Jada Pinkett Smith records Red Table Talk out of her own home with her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and her daughter, Willow. The setting is personal and so is her motivation. She gathered her family around the red table in their home and invited over seven million Facebook followers to join in the conversation.
Jada Pinkett Smith did not create Red Table Talk as just a business endeavor, her true motivation was to bring healing and bonding to her own family. In a Forbes article, she explained her goal "to create conversations between my mother and my daughter because even though we were close, we didn't really know each other."
Pinkett Smith was able to talk to her own mother and daughter about superficial topics, but she needed a way to dig beneath the surface. Now that the three women have strengthened their bond, they are able to be a source of healing for fans and celebrities alike.
What makes Red Table Talk unique? Pinkett Smith uses the perspectives of different generations to tackle current issues. Jada's baby-boomer mother, who most refer to as Gammy, and her Gen Z daughter, Willow, are the co-hosts. The women have discussed issues from family to love and relationships to addiction. The format is also unique. The show is produced by Westbrook Studios, the production company that Jada runs with her husband, but it is steamed via Facebook Watch. Red Table Talk may be family-oriented, but the show is not without controversy.
Some critics claim that the talk show allows celebrities to speak too freely. BuzzFeed News identified three episodes featuring Jordyn Woods and rappers T.I. and Snoop Dogg that attracted a lot of media attention.
Pinkett Smith is criticized for creating "a place where black public figures can voice their opinions without fear of retaliation from, say, a seasoned journalist who’d likely ask tougher questions."
Was Pinkett Smith revealing both sides of the story, or should she have held her guests to greater accountability? Red Table Talk describes itself as "3 generations, 1 table, no filter" so perhaps providing fellow celebrities with an avenue to speak freely is part of the family dynamic.
The authenticity of a family gathering around the table to have a meaningful conversation is also good for business.
