Media has always played a role in shaping stories, much like it did in the past. We might not know exactly what happened back then, but people around us would often say, “You know how she feels about you.” This sentiment lingered for 17 years. It’s surprising to think that Gabrielle Union and Jada Pinkett knew they were feuding for 17 years without understanding why. Do they really expect us to believe that?
It’s well-known that Jada hasn’t had the best relationships with many women in Hollywood. But did her fallout with Gabrielle have the same cause as her fallout with Nia Long? For both Gabrielle and Nia, was Will Smith somehow involved? I have so much admiration for Will Smith; he’s a natural-born teacher.
Jada once opened up to Essence about her relationship with Gabrielle Union, admitting they hadn’t spoken for 17 years and couldn’t even remember why. “There was just tension between us,” Jada said. “Every time we saw each other, something would happen that left a bad taste in our mouths. When we finally talked on the phone to figure it out, we realized we couldn’t pinpoint the cause. It was just us being young divas.”
Jada shared a similar story in an interview with Extra while talking about Gabrielle’s upcoming appearance on Red Table Talk. “I have a really touching episode with Gabrielle Union where we reconcile after not being on good terms for 17 years.”
According to Jada, when the producer mentioned the idea of a girlfriend show, Gabrielle’s name just kept popping up, and it felt like the perfect fit. Jada also saw it as an opportunity to mend whatever was going on between them. When asked if the feud was over, Jada reiterated that she didn’t know how it started, saying, “Honestly, yeah, I’m not even sure… and we really don’t even know how it started.”
Gabrielle suggested that perhaps their egos played a part in the tension that lasted for nearly two decades, but she couldn’t pinpoint a specific incident. She said, “Despite both of us being outspoken and activists, and with our husbands being friends—heck, I’ve even collaborated with her husband—we both let our pride and insecurities get in the way of just asking, ‘Hey, did that really happen, or was it just someone trying to pit us against each other?'”
I had my doubts when Jada and Gab claimed they had no clue how their feud began. “17 years” struck me as oddly specific, not a number one casually throws out. Jada remembering it to the dot implies something significant triggered their conflict. Crunching the numbers from Jada’s mention in 2018 places the root of their issues around 2001.
I dug into their past, but found no evidence of them crossing paths professionally during that time. So, it seems whatever ignited their feud was more personal. During their emotional sit-down on the Red Table Talk, Gab was visibly distraught, shedding tears and all, while Jada remained composed. It got me thinking: why was Gab so torn up while Jada seemed unfazed? Could it be that Gab was carrying guilt or remorse for her role in whatever went down between them?
Certainly! Many fans speculate that Gabrielle may have had a hand in spreading the rumors about Will and Duane Martin across Hollywood. There are whispers that Jada confronted her about it, suggesting they might have been aware of what was happening. And then there were those persistent rumors about Gabrielle allegedly being involved with Will during the filming of “Bad Boys 2,” which only seemed to add fuel to the fire. I recall a blind item from some time ago hinting at a young, stunning woman who was highly sought after for TV shows in the early 2000s, widely believed to be Gabrielle. When Will pursued her for “Bad Boys 2,” their chemistry was undeniable, drawing attention and, reportedly, Jada’s ire. Whether it was rooted in jealousy or the historical narrative of two strong Black women being constantly compared and pitted against each other, their relationship appeared to be fraught with tension.
You know what’s interesting? It seems like Jada and Nia might not have hit it off for some of the same reasons. When it comes to Nia, it’s totally possible that their relationship was strained because they were often up for the same roles. Nia herself mentioned this, saying, “When I started really working as an actress, there were about four of us: Jada Pinkett Smith, Halle Berry, Regina King, and Jasmine Guy. But the women that I was in constant competition with mostly, it was me and Jada.”
But there’s another angle to consider too. Like with Gabrielle, Will Smith might have played a big role in why Jada and Nia didn’t see eye to eye. As for Nia and Will, their connection goes back to when Nia played Lisa Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She was one of Will Smith’s girlfriends on the show, the one who got him to settle down. Nia mentioned that Will was incredibly supportive and kind during filming. “He would always just come through the door with this huge amount of love and energy and this abundance of giving and support, and he believes that he can do anything. And that was the first time that I had ever seen a black man take that position, so it’s very inspiring for me.”
Did you know that originally, Jada was supposed to land that role? Nia spilled the beans during an interview on People TV, revealing that the producers initially had Jada in mind for Will’s girlfriend part. But, they changed their minds, thinking Jada was too short for the role. So, Nia ended up snagging it, leaving Jada with a playful jab: “I got the job, but she got the husband.”
Now, here’s a thought: Maybe Jada started feeling a bit sour toward Nia because she got the role instead. Fast forward to the August Alsina entanglement drama, and Nia had something to say. She expressed sympathy for Will and Jada, acknowledging their courage in opening up about their personal struggles: “I feel bad for Will and Jada right now because they’ve been extremely vulnerable with their personal story, and it takes a lot of courage to do that.”
Nia also touched on the pressure Jada faces with her show, Red Table Talk, recognizing the complexities of love: “That’s got to be a tremendous amount of pressure because we all have our ups and downs with love, and love is a complicated thing.” And she offered some advice to Will, stressing the importance of giving each other space: “I think any key to any relationship is give your partner the room to be who he needs to be, who she needs to be. And if it means you’re taking a break to do that, take the break.” She even shared her own self-care strategy, sometimes just leaving the house without a word: “I know I sometimes just leave the house. I don’t tell anyone where I’m going, and I’m like, okay guys, I’ll be back because I’ve learned that if I don’t take care of myself first, nothing else in the house runs smoothly.”
With Nia chiming in about Will and Jada’s relationship, it got a lot of folks wondering if there was ever something more between them, especially considering how they clicked on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I mean, if there was any behind-the-scenes spark, it could’ve definitely caused some tension between Nia and Jada. And let’s not forget all those fans shipping Nia and Will back then – that might’ve ruffled some feathers for Jada.
Now, I can’t confirm any of those dating rumors, but what I do know is that Nia and Will stayed tight after their time together. And given all the drama Jada’s put Will through lately, it’s no surprise Nia isn’t her biggest fan, especially after that messy August situation. Nia’s words about her own past devotion hit hard: “I totally gave myself to that relationship for years…I truly gave myself to somebody.”
It seems Nia’s beef with Jada might come down to how she treats Will. But what do you think? Could there have been something more between Will and Nia? And what about Gabrielle – could she have had a long-standing grudge against Jada without either of them even realizing it? Drop your theories in the comments below!
