Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith — who have been living separately — stepped out together for the first time in nearly a year.

According to photos obtained by Page Six, the “Bad Boys” actor and the “Girls Trip” actress went to grab a bite to eat at celebrity hotspot Nobu in Malibu, Calif., on Saturday.

The pair looked relaxed as they strolled side by side, both opting for understated neutral looks that spoke more to comfort than spectacle. Will wore tan cargo pants, a white T-shirt with tan stripes, and a matching cap, while Jada chose a strapless nude maxi dress with an attached hood, accessorized with gold sandals and minimal jewelry. What caught the attention of photographers, however, wasn’t just their clothing but the small, familiar gestures between them. Will carried Jada’s handbag and scarf, a simple but telling display of ease and shared care that cut through years of rumors about the state of their relationship.

This joint appearance came as a surprise because the couple has largely avoided being seen together in public since November 2024, when they were spotted leaving a restaurant in Calabasas. Their deliberate absence has only fueled speculation about their personal lives, especially after Jada’s candid revelations in recent years. In her 2023 memoir Worthy, she stunned fans by admitting that she and Will had been living separately since 2016. She clarified, however, that this separation was not a prelude to divorce but rather a unique arrangement that worked for them as individuals and as a couple.

The “bizarre living arrangement,” as some have called it, is one that challenges traditional definitions of marriage. According to Jada, they remain partners in every sense of the word except for cohabitation. She explained that their relationship has survived because they gave up trying to fit into conventional molds, opting instead for what she describes as a lifelong partnership built on love, resilience, and evolution. For many observers, the fact that they continue to present themselves as united despite living apart is both baffling and inspiring.

Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, stepped out for the first time together in 10 months amid their bizarre living arrangement.BACKGRID

According to photos obtained by Page Six, the “Bad Boys” actor and the “Girls Trip” actress went to grab a bite to eat at celebrity hotspot Nobu in Malibu, Calif., Saturday.BACKGRID
Smith, 56, appeared to be in great spirits as he smiled at onlookers while his wife, 53, kept a straight face as she walked to her side of the car.

The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum dressed casually for the lunch date, wearing a white shirt, a pair of khaki shorts and a white baseball cap.

Pinkett Smith stunned in a nude-colored, strapless dress that featured a hood she had pulled over the top of her head.

The “Set It Off” star paired her look with gold sandals and accessories.

Smith, 56, appeared to be in great spirits as he smiled at onlookers.BACKGRID

Pinkett Smith, 53, kept a straight face as she walked to her side of the car.BACKGRID
The couple, who tied the knot in December 1997, then got into a white Lamborghini before driving to their next destination.

The last time the actors had been photographed together was in November 2024, when they were spotted leaving dinner at Crossroads Kitchen in Calabasas, Calif.

At the time, Smith and Pinkett Smith walked out of the eatery towards the parking lot with their arms wrapped around each other.

Before that, the “Nutty Professor” actress and the “I Am Legend” star hadn’t been seen together since May 2024, when they attended the “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” premiere in Los Angeles.

The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum dressed casually for the lunch date, wearing a white shirt, a pair of khaki shorts and a white baseball cap.BACKGRID

Pinkett Smith stunned in a nude-colored, strapless dress that featured a hood she had pulled over the top of her head. BACKGRID

The “Set It Off” star paired her look with gold sandals and accessories.BACKGRID

“We’ve been doing some really heavy-duty work together. We just got deep love for each other, and we are going to figure out what that looks like for us.”

The couple, who tied the knot in December 1997, then got into a white Lamborghini before driving off to their next destination.BACKGRID

The last time the actors had been photographed together was in November 2024, when they were spotted leaving dinner at Crossroads Kitchen in Calabasas, Calif.BACKGRID

At the time, Smith and Pinkett Smith walked out of the eatery towards the parking lot with their arms wrapped around each other.BACKGRID
Despite their separation, the former “Red Table Talk” host revealed in December 2023 that Smith’s notorious 2022 Oscars slap saved their union.

“After all those years trying to figure out if I would leave Will’s side, it took that slap for me to see I will never leave him,” she told the Daily Mail.

“Who knows where our relationship would be if that hadn’t happened?”

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Before that, the “Nutty Professor” actress and the “I Am Legend” star hadn’t been seen together since May 2024, when they attended the “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” premiere in Los Angeles.FilmMagic

In October 2023, Pinkett Smith revealed that she and Smith had been separated for seven years.

Though Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slap saved their union, they still live separately.Getty Images for Critics Choice Association

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have always been one of Hollywood’s most scrutinized couples, and their most recent public appearance has once again reignited conversations about their unconventional marriage. After 10 months out of the spotlight as a pair, the two were photographed together in Malibu, enjoying a low-key lunch at Nobu. For many, it wasn’t just another celebrity outing; it was a subtle reminder of their enduring, albeit unconventional, commitment to one another.

Will himself has echoed this sentiment in past interviews, referring to Jada as his “ride-or-die” and emphasizing that their bond is unshakable, even when tested by unconventional choices. Their Malibu outing appeared to reinforce this narrative. They did not appear awkward or distant; rather, their body language conveyed comfort and familiarity. The absence of performative romance—no red-carpet kisses, no staged affection—only made the outing feel more authentic, as though they had nothing left to prove to the outside world.

Still, public fascination with their arrangement remains intense. Some fans view their relationship as progressive and refreshing in an age where rigid definitions of marriage are being questioned. Others see it as unnecessarily complicated, pointing to the challenges of sustaining intimacy while living separately. Social media buzzed with commentary after the Malibu sighting, with one camp praising their transparency and resilience, while another expressed confusion over why they don’t simply move on if they no longer share the same home.

The Malibu sighting also coincided with a pivotal moment in their professional lives. Their production company, Westbrook, recently signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures, underscoring the fact that while their personal lives may be unconventional, their professional partnership is thriving. This blending of personal and professional worlds has been a hallmark of their relationship from the beginning, and it demonstrates that their shared vision continues to anchor them despite any private challenges.

Observers were quick to note that this was not the glamorous red-carpet reunion many might have expected. Instead, the simplicity of the outing made it more powerful. There was no spectacle—just two people walking together, smiling, and appearing comfortable in each other’s company. After decades of weathering Hollywood scrutiny, public speculation, and deeply personal revelations, the ability to present themselves so casually may be their most telling statement yet.

Their decision to remain committed despite living apart also reflects broader cultural shifts in how people view relationships. Increasingly, couples are finding ways to customize their partnerships, breaking free of the idea that one formula fits all. Will and Jada’s marriage, with its unique arrangement, is emblematic of this trend. While it may not make sense to everyone, it works for them, and they have been consistent in asserting that their choices are rooted in love and mutual respect.

The fascination, of course, is amplified by their celebrity status. If Will and Jada were not household names, their arrangement might be seen as unremarkable or even commonplace. Instead, every outing, every quote, and every gesture is scrutinized for hidden meaning. Their Malibu appearance was no different, but rather than fueling scandal, it sparked conversation about what marriage means in the modern era.

It’s also worth remembering that their relationship has endured some of the most difficult tests any Hollywood couple could face. From the infamous 2022 Oscars slap, which thrust Will into one of the most controversial moments of his career, to Jada’s public confessions of past entanglements, the couple has faced waves of criticism and speculation. Yet, through it all, they have continued to present themselves as committed partners, unafraid to admit their flaws but unwilling to let go of one another.

Their ability to weather storms while redefining the terms of their marriage is perhaps their most remarkable trait. The Malibu outing was not an attempt to erase the past or silence critics; it was a quiet demonstration of their continued bond. For all the headlines about bizarre arrangements, separations, and speculation, what was captured in those photographs was something simple and enduring: partnership.

As they left Nobu and stepped into their sleek white Lamborghini, Will carrying Jada’s belongings and Jada walking with calm confidence, it was hard not to see them as a couple who, despite everything, had figured out how to make it work in their own way. It may not fit traditional expectations, and it may never make sense to outsiders, but it doesn’t have to. Their Malibu outing underscored that Will and Jada Smith’s marriage isn’t about appearances, conventionality, or satisfying the curiosity of onlookers. It’s about two people who, through love and evolution, continue to choose each other—even if it means doing so from separate homes.