Sheree Zampino at the ex Will Smith Oscars and being at RHOBH

Now that she’s in “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Sheree Zampino admits that being an ex-Hollywood – her first husband is actor Will Smith – is easier than being famous.

Appearing as a “friend” on the now-airing “RHOBH”, the 54-year-old came under intense scrutiny. Throughout season 12, she had laughed with her best longtime cast member Garcelle Beauvais, who threw Zampino’s name into the mix as producers wanted to add a fresh face to the show.

In her first season of “RHOBH”, Sheree felt very comfortable in the friend zone.

“Being a friend, I literally dip my toe down the deep end,” said Page Six. “It’s sweet now. Tell me where the party is and I’ll show up and have a good time.

But there was a drama – “Real Housewives” after all.

Like when Garcelle revealed to the camera that she had dated Smith in the past, which was new to Zampino.

“It was funny when she told me,” Sheree said. – See, she thinks she’s smart. She told me in front of the camera. I thought, “Okay, that’s what we do.” But it’s totally fine. It was after Will and I got divorced, and that’s the way it is. Garcelle and I haven’t known each other yet.

While this discovery did not surprise her, she has also received negative attention and malicious comments on social media since appearing on “RHOBH”. This led to an “a-ha” moment that made her realize the harassment Smith had endured over the years and
sacrifices he has made for his career and family.

“Will has been performing since he was 16,” she said. “And he does it with great love, grace and joy. He is always available to his fans. They want to take a picture; takes a picture. Signs autographs. He makes contact. He loves people. He never complains.

She remembers the disturbing moment they were dating in the early ’90s and how calm her rapper remained despite being hit by pennies while performing with DJ Jazzy Jeff at the show.

“The pennies hit him on the head and chest, and he didn’t waste a moment,” remembers Zampino. “I was so hot backstage but he never mentioned it. So I saw him take the blows literally. He never complains. I ride with him. I ride with him! I would have dropped off a long time ago.

When Smith finally exploded, it was of course in the most public forum imaginable: at the Oscars in March, the nominee for Best Actor – and eventual winner of the night for “King Richard” – attacked the stage and hit Chris Rock after the comedian did rude
a joke about Smith’s wife Jadie Pinkett Smith and her bald gaze. (The actress suffers from alopecia that Rock claims did not know.)

“It was a bit surreal,” said Zampino of the cheeks she saw on TV watching a party with Smith’s extended family. “At first I thought it was a sketch, but when I realized it was true, I thought,” I’m not even going to do it because it’s his night. “

“When he came, we supported and loved him. The whole situation was unfamiliar to me because Will is always in control and is always gracious. You really don’t see him getting nervous so often.

He thinks maybe it’s time for the world to move on. “He apologized and took responsibility for it,” added Zampino. “I don’t know what happened right now. I wouldn’t ask. If that’s something he wants to share, then maybe. But he has a family that loves him, rides for him and supports him. He was allowed to be human.

The two met in 1991 while recording the NBC show “A Different World.” Zampino was there to support one of the show’s writers, comedian Orlando Jones, whom she was seeing at the time.

She sat down next to Smith and they started chatting while he told jokes and made her laugh.

“He was a Fresh Prince!” She reminded herself. “Show [‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’] was in his first season. I’ve never been surprised. That’s one thing that has never excited me.

“But two days later my phone rang – my landline!” It was Smith. They became friends on the phone and began dating the following year, and were soon married. Their son, Willard Carroll “Trey” Smith III, was born in November 1992.

Although the marriage did not survive, their commitment to raising Trey, who is now 29, has harmoniously endured.

“When Will and I decided to go our separate ways, we moved on to Trey,” said Zampino. “What do we have to do to make sure he feels safe, loved and safe?”

Fortunately, Sheree had a great role model, her mother. Her parents were an interracial couple (African Americans and Italians) and despite having two children, they never got married. Years later, her father, a taekwon-do master in Schenectady, New York, married another woman and had a son whom Sheree’s mother welcomed into the family.

“My mother never took herself out on Richard, my stepbrother,” said Zampino. “She loved him because she understood what it was like when her children were thrown aside and pushed aside. And she would never do it to another child.

This philosophy guided Zampino through her own shared parenting adventure with Smith, including his first introduction to Trey Jawa.

“When Trey got home, I said, ‘You’ve met Miss Jawa. Did you like her? He said, “Mommy, I really liked her.” And isn’t that what you want? she remembered. “For example, if he came home and said,” I didn’t like her mom, she was mean to me, “it would break my heart.

“We are family,” she added about Jadie and Will. The group is famous for joint celebrations of holidays and milestones. Sheree was there even when their son Jaden, now 24, came home from the hospital as a child.

“This kid was just the cutest little thing. I loved it and still love it. Willow too, ”she added about Smith and Jada’s 21-year-old daughter.

Often, Jada was Sheree’s biggest cheerleader, including her on Facebook Watch “Red Table Talk” and encouraging her to be a beauty entrepreneur.

Zampino created artisanal body butter, which she first “boiled” in her gumbo jug and gave her a jar of Jada, who told her it was real business and encouraged her to rent a lab to produce and sell a skincare product.

Whoop Ash started in 2007. But in 2015, after divorcing her second husband, retired NFL star and City of Hope International Church pastor Terrell Fletcher, Zampino allowed the brand to disappear.

“I lost faith in myself as a businesswoman,” she admitted.

In 2020, the pandemic was an opportunity to rebuild her confidence and restart Whoop Ash, as well as open an online boutique called Sheree Elizabeth.

“All distractions have been removed,” she said. “It was a time of healing, tremendous growth and transformation. It was a reboot and I went back to basics. “

During the blockade, Zampino also had “Covid bae” but is currently single.

“At this point in the game, I really know what I deserve,” she said. “If you don’t come correctly, if you don’t come with intention, dignity and honor, then I’m not interested. I am the prize. If you think you are the prize, that’s the problem.

And she hopes “RHOBH” will understand that as well – and make her a full-fledged cast member next season.

“I want that diamond,” she said. “Yes.”

Director of photography, John Chapple for the NY Post; Stylist: Agencja Star Burleigh / Celestine; Stylist Assistant: Ali Gambino; Hair: Sherwin Cat; Make-up Julie Jules; Location: Hotel MondrianWest Hollywood.