At the age of 15, Adrienne Banfield-Norris became pregnant with Jada Pinkett Smith, and as a result, married Jada’s father, Robsol Pinkett Jr. Unfortunately, the marriage only lasted a few months and left a lasting trauma on Banfield-Norris. In a November 2018 episode of “Red Table Talk,” Banfield-Norris opened up about the domestic abuse she endured during this time, including physical abuse from Robsol throwing her over a banister. Jada and Willow Smith were unaware of this experience until they filmed the episode. Banfield-Norris also revealed in an October 2020 episode that she had experienced non-consensual sex with her husband. Despite her young age, she was brave enough to leave him with her daughter and run for her life. Robsol’s violent outbursts were often under the influence of alcohol, which made matters worse.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or visit their website for more information and resources.