The Smith scandal hit the headlines when R&B singer, August Alsina confirmed his past relationship with Jada. In an interview on 30 June, August claimed that he and Jada had been in a “yearslong” relationship. Previously suspected by the public but always denied by Jada and August, the interview was a big revelation.
During the interview with Breakfast Club Host, Angela Yee, August claimed that Will had given the relationship his blessing. Media speculation soon led to Will and Jada publicly addressing the issue, sitting down together to talk.
Yet, their conversation on Jada’s web-series, Red Table Talk, was an uncomfortable and bizarre exchange. They began by clarifying that Will had not given August and Jada his blessing, before going on to discuss the scandal.
Will’s unimpressed facial expressions quickly became a meme, whilst Twitter mocked Jada’s use of the word “entanglement” to describe her relationship with August.
To her credit, Jada showed signs of introspection, she seemed to understand what led her to her actions. But by consistently referring to her relationship with August as an “entanglement”, she failed to acknowledge the hurt she may have caused Will.
In fact, much of the conversation is taken up by Jada talking about her need to heal and her struggles. Will’s hurt is only loosely referred to, and he doesn’t get a chance to speak for himself on the subject. Although, he does ask Jada to clarify exactly what she means by the word “entanglement”, with Jada admitting she means a relationship.
During the conversation, the couple often allude but rarely explain, leaving many of us more confused than before. It seems likely that the couple had neither agreed nor disagreed to see other people during their separation. And without that clear boundary, it is possible to both justify and condemn Jada and August’s relationship.
On 18 July, the scandal furthered with August making a bold statement. He released a song with Rick Ross titled “Entanglement”. In the song, August sings:
The definition of entanglement,
It’s when you’re tangled in the sheets,
Girl I know that we don’t call it a relationship,
But you’re still f**kin’ with me,
Entanglement
August’s lyrics seem like a clear response to Jada’s comments on Red Table Talks. August was only 22 at the beginning of his relationship with Jada, a married woman. In his 30 June interview, he made it clear how much the relationship had meant to him:
“And I totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life, and I truly and really, really, deeply loved and have a ton of love for her. I devoted myself to it. I gave my full self to it. So much so that I can die right now, and be OK knowing that I fully gave myself to somebody … Some people never get that in this lifetime.”August Alsina
When we consider August’s age and how much the relationship meant to him, we can understand how Jada’s use of the word “entanglement” may have seemed overly dismissive to August.
Will and Jada have made it clear that they believe this is a private matter. And in an ideal world, it should be. Yet, their Red Table Talk episode and the release of August’s new track, have only furthered speculation.
