Pinkett Smith shocked fans when she revealed she and Smith have been separated since 2016

Will Smith has made clear that he still feels a strong connection to his ‘ride or die’ Jada Pinkett Smith despite their separation.

Though they appeared to the world for years as a loving couple, Pinkett Smith revealed in October 2023 that she and Smith had actually been separated for seven years.

She said at the time the pair were ‘still figuring it out’, but throughout their separation they continued to attend events together.

One such occasion was the 2022 Oscars, where Smith shocked the world by slapping Chris Rock after he made a joke about Pinkett Smith.

The display was enough to prove that Smith still feels protective of his wife, and in a new chat with Entertainment Tonight he discussed the strength of the connection he still feels to her.

The movie star made his comment while promoting his upcoming movie Bad Boys: Ride or Die, when he was asked who he’d consider to be his real-life ‘ride or dies’.

Will and Jada continued to make public appearances. (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)

As well as listing friends like DJ Jazzy Jeff and Alfonso Ribiero, Smith said Pinkett Smith was up there as one of his confidantes.

“It’s funny, I was just talking about this, I have always been blessed that there has never been a time in my life when I didn’t look to the side and have a ride or die right there,” he said.

“Jada is one of the most gangsta ride-or-die’s I’ve ever had.”

Pinkett Smith has previously spoken of her own ongoing connection to Smith, admitting in 2023 that his actions at the 2022 Oscars helped save the relationship they have.

Will made clear he still has a connection with Jada. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Speaking to the Daily Mail’s YOU Magazine, Pinkett Smith said: “I nearly didn’t even attend the Oscars that year, but I’m glad I did. I call it the ‘holy slap’ now because so many positive things came after it.”

“That moment of the sh*t hitting the fan is when you see where you really are,” Pinkett Smith continued.

“After all those years trying to figure out if I would leave Will’s side, it took that slap for me to see I will never leave him. Who knows where our relationship would be if that hadn’t happened?”

Though the pair tend to keep the inner workings of their relationship private now – just occasionally sharing images together online – both of their comments indicate that they’ll always be there for one another in some at least some capacity.