Will Smith, the Oscar-winning actor, is facing public criticism following his onstage interaction with singer India Martinez at the Premio Lo Nuestro award show on February 20.
The 56-year-old actor, whose separation from wife Jada Pinkett Smith was made public in 2023, was filmed engaging in a steamy and flirtatious performance with Martinez, 39,
as they sang “First Love” together. Their chemistry on stage quickly became the talk of the event, leaving many fans uncomfortable with the display.
During the performance, Smith and Martinez embraced intimately, with many fans taking note of the actor placing his hand on the singer’s backside.
The display escalated when they appeared to share a kiss.
The intimacy was further amplified when candid photos backstage showed Martinez jumping into Smith’s arms,
wrapping her legs around his waist. These moments left fans divided, with many criticizing Smith’s behavior as “inappropriate.”
One fan expressed their disapproval by writing, “This is the worst,” while another commented, “Inappropriate, even if it is ‘entertainment.'” Several others likened the scene to something out of a drunken karaoke performance, commenting that Smith appeared to forget the boundaries of his onstage role. “It’s like someone’s dad on the karaoke with a drunk local woman,” one fan wrote, while another added, “It’s how Will forgot where he was and went to put his arms around her.”
However, there was a notable shift in sentiment among some of Smith’s supporters, who defended the actor, particularly in light of his tumultuous marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith. “I know y’all ain’t tripping when Jada has embarrassed this man publicly numerous times!! Come on,” one fan remarked, alluding to Jada’s public revelations about her past affair with family friend August Alsina in 2020. Others felt Smith deserved to live freely, noting that he had been through a lot. “Let that man live, he’s been put through enough,” one fan said. “Good for Will! He deserves to live life to the fullest, Jada did him dirty,” they continued, referencing the public turmoil surrounding their relationship.
Despite the online backlash, some fans took a more practical view, acknowledging that Smith, as an entertainer, had performed similar acts with various women on screen throughout his career. “This man is an actor and has kissed plenty of women who are not his wife,” one supporter commented. “He is a paid entertainer, this is legit his job.”
Will Smith’s relationship with Jada has been the subject of intense public scrutiny in recent years, particularly after the revelation that they had been living separately since 2016. In 2023, Jada confirmed that the couple, who married in 1997, had been in an open separation for seven years, despite still being married. The unusual arrangement has raised questions about the nature of their relationship, with reports suggesting that while they live separate lives, they have not completely severed their ties.
In addition to the ongoing speculation about their marriage, Smith’s personal life has been marked by his recent efforts to focus on self-improvement. He has been open about his health and fitness journey, and during the performance with Martinez, Smith even stripped off his shirt to reveal a white t-shirt as he danced. He has used his platform to speak out about physical and mental well-being, and his commitment to his personal growth was evident in his public actions.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Will and Jada, although living in separate homes—Jada reportedly residing in a house nearby in Calabasas—are still working on their relationship. In interviews, Jada has revealed that they have been “doing some really heavy-duty work together” and have a deep love for one another. Despite the strain, Jada has spoken about the possibility of living together again in the future. “I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying,” she said in 2023, referring to their struggles to maintain a traditional marriage.
As Will Smith continues to navigate his personal and professional life, the public’s reaction to his recent onstage performance with India Martinez shows how closely his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith is being watched. Whether his actions were seen as a harmless flirtation or something more inappropriate, one thing is clear: the public’s perception of his marriage continues to fuel intense discussions about his behavior and his ongoing efforts to reclaim his personal narrative in the aftermath of years of public turmoil.
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