Everyone knows about Will Smith and his amazing wife Jada Pinkett Smith, but not everyone knows the story of Jada’s mother, Adrienne Banfield-Jones.
In a recent Red Table Talk with Jada and Adrienne, the two took a trip down memory lane and remembered some of their struggles from the past. Adrienne was addicted to heroin for 20 years while Jada was growing up. Jada recalled learning about the addiction when she was in her early teens and it strongly affected the entire family until Adrienne finally quit.
However, the inspiration for her quitting was a little surprising. When asked how she got over her addiction, she said, “I hate to say this, but I have to put it on somebody else… so I had this man come back into my life…so its sad to say that I did it for a man… but at the end of the day you get to wherever you get and then hopefully the light will go on and you’ll realize that it’s about you.”
When asked, Banfield-Jones said she no longer worries about relapsing since she’s been clean for 27 years. She also said that she isn’t embarrassed about her previous addiction anymore. She said, “I abused drugs for over 20 years. There’s a stigma and a stereotype attached to addiction that makes it difficult for people to seek the help they need.”
Now she is wanting to help people who also face addiction, she wants to show them the light at the end of the tunnel.
Facing Addiction: Jada & Adrienne Share Their Family's StoryFor the first time ever, Jada’s mom Adrienne Banfield Norris shares details of her 20-year heroin addiction, and how it affected a young Jada Pinkett Smith. Also joining the family is special guest August Alsina, and Will Smith’s youngest sister, Ashley Marie, both of whom have faced addiction.If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, we would like to help you find information about substance misuse, prevention and recovery. Please visit Facing Addiction with NCADD: resources.facingaddiction.org
Posted by Red Table Talk on Monday, July 9, 2018
These days, Adrienne Banfield-Jones is the epitome of health. She is 64 years old and absolutely killing it at the gym. Jada shared this video of her mom working out and can we just say WOW! Let’s hope we’re looking like this in our 60’s.
Of course, all of the women in this family are stunning. Jada shared this picture of their three generations of women working out, and they are looking as fit as ever.
But some people are still questioning Adrienne Banfield-Jones’s status of being a role-model. Is it because she quit her addiction for a man? Or because she put her family through such a dark time? Or maybe they can’t get over the rocky past she had. Do you agree, or do you think she should be looked up to for overcoming her demons? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
