Simone Smith knows that being married to a hip-hop legend and Hollywood heartthrob isn’t for the weak. As the wife of LL Cool J, she’s learned to embrace the attention he gets, but not the disrespect. During a recent appearance on the Banking on Cultura podcast, she reflected on their nearly 30-year marriage and how she’s handled being with a man so many women admire.
“It has its challenges, of course,” Smith admitted. “’Cause you can’t go nowhere without somebody wanting a picture or an autograph… everybody wants a picture now.” Despite the constant fanfare, she and LL, whom she calls Todd, have built a strong foundation. “I’m the homemaker. I’m home raising the kids while he was out doing his thing, working, and supporting each other’s dreams.”
Early on, however, she struggled with insecurities over his female fans. “I’m married to a sex symbol,” she said. “When we first got together, I had my times where I’d be going off, mad at this one ’cause they looked at him this way, but that was years ago.”
Her mindset changed after LL’s cousin gifted her The Power of a Praying Wife. At first, she resisted its message. “When I first started reading the book, I remember I put the book down,” she joked, realizing that true change had to come from within.
Now, she’s at peace with it, as long as there’s respect. “The disrespect—I can’t deal with,” she said. “At 54, I’m ready to take off the hoops.” Still, she stands firm in her confidence. “It’s about knowing who you are, and I know who Simone is.”
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