We heard rumors for months last year that Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith were on the verge of a split. The split stories started in August, 2011 and then picked up steam toward the end of the year. There were rumors that Jada may have gotten “close” to Marc Anthony on the set of her show HawthoRNe, that Jada and Marc’s “friendship” hastened the end of his marriage with J.Lo and that Jada and Will were living in separate homes. In December, Will was seen out partying with other women. By January, Jada was said to have visited celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. So there wasn’t just one story that these two were having problems, there were a series of stories in different (mostly tabloid) sources that suggested it was true.

In April, Jada denied that there was any trouble with her marriage, and chalked the rumors up to their busy work schedules. Some subsequent photos with Will gave the impression that they were back together.

Now Jada is repeating that claim in a new interview with Essence (the same one where she said she doesn’t eat for pleasure.) She says she’s not getting a divorce:

“It’s rumored that we’re getting a divorce. But no. We’re not getting a divorce. Where am I going to go? That’s my boo. It’s like he’s another part of me.” [Essence via ETOnline]

Is that nice or is that basically saying that she’s stuck with him and doesn’t know what else to do? “Where am I going to go” sounds like she can’t imagine life without him, but not like it’s a particularly romantic vision. Does that make sense? Whatever happened between them it sounds like they’ve worked it out and are moving forward. I’m rooting for them. Maybe they’ve finally learned to stop talking about their sex life with the press. We saw how that worked out for Heidi Klum and Seal.

Also, I have to say that Jada looks even more alien-like on the cover of Essence, but a lot of that is probably Photoshop.

Essence, February 2005:

These are photos of Jada yesterday on her Can-Am Spyder Roadster, a three-wheeled motorcycle basically. These things look cool, but even used ones are predictably expensive. Credit: FameFlynet

The last time we heard from Jada Pinkett Smith, 40, she was claiming that she didn’t eat for pleasure. Jada said that when she was growing up her grandmother was an awful cook and taught her “that you don’t eat for taste, you eat for nourishment. And I have kept that over the years, so I can eat anything that’s healthy.” Judging from how fit she is, it looks like that philosophy has served Jada well. Jada tweeted the above bikini photo along with a message to her “forty and over crew” about getting better with age. Why couldn’t she have just gone the “loving life” route and let the bikini photo speak for itself? Is Jada turning into LeAnn Rimes and dishing out faux self help advice with her bikini pics now?

Jada Pinkett Smith gave her Twitter followers a treat on Saturday: the actress posted a sexy photo of herself emerging from the ocean, showing off her impressively toned, Bond Girl-esque physique.

But Pinkett Smith, 40, wasn’t just displaying her own hard work – she had an inspirational message for other women her age to accompany the picture.

“To my Forty and over crew!” she Tweeted. “Don’t believe the hype…we DO get better with age!”

[From People]

So it’s empowering to other women to tweet bikini photos of yourself? It’s not just a narcissistic thing? Good to know. Demi Moore should have used this angle ages ago. Jada looks amazing, she just seems unoriginal, especially in HWood. Plus, if she really believes that we get better with age, why doesn’t she stop with the fillers, cheek implants or whatever she’s getting done at the dermatologist? Or why doesn’t she own up to it since the damage is already done? Don’t tell me her face is all natural. At least she doesn’t have a fake rack, I’ll give her that. She does look hot and clearly works hard for it.

Now that I’m thinking of Demi, I’m reminded that she was tweeting bikini pics right before her breakup with Ashton Kutcher. Are Jada and Will about to make an announcement, or are they hanging in there?

Photo credit: Fame and WENN.com

In the immediate aftermath of Tom Cruise and Katie’s split, many people were like, “Er, why weren’t the tabloids on to this?” Well, I think they were. Granted, TomKat didn’t get as much attention as Brangelina and the Unholy Triangle, but Tom and Katie were featured regularly in all of the tabloids, and often the stories were of the same “Tom is crazy, Katie is brainwashed” variety. While I do think you can “slam” the tabs (and Radar and TMZ) for not being on top of some of the details of the TomKat situation in the weeks leading up to Katie’s divorce filing, I don’t think it’s fair to say that the tabs were completely clueless.

So, why am I discussing this now, in a post about Will Smith and Jada? Well, didn’t most of us think that Will and Jada would announce their separation before Tom and Katie? I certainly did. While I realize Will and Jada want the storyline to be “We’re working things out,” for the past year (and longer), the tabloids have been reporting on and on about their marriage problems. It’s said that Will is pretty much over it. It’s said that he’s screwing around. It’s said that she is too. It’s also said that these two have closer ties to the Church of Scientology than most people believe.

So what about these photos of Will and Jada looking very much together at LAX? Are they really working things out? Is this a photo-op designed to “prove” that they’re doing well despite the tabloid reports? Is this a reminder that at least one Hollywood couple is in it for the long haul? Or will I be using these photos in a few weeks when yet another divorce/separation announcement comes?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

I often think about how lucky I am that my only kid is a boy. I see little 12 year-old girls in booty shorts and makeup, and I feel a sense of gratitude that I’m not the one trying to hold that child down, wipe off the makeup and put her in some long pants. Maybe I would not have the authority as a mom to get my daughter to actually listen to me, and that scares me as much as the prospect of having a child who would try to leave the house like that.

So I have some sympathy for mothers of daughters, since I know I was a pain in the ass and I have no idea what that was like to deal with. For instance, I pierced my own nose when I was 18. My parents just kind of shrugged and figured I was old enough. What would I do if my 11 year old pierced her nose, her bellybutton or her tongue, like Willow Smith appears to have done? As a mom, I get the same urge to take this out of that girl’s mouth and tell she’s grounded if she even thinks about wearing metal in her mouth that isn’t from the orthodontist. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe kids need to do dumb stuff like this in order to learn. Maybe you need to pick your battles with kids. To me, this seems like one worth fighting.

My questions are: Did Willow really pierce her tongue or is she just clutching a necklace in her mouth or something? And, do her parents know about it and did they approve it before she did it? Willow dresses creatively, and we know she has the ok from her parents for that. We also know they regularly treat her like an adult. The Smiths claim they’re not Scientologists, but they sure act like they are. (And Scientologists believe kids are just little grown ups and should make their own decisions.) So do they think it’s fine that Willow pierced her tongue? If she really did this, she would presumably have to get their permission since she’s under 18. She’s a little pop star, I guess she gets free reign to do what she wants. She seems to want more of a childhood though, judging by some of the things she said lately about fame. I can see letting your kid shave their hair or dye it a bright color, but a piercing goes too far for me.

Update: as many of you have pointed out, there are fake magnetic tongue rings available. Hopefully this is what Willow is wearing and this isn’t permanent.

Another update: I just spent way too long digging through Willow and her buddy here, Bobbie DeBarge’s twitter and instagram accounts. I guess Willow originally posted this on her instagram. I found more photos on Bobbie’s instagram of them showing off their “piercings,” and some of them included the hash tags #fake #justhavingfun. So these are just two kids goofing off with magnetic piercings. Here’s another pic:

Other photos are credit: WENN.com

Photo credit: WENN.com

These are some newish photos of Jada Pinkett Smith at a NYC screening of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. What should we call this outfit? A onesie? A playsuit? A romper? It’s OshKosh B’Gosh by way of Valentino. I didn’t know Valentino was making onesies now, so I learned something new. Can I just say? I honestly thought this was something Marchesa had come up with – and this is not the first time I’ve confused Valentino for Marchesa. Which is terribly insulting to the Valentino brand, and I sincerely hope they get their house in line. Anyway, Jada doesn’t look here – the color is fine on her, but the look in general is pretty awful. That little boob-rose isn’t helping either.

In my Jada story last week (the one about how she doesn’t eat for pleasure, only nourishment), I mentioned my issues with Jada’s oddly worked-on face. I still can’t put my finger on what she’s gotten done, but I appreciate all of your theories on the subject. Radar spoke to Dr. Anthony Youn, one of their go-to plastic surgery “experts” when they want someone to give some quotes on what a celebrity MIGHT be doing. Dr. Youn claims, “The Hawthorne star appears to have returned to the hospital for a little plastic surgery, causing her cheeks to look plumped up… I suspect that she’s undergone injections of fat into her cheeks, possibly taken from her buttocks. It’s also possible that this dramatic change in her appearance is due to surgical augmentation with solid silicone cheek implants.” I’m leaning more towards silicone implants than butt-fat injections.

In other Jada news, she was talking about her marriage last week. Surprisingly, it wasn’t all about her sex life and how hot it is – because I think even Jada knows that we aren’t buying it at this point. Jada told Us Weekly that “You need understanding, acceptance, and compassion… And usually you get understanding through friendship, so you need to have that” to make a marriage work. She also said “it’s amazing” that she and Will have lasted 15 years – “When I was doing the Today show, there was a couple there and they were celebrating 59 years of marriage! And I thought to myself, ‘Fifteen years ain’t nothing!’ So it’s just the beginning, really.” Why does it feel like Jada is issuing some kind of threat to Will? “This is just the beginning. NO DIVORCE.”

Photos courtesy of WENN.

I’ve been looking at photos of Jada Pinkett Smith over the past few years, and I still don’t really understand what’s different. Like, my eyes know that something is different but I can’t put my finger on it. Did she get cheek implants? Did she get that weird “ribbon lift” surgery that Madonna allegedly had several years ago? Or is this just weight loss, aging and some unfortunate hair styles? See? I still don’t know. I do think weight loss is a factor, though – Jada’s face used to be fuller and her body was more athletic as opposed to how it looks now – very slender. Jada has just given an interview to Essence where she talks about her eating habits… and now I feel sorry for her because she claims she’s never learned how to get enjoyment from food.

There’s a reason Jada Pinkett Smith has maintained her flawless bod for more than 20 years: “I don’t eat for pleasure,” she tells Essence.

Pinkett Smith, 40, explains that she “had the only West Indian grandmother that could not cook. She was an awful cook, and she taught me that you don’t eat for taste, you eat for nourishment. And I have kept that over the years, so I can eat anything that’s healthy.”

Though she occasionally treats herself to French fries and pizza, the star of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted says: “I eat for my schedule so I have to eat high-protein, lots of greens and healthy carbs so that I don’t fall flat on my face.”

Her diet secrets aside, the actress and mother-of-three also reveals that she’s planning to star in a movie with Will Smith, 43, her husband since 1997.

“Will is going to [shoot a film] with the boys probably, and he and I are gonna do one,” she tells Essence. “He can’t wait. He was like, ‘You and me, next.’ I was like. . . ‘Let’s do it!”

Pinkett Smith’s latest film, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, is in theaters June 8. It features the voice talents of Ben Stiller, 46, Chris Rock, 47, David Schwimmer, 45, Sacha Baron Cohen, 40, Cedric the Entertainer, 48, Jessica Chastain, 35, and Martin Short, 62.

[From Us Weekly]

Your food issues as a child do influence your food issues as an adult. I grew up in a very food-centric household, and I still feel the influences of that when I’m comfort-eating and stress-starving. The more stressed-out and anxious I am, the less I eat. The sadder I am, the more I eat. For Jada, I guess she never learned to enjoy food in any capacity? Is that what she’s saying? She never had a junk food binge? She never sat down and just enjoyed the hell out of a five-course meal just for the sheer joy of great food? Or is all of this just her way of justifying her very thin figure?

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Will Smith promoted the hell out of Men In Black III for what seemed like two solid months. It paid off, though. Sort of. MIB III finally dethroned The Avengers and became the #1 film over the holiday weekend with a domestic box office of $55 million. I’m sure Will and producers were hoping for even more money in the opening weekend, but still – at least the box office won’t be an unmitigated disaster and the film will probably make its money back, with a little extra.

For his film promotional duties, Will brought out his wife of fourteen-and-a-half years, Jada. Over the past year (and more), the rumors have been persistent and detailed about Will and Jada’s relationship problems, and it really did seem like they were headed for a split. But something happened. I don’t know what. Some theorize that it was all just a business decision, that their money and power is built on Will and Jada as a happily married couple. But I choose to be optimistic and think that while they were having big problems, they found a way to work through it and come out stronger. That’s what it sounds like:

For Will Smith and his wife of nearly 15 years, Jada Pinkett Smith, it’s all about being supportive.

“We make the effort to always put the family first,” Smith told PEOPLE at last week’s Men in Black III premiere in New York City. “Being there for each other and being present with our kids is the most important thing. I take being a parent very seriously.”

The couple are parents to Trey, 19, Jaden, 13, and Willow, 11, and Will flew back to L.A. from New York nearly every weekend while filming Men in Black III.

They will celebrate their 15th anniversary in December. And despite rumors of marital trouble lately – which Pinkett Smith recently said were ridiculous – Smith says that, as a couple, they’re as strong as ever.

“What’s helped us is being supportive, no matter what the situation is,” he says. “I’m so lucky to have someone like Jada. She’s really an incredible woman, wife and mother.”

What he loves the most about his wife is that “she is just absolutely hardcore, like she absolutely is unfazed by the weight and the pressures of life. She is so calm and cool and easy in any situation. She can bear anything, and I just love that about her.”

[From People]

Does Will sound like he’s reciting a prepared talking points memo that was given to him just minutes beforehand? Sure. Does Will make it sound sort of like they decided to stay together for their kids? Yep. But I also think that whatever happened over the past year was just a bad phase in their relationship, and they’ve worked some sh-t out since then.

That being said, I still find their body language so, so awkward. Remember when they would be all over each on red carpet after red carpet, and it just felt like Will adored his wife? And now it seems like he can barely look at her. But yes, they’re dealing with it.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

As you probably know, Men in Black III is coming. It’s out tomorrow actually. I still remember seeing the first movie like 20 years ago. It seems like forever, but I just checked and it was 1997, still ages ago. Men in Black II was out in 2002, a full ten years ago. So they’re releasing the third one a decade later since no one puts money into original movie ideas anymore. (Sometimes for good reason.)

Kaiser, Bedhead and I were wondering if this will make back its production budget, a very steep $375 million(!) according to Wikipedia. It’s a huge gamble, but it could pay off. Bedhead wrote that “it might squeak by if you add in international ticket sales and merchandising.” Plus, you know, it’s got Will Smith in it and he’s a big draw.

Speaking of Will, his youngest two children, Willow and Jaden, came out to the premiere in New York last night, as did his wife, Jada. Jada was just in Cannes looking like a million bucks at Sean Penn’s Haiti benefit, so it’s nice to see her fly back to support her husband. We’ve heard split rumors about these two for a long time, but they were spotted out together during the European promotion for the film earlier this month. I tend to think they went through a rough patch and worked it out, like a lot of other couples. Is it goofy to say that I’m rooting for them? I really like them together.

Willow wore this ridiculous long shirt featuring Freddie Kruger at the hemline, like he’s jumping out from her lap. I would conveniently “lose” that thing if my daughter owned it. Willow is 11! She’s just a tween, but her parents are treating her like a little adult. They’ve made a lot of parenting decisions I disagree with, particularly putting their kids in the business so young. I guess they’re letting her express herself through her fashion and hairstyles, which I can’t argue with too much if she’s covered up. Kids know what they like to wear, and there’s no use forcing them to dress a certain way. (Although I would draw the line at Freddie Kruger dresses.)

I just looked up some quotes from Will Smith to add to this story, and I found this really awesome one about how Jaden, 13, asked President Obama if aliens were real. Will, of course, has been gunning to play Obama for a while, saying that he’s the “natural choice.” This story about Jaden asking Obama about aliens is a funny one, and I know my kid would bug me to let him ask the President something like this. Here it is:

Will Smith was left red-faced after his son asked U.S president Barack Obama if aliens are real during a visit to the White House.

The Men in Black star banned his son Jaden from asking the extra-terrestrial question ahead of a guided tour of the President’s home with his family, but the cheeky 13-year-old actor couldn’t resist defying his dad.

The youngster popped the question as Obama showed the family around the “situation room” – where the president holds meetings during a crisis – and the U.S. leader was happy to answer him.

Smith tells BBC Radio 1 host Chris Moyles, “The night before Jaden had said to me, ‘Dad, I gotta ask the president about the aliens,’ and I’m like, ‘Dude, no, it’s not cool. It’s embarrassing. Do not ask the president!’ So we get into the situation room and Jaden gets the look in his eyes and he leans over to me and asks, ‘Dad, What’s my punishment?’

“And Barack is starting to talk about this situation room and Jaden says, ‘Excuse me Mr. President?’ and I’m like, ‘Hey, Barack man, listen?’ and Barack said, ‘Don’t tell me.’ And in perfect form – and this is why he is the president – he stopped and looked at Jaden and said, ‘The aliens, right? OK, I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of extra-terrestrials but I can tell you if there had been a top secret meeting and if there would have been a discussion about it, it would have taken place in this room.’”

[From The Huffington Post]

That’s hilarious and I love Obama’s answer! Have you seen this game Obama Alien Defense? I would say that must be where Jaden got the idea, but his dad has been kicking alien ass at the movies forever. I think they should do a film where Will Smith as Obama fights aliens, like Independence Day except with the Commander in Chief. You don’t need to vary a good formula much, at least that’s the premise the movie industry operates under.

As for Jada’s black deep v-neck dress I kind of love it for some other event, and wonder if it’s from her Cannes luggage. The skirt is so sheer it looks like she’s wearing granny panties underneath. It’s too dressy and sexy for her husband’s premiere is what I’m saying, but he probably loves it. So maybe it’s just the right outfit.

Josh Brolin looking like a handsome rogue.

And Benedict Cumberbatch doing the same! What’s he doing there? He’s not in the film as far as I can find. I like him better as a blonde, though.

Photo credit: WENN and FameFlynet

These are some assorted photos from the Cannes Film Festival from the past… let’s say, 48 hours. There were a few big premieres, although… I don’t think some of these films are actually in competition. Like, Madagascar 3 isn’t in competition. Lawless is, although the star of Lawless, Ryan Gosling, didn’t show up to Cannes. (Update: Sorry, I thought Gosling is in that movie – guess not). Anyway. These photos aren’t all-inclusive or anything, these are just the dudes and ladies and dresses I wanted to talk about. Go ahead and yell at me.

First up! Salma Hayek (with Francois-Henri Pinault) in Gucci at the Madagascar 3 premiere. It’s very… eh. I prefer when Salma goes for cleaner, simpler styles. This whole look seems very showgirl and drag queen to me.

Gerard Butler was at Friday night’s Haiti Benefit. He’s done a lot of work with charities related to Haiti. I’m surprised he looks so clean and sober, aren’t you?

We need to have a conversation about Tom Hardy’s giant, furry beard. The conversation: I want that beard to be tickling my thighs. End of conversation. (PS… Shia LaBeouf looks gross.).

Guy Pearce!!! He was at the photo call for Lawless. I love him so much. I dig his flannel too, for some strange reason. He looks hot.

Jada Pinkett Smith in Alberta Ferretti. This was my favorite look from Jada for all of her Cannes appearances – and this is just what she wore to the Madagascar 3 photo call! It’s a great color for her.

Jada’s worst look? This Atelier Versace in orange and gold that she wore the M3 premiere. God, that’s just awful.

Jessica Chastain in white. AGAIN. This one is Armani – it’s a beautiful dress, and it would have made a gorgeous wedding dress. Try a different color, Jessica.

And here’s Jessica in gold Gucci. Eh. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either.

Charlotte Casiraghi in Gucci, walking the carpet for Once Upon A Time In America. Doesn’t she look so much like her mother? She’s gorgeous. But! She’s a terrible sloucher. I know it’s all “I’m sort of French, I’m royal, I’m beautiful, I don’t have to stand up straight or wear clothes that are tailored.” But still. Stand up straight.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith haven’t been photographed together on a red carpet in more than a year. They were photographed a handful of times in candid situations over the past year, but there really was a reason for the tabloids’ insistence that all was not well in the Smith marriage: they were rarely, if ever, together. But something happened over the past month, or maybe even the past few weeks. The pessimist in me says that the only thing that’s happened is Will Smith’s promotional tour for Men In Black III. The optimist in me (she’s suffocating!) says that maybe Will and Jada have worked out some of their problems. Whatever is happening, Jada has joined Will on the European leg of the MIB III promotion.

I’m including photos of Will and Jada in Paris (Jada in the black dress with the fringe skirt), and then in Madrid, where Jada wore white to the premiere, and then she and Will went to the match of the Madrid Masters between Czech Tomas Berdych and Swiss Roger Federer (Federer won!). My body language e-meter says that Will and Jada still need to work out some stuff. They seem so… awkward with each other. I mean… maybe I’m just overanalyzing this stuff. But they still seem kind of “off” right?

But I guess it speaks volumes that Jada has joined Will on the tour, and that they’re still posing together and setting up tennis photo-ops. It means that even if their marriage is in trouble, neither one of them seems to be walking away any time soon.

Photos courtesy of WENN.