Share this @internewscast.com

It was the calm before the storm. Two years ago, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s entertainment venture, Westbrook, was thriving. The production company behind the popular Facebook watch show, Red Table Talk, Peacock’s Bel-Air, the Oscar-nominated film King Richard and a slew of series for major streaming services was doing so well, the couple hoped to sell it for $1 billion to the same company that bought Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine company, according to a new report on Semafor. But when Westbrook was valued at $600 million — almost half of what the Smiths were anticipating, claims the report — the deal fell apart.

Then came The Slap. In March 2022, Will stormed the stage during the Academy Awards and physically assaulted presenter Chris Rock, 58, after the comedian made a joke about Jada, 52 — all as an audience of millions watched. “It couldn’t have come at a worse time,” a source exclusively tells In Touch. Though Will, 55, won an Oscar for his King Richard performance minutes after the attack and later publicly apologized, people couldn’t stop talking about the debacle, which the source says has affected the troubled couple’s relationship — and their bottom line. “Will and Jada’s empire is hurting. It’s cash-crunch time, which has them scrambling to cut back on expenses and also work more to make more money so they’re not in the red,” says the source. “They’re trying not to panic, but they’re having a run of bad luck.”

In the wake of The Slap drama, claims the report, Westbrook has struggled to score new deals, revenue has dropped dramatically, and they’ve had to lay off half the staff at the company. On top of that, Meta canceled Jada’s popular Red Table Talk after Facebook decided to shut down its Facebook Watch original programs. (Westbrook reps deny any dealmaking issues, attributes layoffs to 2023’s writers’ and actors’ strikes, and says there are offers to move Red Table Talk elsewhere.)

Feeling the Heat

But it’s not just what happened at the Oscars. “Jada’s explosive book revelations, including that she and Will secretly separated, haven’t helped,” says the source, referring to Jada’s memoir, Worthy, which included the shocking confirmation that she and Will have been living apart since 2016 and were in fact separated when he slapped Chris. “And Will is not bringing in multimillion-dollar paychecks for his films like he used to. Plus their $42 million mega-mansion in Calabasas [California] is super expensive to run, and ongoing renovations have been costing them a fortune.”

Will and Jada are staying positive. Jada insists they have no plans to divorce, “and they aren’t afraid of hard work,” says the source. “Yes, they’re separated, but they still consider themselves an important team and a force in Hollywood. Time will tell if that proves to be the case.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Two Found Guilty in the Killing of Kentucky Mother Crystal Rogers, Concluding a “Heartbreaking” Case

Two men were convicted Tuesday in the murder of Kentucky mother Crystal…

Jackie O Henderson Stuns in a Deep Red Swimsuit

<!– <!– <!– <!– <!– <!– Jackie ‘O’ Henderson is currently living her…

Chris Hemsworth Enjoys Wimbledon Solo, Wife Elsa Pataky Absent

<!– <!– <!– <!– <!– <!– Chris Hemsworth attended Evian’s VIP suite on…

Julie Bowen Shares Her Son’s Hilarious Assumption: Sydney Sweeney Leading ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ and Wonders If He Can Still Visit the Set

Julie Bowen might be reprising her role in Adam Sandler’s new Happy…

2025 Home Run Derby: Schedule, Viewing Options, Competitors, Betting, and Live Streaming Details

Live from Truist Park in Atlanta, Karl Ravech, Eduardo Pérez, and Todd…

Katie Price Reveals Her £10k Facelift and Significant Weight Loss

She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public…

Justin Bieber Appears Cheerful as He Flashes a Rare Smile

Justin Bieber has shared a rare smile as he sipped on a…

Brody Jenner Shares Wedding Photos, Captured Sealing His Vows with a Kiss

Brody Jenner has married his girlfriend of three years, Tia Blanco. The…

Breaking Down the Ending of ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3, Episode 4: Why Does Gladys Choose to Marry the Duke? Insights from Morgan Spector, Taissa Farmiga, and Julian Fellowes.

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 4, titled “Marriage is a Gamble,”…

Sabrina Carpenter stuns in a bra-less, backless ruby red dress

Sabrina Carpenter wowed her fans with a series of sexy looks over…

Could Carrie Bradshaw Be Returning to Her Famous Apartment? Sarah Jessica Parker Suggests It’s Possible

Is Carrie Bradshaw returning to her iconic brownstone in And Just Like…

Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector from ‘The Gilded Age’ Thrilled with Merritt Wever Joining as Bertha’s Sister Monica O’Brien: “A Perfect Fit”

The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 4 finally brings to the forefront…