Jada Pinkett Smith Halted Filming So Tommy Davidson Could Talk To His Birth Mother

BY Erika Marie 79.3K Views
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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Jada Pinkett Smith, Tommy Davidson
He was found abandoned in the trash at 18-months-old.

In the film world, issues occurring in an actor's real life aren't as important as completing a project. Yet, there are rare moments when the real world trumps the made-up stories being played out in front of the camera, and that's what happened with Tommy Davidson. Back in 1998, Tommy and Jada Pinkett Smith starred in the romantic comedy Woo, and while filming the movie, Tommy received news that changed his life.

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The two former co-stars reunited on Red Table Talk and reminisced about the time Jada placed Tommy's personal life before the film. "[The] first time that we worked together — and I really got to know you on the set of Woo — I came out for a scene and you looked at me and you said, 'Something’s wrong with you,'" Tommy said. "I was like, 'What you talking about? Let’s just get to work.'"

However, Jada wasn't just going to let the actor dismiss her concerns and finally he buckled. "I said, 'My mother contacted my real mother and she was on the phone. I got a chance to talk to her but I don’t want to deal with that,'" the In Living Color icon shared. "[Jada] said, 'Oh really? OK, hold up...That’s a wrap!'" Tommy was just a year-and-a-half-old when his birth mother abandoned him in the trash in Mississippi. The woman who rescued him would later become his adoptive mother.

Being able to take that phone call "led from our conversation to finally meeting my real mom," Tommy revealed. Watch a clip of his episode, which airs on Monday, below. He does quite the impression of Jada, as well.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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