Jada Pinkett Smith has disclosed in an interview with Hoda Kotb that she and her husband, Will Smith, have been living separate lives since 2016, according to ABC.

The high-profile Hollywood couple, who wed in 1997, have previously acknowledged challenges and separations in their marriage, but this revelation offers a more specific insight into the state of their relationship.

While they are not legally divorcing, Pinkett Smith revealed in a clip released on "Today" that it is essentially a separation in all but the legal sense.

This revelation has surprised many, given Pinkett Smith's history of candid conversations, notably in her "Red Table Talk" series, where she and Will addressed her extramarital relationship in a 2020 episode.

Furthermore, the incident at the 2022 Academy Awards, when Will Smith confronted and slapped presenter Chris Rock for making a joke about Pinkett Smith's hair, had already garnered significant media attention.

Representatives for Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this recent revelation.

A more in-depth interview with Jada Pinkett Smith will air during a one-hour NBC News prime-time special on October 13 at 8 PM ET. Additionally, Pinkett Smith is set to release a memoir titled "Worthy" on October 17, promising further details about their lives, relationships, and upbringing in Baltimore.

READ NEXT: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Spotted Together For the First Time Since Oscars Slap 

Jada Pinkett Smith Says She Promised Herself Not to Get a Divorce with Will Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith, 52, expressed in the interview that she had made a promise to herself not to get a divorce from Will Smith, 55.

She explained that they were both trapped in their fantasies of what they thought the other person should be and acknowledged feeling exhausted by their efforts in the marriage, per BBC.

In a separate interview, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed to People that she initially believed the infamous Oscar slap was part of a planned joke.

She stated her intention to stand by her husband while allowing him to navigate this situation independently.

Meanwhile, a rumor about the state of the couple's marriage arose in 2020 when Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith appeared on Pinkett Smith's Facebook show "Red Table Talk" to discuss her "entanglement" with artist August Alsina.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

The couple has been together for over two decades, having met in the early 1990s, PEOPLE noted.

They publicly confirmed their relationship in 1995 and married in December 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland.

They have two children together, Jaden Smith (born in July 1998) and Willow Smith (born in October 2000).

Will Smith also has a son named Trey Smith from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino, whom Jada has warmly referred to as her "bonus son."

Throughout their relationship, Will and Jada have been candid about both the highs and lows they've experienced.

In a November 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith openly discussed a challenging period in their marriage in September 2011, following a heated argument at Jada Pinkett Smith's 40th birthday celebration.

They realized the importance of personal happiness and chose to present themselves back to the relationship as fulfilled individuals rather than relying on each other to fill their emotional voids.

READ MORE: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett's Family Net Worth 

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Jada Pinkett Smith reveals she and Will Smith have been separated since 2016 - From TODAY