On Tuesday, rapper August Alsina opened up about his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith, who Alsina insinuated was in an open relationship with Will Smith, in an interview with Angela Yee from “The Breakfast Club.”
Angela Yee asked August about his alleged relationship to Jada Pinkett Smith (16:28). He responded by defending his honesty and lack of intent to harm anyone involved, saying “I’m not a troublemaker.”
“I actually sat down with Will and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership, that they’ve spoken on several times,” he said. “He gave me his blessing. And I- I totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life. I truly, really, really, deeply loved and have a ton of love for her. I devoted myself to her, I gave my full self to her, so much so, to the point I can die right now and be okay, knowing that I truly gave myself to somebody.”
Alsina repeated that he was blessed to be able to “live his truth.” Yee asked if he was disappointed that Jada Pinkett Smith never acknowledged their relationship because he lost many opportunities as a result of allegations that they were having a secret affair.
“I never, even, can get into the thought of that because I’m only responsible for myself,” he responded.
Alsina got emotional and claimed that he had never experienced a love like that before and how walking away from it butchered and killed him.
“It pushed me into being another person, my newer self, it broke me down,” he said.
Jada has since denied Alsina’s allegations that she was in an open relationship and had dated the rapper.
Jada Pinkett Smith is the host of a talk show on Facebook Live titled “Red Table Talk.” In an episode published June of 2019, Jada, her mother and Willow explored alternatives to conventional monogamous marriage. During the conversation Jada shared that Will and her were “constantly in conversation about alternatives.”
What is an Open Relationship?
Open relationships look different for every couple, but they are always consensual and agreed upon by those taking part.
There are two main definitions to the term “open relationship.” One is an umbrella term that refers to all forms of non-monogamous relationships and includes swinging (having consensual sex with people outside of a relationship and “swapping” partners with others) and polyamory. An open relationship is one in which two people in a “primary” relationship agree to explore sex with people outside of that partnership. An open relationship can be placed somewhere in between swinging and polyamory.
How does an open relationship differ from Polyamory?
The Latin translates exactly to “multiple loves.” Polyamory is an open, consensual and loving relationship between more than two people. This type of non-monogamy differs from an open relationship in that love and emotion are the driving forces. It can be made up of two or more partnerships, although it doesn’t have to be that organized; the idea is that everyone in the relationship is romantically involved and most times committed. People in polyamorous relationships can raise children, own houses, and live fruitful lives together. Consent, communication and boundaries are integral for both types of non-monogamous relationships to thrive.
To learn more about communication in an open relationship, click here.
