The two met on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1995 (Jada was auditioning for a role on the show, but a casting director told her that she was too short), and jumped the broom in a New Year’s Eve ceremony two years later. That means that they’ve been happily married for going on 18 years—practically a lifetime by Hollywood standards.
It seems like ever since the couple tied the knot, they have been at the center of the divorce rumor universe (we don’t think a year has passed without reports that the two were splitting). But they never let that stress them out. In 2012, Jada told ESSENCE that Will was her boo and “another part” of her. After the most recent round of rumors, Will shut them down on his Facebook page, saying that if he decided to divorce his “queen,” he would let everyone know. Despite what the rumor mill is churnin’ out, the two remain stronger than ever.
Will and Jada have raised two of the most ambitious children on the West Coast. Willow and Jaden are two intelligent teens who have some serious credentials under their belts, and they had to get that hustle from somewhere. Will and Jada are also lauded—and sometimes chided—for never stifling their kids’ creativity. Love it or hate it, you’ve got to have mad respect for them.
Will and Jada are consistently dressed to the nines (think: have you ever seen them on a Worst Dressed list?), and every time we see them, we get an urge to raid their closet for ourselves and our boo thangs. And they make it look so effortless!
We have so much respect for a couple who is not only in love, but besties as well. In an interview with Extra earlier this year, Will proudly proclaimed that his wife was his best friend, adding that friendship is at the core of their relationship. Could that be the key to having a successful marriage? We would have to say yes.
In the countless blockbusters that Will and Jada had starred in, we don’t think there has been a single premiere where one doesn’t have the other one in close tow. They run a production company together, and most recently, they’ve teamed up to produce an upcoming high school comedy flick. But seriously, nothing says true love like Jada starring in Magic Mike XXL alongside a herd of sweaty, shirtless men and still having a supportive husband at the end of the day.
