Jada Pinkett Smith dated Will Smith ‘too soon’ after his divorce

A difficult relationship. Jada Pinkett Smith and husband Will Smith he started dating in 1995, months after divorcing his ex-wife Sheree Zampino.

“When I look back at how much was put on us and how much was put on you, because we were so young and it was so public and it was so fresh,” Collateral star, 51, said on the Wednesday, Oct. 19, episode about her Red Table Talk series. “Like, you really didn’t even have time to adjust.”

She added: “I would definitely get a little hot [before dating Will] as for putting yourself in the dynamic of you. [I should have thought]’Let’s give this a year and you’ll figure it out [things] out. I didn’t understand. … I was in the picture [too soon].”

Zampino, 54, joined Pinkett Smith and her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, on their Facebook Watch series to discuss their co-parenting dynamic. (The New Yorker filled in Willow Smithwho was on her concert tour.)

“We developed a really nice sisterhood,” Pinkett Smith said on Wednesday’s episode. “But it was not easy along the way. And as we talk about toxic forgiveness today, sometimes we had to fake it to make it work.”

The Turn it off actress and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum went on to note that they’ve “been through this process since they were babies” as they navigated their blended family. (Zampino shares son Trey, 29, with the Oscar winner, and Pinkett Smith and Smith are parents to Willow, 21, and Jaden, 24.)

“It was just maturity for me,” Pinkett Smith said during Wednesday’s episode. “Just not understanding marital dynamics. Like, ‘Okay, if the divorce papers are sent and people get it done, then this is done.’ … That was my biggest misconception – and that this woman is part of this family.”

Zampino and King Richard star, 54, finalized his divorce in 1995 amid a new romance with Pinkett Smith. The Smiths later married in 1997 before welcoming their two children.

“I guess that should definitely have forgiven you, because I remember actually crossing the line a few times,” Madagascar the voiceover actress noted. “There was a lot of interweaving and it got a bit messy.”

The two women even recalled a tense exchange after Pinkett Smith disciplined Trey for misbehaving during a date. “It was out of order, but you meant no harm,” Zampino said. “You were like, ‘Listen, we’ve got to straighten him out.'”

While Bravo personality and Scream 2 the actresses went through ups and downs in their relationship, working to put their differences aside for the sake of the children.

“For him to be able to call her mom, he’s comfortable. And he’s probably trying to fit into that family dynamic,” Zampino said Us Weekly in August, noting that Pinkett Smith has “always been amazing” to Trey. “So let him go through his process, let him do it. It doesn’t take anything away from me. I am very sure of my role in his life. I’m sure I’m his mom. No one can undermine that.”