Jada Pinkett Smith And Gabrielle Union Settle 'Petty' Feud Once And For All

Cole Delbyck
Updated

The best daytime talk show isn’t even on TV. No, it’s Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook series “Red Table Talk,” where she hosts candid conversations with everyone from husband Will Smith’s first wife to her own daughter, Willow.

This week’s episode addresses the “Girls Trip” star’s long-held feud with actress Gabrielle Union, whom she’s kept her distance from over the past 17 years. Pinkett Smith previously teased their sit-down in an interview with Extra.

“This is a very special show for me, because what I decided to do was make this about creating a new girlfriend,” Pinkett Smith says on this week’s episode. “Gab and I, we had a bit of a break, we don’t know how, and she’s been open to this healing, she’s been open to this conversation.”

While neither is entirely clear what caused the rift, the two officially made amends before the cameras began rolling when Pinkett Smith broke the ice and gave Union a call.

“It felt so good on the phone with you to even just go, ‘Hey, I’m sorry that I didn’t even take the time to talk to you, you know?’” she says. “And then I had to just apologize and just thinking to myself, ‘Damn, Jada! That was some petty ass shit!’ But, at the same time going, ‘Well, that’s where you were then. Thank God you’re someplace else now.’”

Whenever they would cross paths ― be it at the White House or an award show ― the two were “always nice, always cordial,” but there was also “always tension.” Union recalls an uncomfortable moment when they ended up posing in a picture together with other actresses at the NAACP Image Awards in 2016.

From left, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, Loretta Devine, Tika Sumpter and Jada Pinkett Smith pose together at the 47th NAACP Image Awards in 2016. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)
From left, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, Loretta Devine, Tika Sumpter and Jada Pinkett Smith pose together at the 47th NAACP Image Awards in 2016. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

The “Breaking In” star reveals she’s been on a journey of self-healing since hitting “rock bottom” years ago after her marriage to former NFL player Chris Howard ended.

It wasn’t until a life coach changed her perspective that she was able to begin to feel like herself again.

“I had been communicating through negativity. I had been shrinking other people hoping that I’m growing,” Union admits. “I’m a hater. I’m a troll. ... All those negative things that had been happening in your life, it’s exactly what you’re putting out you’re getting back.”

Over the 20-minute episode, the two are able to find common ground and finally put their issues to bed, which Union likens to a “gorilla hopping off my back that I didn’t even know was there.”

“I hope from here on out we have a bond and you know that you can call on me for anything,” she says. “Thank you for just being open to this.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misattributed some comments made by Union to Pinkett Smith.

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1991

Celebrating the 100th episode of "A Different World" in 1991.
Celebrating the 100th episode of "A Different World" in 1991.

1993

At the "Menace II Society" premiere in Beverly Hills, California in 1993. 
At the "Menace II Society" premiere in Beverly Hills, California in 1993. 

1993

During the 11th Annual Celebrity Day in Toluca Lake, CA in March 1993. 
During the 11th Annual Celebrity Day in Toluca Lake, CA in March 1993. 

1993

With Wesley Snipes at the 21st Annual AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards in Beverly Hills, CA in 1993.
With Wesley Snipes at the 21st Annual AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards in Beverly Hills, CA in 1993.

1994

On set of the film "Jason's Lyric" in 1994. 
On set of the film "Jason's Lyric" in 1994. 

1995

At the premiere of "Tales From the Crypt Demon Knight"  in Hollywood, CA in Jan. 1995. 
At the premiere of "Tales From the Crypt Demon Knight"  in Hollywood, CA in Jan. 1995. 

1995

With Will Smith at the "Devil in a Blue Dress" premiere on Sept. 22, 1995 in Beverly Hills, CA. 
With Will Smith at the "Devil in a Blue Dress" premiere on Sept. 22, 1995 in Beverly Hills, CA. 

1996

With Will Smith at "The Nutty Professor" premiere on June 27, 1996 in Universal City, CA. 
With Will Smith at "The Nutty Professor" premiere on June 27, 1996 in Universal City, CA. 

1997

At the "Scream 2" premiere in Los Angeles, CA in 1997. 
At the "Scream 2" premiere in Los Angeles, CA in 1997. 

1997

At the 1997 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, CA. 
At the 1997 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, CA. 

1997

With Will Smith at the "Metro" premiere in Hollywood, CA on Jan. 15, 1997. 
With Will Smith at the "Metro" premiere in Hollywood, CA on Jan. 15, 1997. 

1998

Attending the 12th Annual American Comedy Awards on Feb. 22, 1998 in Los Angeles, CA. 
Attending the 12th Annual American Comedy Awards on Feb. 22, 1998 in Los Angeles, CA. 

1998

At the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards in Universal City, CA. 
At the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards in Universal City, CA. 

1999

At the "Wild Wild West" premiere and party in London in 1999. 
At the "Wild Wild West" premiere and party in London in 1999. 

1999

At the premiere of "Wild Wild West" on June 30, 1999. 
At the premiere of "Wild Wild West" on June 30, 1999. 

1999

At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 24, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA. 
At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 24, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA. 

1999

Backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City, NY on Sept. 9, 1999.
Backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City, NY on Sept. 9, 1999.

2000

With Will Smith during the Oscar De La Hoya Fight the World Welterweight Championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA in June 2000. 
With Will Smith during the Oscar De La Hoya Fight the World Welterweight Championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA in June 2000. 

2000

At the "Sloan Hopkins" premiere on Oct. 2, 2000. 
At the "Sloan Hopkins" premiere on Oct. 2, 2000. 

2001

At the "Ali" premiere in Hollywood, California on Dec. 12, 2001
At the "Ali" premiere in Hollywood, California on Dec. 12, 2001

2001

At "The Kingdom Come" premiere on April 5, 2001 in Beverly Hills, CA. 
At "The Kingdom Come" premiere on April 5, 2001 in Beverly Hills, CA. 

2002

At the 74th Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA on March 24, 2002.
At the 74th Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA on March 24, 2002.

2002

At the 2002 Tree of Life Awards on March 23, 2002 in Beverly Hills, CA. 
At the 2002 Tree of Life Awards on March 23, 2002 in Beverly Hills, CA. 

2003

At "The Matrix Reloaded' premiere on May 21, 2003 in London.
At "The Matrix Reloaded' premiere on May 21, 2003 in London.

2003

At "The Matrix Reloaded" premiere in Cannes, France on May 15, 2003. 
At "The Matrix Reloaded" premiere in Cannes, France on May 15, 2003. 

2003

At "The Last Samurai" premiere in Westwood, CA on Dec. 01, 2003. 
At "The Last Samurai" premiere in Westwood, CA on Dec. 01, 2003. 

2004

At the 76th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, CA on Feb. 29. 2004. 
At the 76th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, CA on Feb. 29. 2004. 

2004

Jada Pinkett Smith during 'Collateral' Premiere - Paris at UGC Normandy in Paris, France. 
Jada Pinkett Smith during 'Collateral' Premiere - Paris at UGC Normandy in Paris, France. 

2004

At the Belvedere Vodka Host NBA After Party in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 14, 2004. 
At the Belvedere Vodka Host NBA After Party in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 14, 2004. 

2005

At the 2005 BET Awards in Hollywood, CA on June 28, 2005. 
At the 2005 BET Awards in Hollywood, CA on June 28, 2005. 

2005

At the premiere of "Madagascar" on May 15, 2005 in New York City, New York. 
At the premiere of "Madagascar" on May 15, 2005 in New York City, New York. 

2006

At the Redbooks 2006 Strength and Spirit Awards on Oct. 17, 2006 in New York City, New York. 
At the Redbooks 2006 Strength and Spirit Awards on Oct. 17, 2006 in New York City, New York. 

2006

At "The Seat Filler" premiere on Feb. 22, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA. 
At "The Seat Filler" premiere on Feb. 22, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA. 

2007

At the "I Am Legend" premiere on Dec.11, 2007 in New York City, NY. 
At the "I Am Legend" premiere on Dec.11, 2007 in New York City, NY. 

2007

At the "Pursuit Of Happyness" premiere on Jan. 8, 2007 in London, England.
At the "Pursuit Of Happyness" premiere on Jan. 8, 2007 in London, England.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.