Relationship Advice, by Will and Jada:
"Every time somebody in Hollywood breaks up, Jada and I go and find out why," Will Smith, currently out stumping for the matchmaking comedy "Hitch," tells the New York Post. "With Bruce and Demi, we spent hours talking to them. And Tom and Nicole -- hours, just trying to understand what happened."
The seemingly nosy Smiths, who celebrated their seventh anniversary on New Year's Eve (they have two children together), have so far avoided the problems that plague so many Hollywood marriages by always being upfront with one another, even when it comes to checking out hotties. "I mean, wow, Eva Mendes is freaking gorgeous," gushes Smith of his "Hitch" co-star, an assessment he says he has no problem sharing with the missus. "Our perspective is, you don't avoid what's natural," he tells the paper. "You're going to be attracted to people. In our marriage vows, we didn't say 'forsaking all others.'"
"The vow that we made was that you will never hear that I did something after the fact," Smith explains. "If it came down to it, then one [spouse] can say to the other, 'Look, I need to have sex with somebody. I'm not going to if you don't approve of it -- but please approve of it.'"
Despite the apparent loophole in their wedding vows, Smith says he's perfectly content in his marriage, whose success he ascribes to one simple tenet: "Are you a person of your word or not?" To that end, the A-lister not only assigns himself relationship homework but devotes oodles of time to dissecting the union with Jada. "I spend hours reading, studying," he tells the Post. "And my wife and I talk about things that work -- and don't work."
--They had me until the allowing your spouse to have sex with someone else part.
Posted by Lawren at February 10, 2005 06:45 AM
You Said
I agree that it is natural to check out beautiful/hot people of the opposite gender, and you shouldn't expect your sig. other to avoid looking or even aknowledging attraction. But, what the hell is with the "let me do it with someone else"??? I don't get that at all.
ps. I had to edit my content to avoid the word $ex. no clue why.
Says:
at February 10, 2005 11:48 AM
That's hot.
Says:
Iceman at February 10, 2005 12:14 PM
I definitely agree that it is natural to notice beauty when you see it. In a healthy relationship, you should be able to discuss these feelings with your partner. On the other hand, that means you can talk about it, NOT act on it! They have a word for this... not alternative lifestyle, not consenting swinging, it's called CHEATING!
By the way "L", I'm crushed that you didn't bet on "Lucky #7".
:)
Says:
007 at February 10, 2005 02:05 PM
Wow. Who woulda guess that Will Smith is a name-dropper.
Says:
Kevvy the Unnamed Source at February 10, 2005 06:01 PM
Well, I think his words are out of context.. this is the information I found after hearing that....
Smith says that the trust he shares with his wife puts any doubts to rest.
"Eva Mendes is beautiful. Do I think it would be fun to sleep with Eva Mendes? Uh, yeah. Am I going to try to sleep with Eva Mendes? Of course not. Jada understands completely that I am a man of my word. That's all you've got. You can't have a successful relationship if you don't have it."
The love doctor has spoken.
-------------------------------------
Further attempts to press Smith on what some press reports have quaintly described as the “open marriage” enjoyed by him and Jada Pinkett-Smith elicit only the confusing response from him that: “Fidelity in a marriage is huge, you’ve got to have that or you have nothing.
Says:
cheryll at April 2, 2005 06:41 PM