Jada Pinkett Smith’s drug abuse led her to ‘pass out’ on The Nutty Professor set
Actor revealed that she would regularly mix a cocktail of alcohol, cannabis and ecstasy
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Jada Pinkett Smith has admitted to arriving to the set of The Nutty Professor while inebriated on a “bad batch of ecstasy”.
The actor discussed her past abuse of drugs and alcohol on her Facebook Watch chat show, Red Table Talk, and confessed that only once did it interfere with her work.
The “eye-opening incident” saw her show up to the set of the 1996 comedy film “high” and then pass out in the makeup chair.
“I went to work high, and it was a bad batch of ecstasy,” she explained. “I told everybody that I must’ve had old medication in a vitamin bottle.”
She continued: “But I tell you what I did though! Got my ass together and got on that set. That was the last time.”
Pinkett Smith said that she once had a problem with “cocktails” of alcohol, cannabis and ecstasy, but that after the Nutty Professor incident, she went “cold turkey” and now only drinks an occasional glass of red wine.
She added that she was subsequently tough on her children when it came to drugs, as she herself grew up with a mother who battled heroin addiction for 20 years. She said that her family’s history of addiction meant that her own sobriety felt like a “miracle”.
“I think back on my life, like, I am a walking miracle, no doubt about that,” Pinkett Smith said. “People will not believe.”
During a recent episode of Red Table Talk, Pinkett Smith and actor Salma Hayek reminisced about both missing out on the role of Trinity in the Matrix franchise, with Hayek blaming her laziness for losing the part.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction, you can confidentially call the national alcohol helpline Drinkline on 0300 123 1110 or visit the NHS website here for information about the programmes available to you.
If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, you can seek confidential help and support 24-7 from Frank, by calling 0300 123 6600, texting 82111, sending an email or visiting their website here.
In the US, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments