Jada Pinkett Smith is speaking out on sexual assaults and what she calls an “epidemic” when it comes to the way women are being treated by society.
Jada Pinkett Smith was in Los Angeles earlier this week promoting her new Fox show “Gotham” that will premiere on September 22, when the discussion took a more serious and personal tone.
The actress who was very involved in the social media campaign for Jada, a 16-year-old who was allegedly raped and mocked on the web after images of her assault went viral, said violence against women is becoming an “epidemic.”
The mother-of-two said that she became more aware of this problem when one of her relatives was given a date rape drug. Actor Will Smith’s wife told the journalists at the Television Critics Association panel:
“My niece was given a date rape drug that weekend. She’s 20 years old – thank God nothing happened because she was with some responsible guys that took care of her.”
Jada insisted that nothing happened to her niece that night but her story made her realize that something needed to be done on this matter. What is she offering as solution? Jada Pinkett Smith thinks that awareness should be a starting point, she added:
“There is an epidemic going on out here in regards to the treatment of women. We have to figure out how we can empower people in different ways.”
The entertainer’s remarks did not seem controversial but sparked a debate on what is an epidemic?
Some people find using that word does a disservice to her cause since the statistics on sexual assaults against women are not as accurate as they seem and that reality of these situations are often more nuanced than the media would want people to believe.
Others decided to attack her personally, by suggesting that she spends more time educating her 13-year-old daughter Willow Smith who was pictured in bed (fully clothed) with 20-year-old actor Moises Arias earlier this year. The controversial photo lead to Willow’s famous parents being investigated by Child Protective Services officials in California.
Jada Pinkett Smith’s “epidemic” comment probably meant well but as with everything else these days drama ensued.
