Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk” Facebook Watch Series unpacked sexual consent. The Hollywood actress learned something about her mother and father that shocked her. More inside…
Today at @RedTableTalk join @DaRealAmberRose@TheRue& DeAndre Levy as we talk about the meaning & issues around CONSENT. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month & we discuss the relationship between issues of consent and domestic violence. pic.twitter.com/CJsBm2UiPX
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) October 20, 2020
”Sex is always on a man’s mind, so you have to protect yourself. And you have to be very clear, and very aware, and not put yourself in a situation where you can be victimized,” Willow Smith said during a recent episode of “Red Table Talk.”
Hmm. We do wish she would have added that men simply shouldn't sexually assault, be inappropriate with, or be problematic with women as well. It's not up to women to prevent their own rapes or assaults. Choosing which "positions" are problematic that a woman has "put herself in" is a slippery slope to victim blaming and justifying assaults. Who chooses what is a problematic situation to put yourself in and which isn't? Sure, there are some clear cut things that anybody, no matter the gender, shouldn't do simply for common sense safety measures. But, again, it's a slippery slope when we allow society to judge "when a woman put herself in a situation." Up until recently (and still even now oftentimes), it was OK to blame an assaulted woman for what she was wearing, how she acted or carried herself, or for going to an establishment she had every right to patronize. Let's not go back to that.
Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris (aka Gammy) discuss sexual consent with Amber Rose and Rumer Willis on a recent episode of their Facebook Watch Series, "Red Table Talk." One of the shocking moments in the episode is when Jada’s mother revealed she was forced to have non-consensual sex with Jada’s father, Robsol Pinkett Jr., who was Adrienne’s husband at the time.
”So Gam, you feel like nowhere in your history in regards to sexual intimacy have you felt like you've had a sexual experience that was not necessarily consensual or was kind in that gray area?,” Jada asked her mother.
”I have... I have.. but it was also with my husband... your dad actually...so that's really gray,” Adrienne responded.
”That is gray... you do hear that a lot. So, you're basically saying you had non-consensual sex with my father?,” Jada continued.
”Mhmm...,” Adrienne responded
”So that he forced himself upon you?,” Jada asked.
”Yeah but I mean it was.. yeah know—yeah,” Adrienne said, stumbling over her words.
Jada interjected and asked, “Why do you say it like that?”
”I don't want to go into more details on camera about that,” Adrienne said.
And understandably so.
Jada's mother became pregnant with her in high school and married the actress’s father. The two divorced after several months.
Peep a snippet below:
Throughout the show, Adrienne has been candid about the abuse she endured at the hands of Jada’s father. He had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and ultimately died of an overdose in 2010.
You can watch the full episode here.
BONUS:
Photo: Red Table Talk
