Now Jada Pinkett Smith says she and Will Smith are 'staying together forever' despite separation

• Jada Pinkett Smith addressed her relationship with Will Smith on "The Drew Barrymore Show."
• Pinkett Smith said she and Smith are "staying together forever."
• In October, Pinkett Smith said she and Smith have been separated since 2016.

Jada Pinkett Smith is now saying she and Will Smith are "staying together forever" despite previously announcing that they have been separated since 2016.

In a taped interview set to air on Tuesday's episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," host Drew Barrymore brought up the couple's separation while discussing Pinkett Smith's recent memoir, "Worthy."

"I feel like maybe your and his shadow separated in a way in this book, whether they stay together forever or not. It sounds like you're staying together forever, Barrymore says in a preview clip published by Entertainment Weekly

Pinkett Smith replies: "We're staying together forever. I tried. We tried."

In October, Pinkett Smith shocked the world by dropping the bombshell that she and Smith have been separated since 2016.

Pinkett Smith, who has been married to Smith since 1997 and has two children with the actor, said during an interview with the "Today" show host Hoda Kotb that she and Smith were not planning to legally divorce.

"I think by the time we got to 2016, we were just exhausted with trying," Pinkett Smith said.

At a book tour event following that interview, Pinkett Smith said that she wanted to recommit to her marriage with Smith after he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.

As Business Insider previously reported, Pinkett Smith said at an event in New York City: "When I was sitting at the Oscars, it clicked in, I was like, 'Oh snap, you hit Chris?'"

"I was like, 'I'm riding with you. I didn't come into this place as your wife, but I'm leaving here as your wife because we got a storm we're gonna have to deal with together. I am NOT going to leave your side,'" said the actor.

Pinkett Smith added: "I said, 'I'm not gonna be able to get away from this dude. I really love him.'"

Smith also joined Pinkett Smith onstage at a book tour event in Baltimore, Maryland, in October, and appeared to react to the revelations made in his wife's memoir.

The "King Richard" star said of their relationship: "We call it 'brutiful.' It was brutal and beautiful at the same time."

He added: "Jada is the best friend I have ever had on this planet and I am going to show up for her and support her for the rest of my life."