Jada Pinkett Smith Opens Up About Sexuality

Jada Pinkett Smith is setting the record straight about her sexuality. "There have always been rumors that I’m gay — that I like women," she addressed in her memoir Worthy.

"Maybe that had something to do with clubs where I hung out," she wrote as she used to go to many LGBTQ+ establishments when she was younger.

In her memoir, she explains that she "had a few sexual experiences with women only to realize that when it comes to sex, I love men." The sexual experiences she's had with women in the past were in the early days when she had just came to Hollywood.

In the NBC special that aired Friday (Oct. 20) per PEOPLE, TODAY's Hoda Kotb asked Jada if the rumors of she and Will Smith being gay were true and if they were swingers.

"I would say that none of that's true. I definitely can understand why there'd be misunderstandings, but none of it's true," Jada responded.

Jada recently admitted that she and Will have been separated for seven years.

"I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying. I think we were both kind of just still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be," the Red Table Talk host shared with Today's Hoda Kotb.

Will responded to the headlines in a brief email to The New York Times: "When you've been with someone for more than half of your life, a sort of emotional blindness sets in, and you can all too easily lose your sensitivity to their hidden nuances and subtle beauties."

Their children Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, and Will's son Trey Smith also weighed in on the media attention about the marriage.  All three kids feel bad for their father, stating that they "know he has been going through a lot lately, and this isn't helping." They also "wish some of their family's private matters remained private."

Worthy is on stands now.

Jada Pinkett Smith is an actress, talk show host, and producer. The Baltimore native came from humble beginnings and was raised primarily by her mother and grandmother. Her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, saw that she was interested in entertainment at a young age and eventually got her to start applying her skills in the early '90s. She mostly had small roles on television and eventually, her big break in came when she was on seasons four and five of A Different World. She starred alongside Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Dawnn Lewis, and Charnelle Brown. The show was a spin-off from The Cosby Show and originally focused on Lisa Bonet's character, Denise Huxtable. Bonet became pregnant with daughter Zoë Kravitz and was later fired. The show shifted direction to Guy and Hardison's characters Whitley and Dwayne.

In addition to having a successful film career, Pinkett Smith pivoted to becoming a talk show host. She hosted Red Table Talk with her mother Banfield-Norris, and daughter, Willow Smith, representing three generations. The show was canceled along with Facebook Watch's other shows earlier this year. However, she told PEOPLE in June that the show will "definitely" be making a return.

Take a look at seven of her best acting roles below:

In Ali, Jada Pinkett Smith played alongside Will Smith for the biopic of the legendary boxer Muhammed Ali. Jada was Will's wife in the film and they had already been married for four years in real life before this film was released. Jada plays Ali's first wife, Sonji Roy, who did not want to join the Nation of Islam and would often defy the rules of his religion by wearing revealing clothes. Jada and Will's characters go back and forth in the film due to their different beliefs. Will received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali. You can watch Ali on YouTube.

Before Will, there was Jason (just kidding) but Jason's Lyric meshes love and tragedy. Jason (Allen Payne) falls for Lyric (Jada), who is a waitress. Prior to meeting Lyric, Jason and his brother Josh (Bokeem Woodbine) face a family tragedy that pushes them away from each other. The brothers begin following different paths in how to cope with the loss. While the film's storyline was criticized, Jada's acting in this film showed great promise for her future career. You can watch Jason's Lyric on YouTube.

Jada made her film debut in Menace II Society. The film was released in 1993. Jada plays Ronnie, a single mother wanting a better life for her son Anthony and to raise him without the poor portrayals of the men's behavior in her neighborhood. This film set the stage for Jada's promising career in film. The Hughes Brothers directed film won Best Movie at the 1994 MTV Awards. The film stars also Tyron Turner, Larenz Tate and Samuel L. Jackson. You can stream Menace II Society on Pluto for free.

Before film, Jada got her big break as Lena James on A Different World. The series follows college students attending the HBCU (Hillman University) and how they deal with typical young adult issues. The students would address typical topics such as dating but also used its platform to touch upon serious issues such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The series was a spin-off from The Cosby Show; it originally followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and after her departure, focused on Whitley Gilbert-Wayne (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Cleophus Wayne (Kadeem Hardison). Jada's role in this show helped launch her career in film and television. You can stream A Different World on Max (formerly known as HBO Max).

Jada's role as Niobe in The Matrix franchise was the first time she appeared in a blockbuster film. The three films Reloaded, Revolutions, and Resurrections follow the original 1999 classic. Niobe is a skilled pilot and martial artist who is a force to be reckoned with. In the 2021 film, Jade's character has significally aged but her words of wisdom still ring true. The franchise also stars Keanu Reeves, Monica Bellucci and Laurence Fishburne. You can watch all three films on YouTube.

Jada shows off her fun and flirty side in the 2017 film Girls Trip. The film is about four college friends getting together to have fun like old times during the Essence Festival. Girls Trip also stars Queen Latifah, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish. Jada plays a mom who is trying to get her groove back, and this trip is the right fix. You can watch Girls Trip on YouTube.

Jada will always be known for her role in Set It Off. The film follows four friends from Los Angeles who commit bank robberies in order to give a better life to themselves and their families. Jada stars alongside Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. This is the first time Jada starred in an ensemble cast, and she clearly excels in making her role memorable each time. In Set It Off she plays Stony, whose brother is killed by the police and joins her friends' plan to rob banks. You can watch Set It Off on YouTube.