for how they wrested control from the typical apparatus — talking on a daytime talk show or to a celebrity-friendly magazine like People — to more fully have a hand in their narrative, as stars individually and as a Hollywood family. In turn, the Smiths brought into the light a host of issues running through modern celebrity — the need for relatability, the dynamics of how family can reinforce persona, and how image-making for stars is shifting in an era in which the gleam of stardom has dulled dramatically. To understand why the Smiths’ approach to private issues is so notable, it’s helpful to look at how past celebrity couples navigated similarly rocky intersections in their relationships in the public eye."