Checking In: Sheree Fletcher Discusses Will Smith, Her Faith And ‘Hollywood Exes’ With C+D

Twenty years ago, Sheree Fletcher met and soon married Will Smith, but after having their son the two divorced in 1995 after three years of marriage. While Will grew into arguably the biggest movie star in the world, the single mom was forced to see what life was like without fame, fortune and the spotlight.

Now remarried to former NFL player turned pastor Terrell Fletcher, she is telling her story of love, heartbreak and self-discovery along with four other women in the VH1 reality show Hollywood Exes.

When we spoke with Sheree, she revealed that she is more than just the ex-wife of a movie star and a pastor’s wife – Sheree is a entrepreneur who is wiser and better than ever.

You married Will Smith over twenty years ago and so much has happened in that time that you are sharing on Hollywood Exes. How would you compare the Sheree in 1992 to now?

The now-Sheree is much more wise and realistic. I’m still fun-loving and generous, but I’m much more responsible with my generosity. I’m not afraid or intimidated when it comes to setting boundaries – something that the 1992 Sheree had trouble with. I’m more confident in who I am and I’m “okay” with who I am….and who I’m not.

In an VH1 interview, you described divorce being “the death of a dream.” Could you illustrate for our readers that time in your life.

The time of my life was heartbreaking and lonely one. I was really in a dark place – confused and fearful. And I didn’t have the life skills I knew I needed to make it through. The one thing that I did know was that I loved my son [Trey Smith]!

The challenge came when he got older. It was hard for me to discipline him and follow through with consequences due to the guilt I had for my son for not having his dad in the home and the “death of the dream” I had for him. I had to forgive myself. And once I did, the guilt dissipated and I was able to effectively raise my son in a well-rounded way.

What were the biggest hardships you overcame, especially separating from someone who is so high-profiled and what advice would you give to women on how to move on?

One of the biggest hardships for me was just coming to grips with my child’s life not being what I wanted it to be. I had to adjust to life as a single mom – never did I want to be that – to accept “what is” and move forward. It’s also very hard when you have to go through something so personal in the media. It makes the healing process harder….and probably longer.

Sheree Fletcher at the 2012 BET Awards – After Party

Will’s other children – Willow and Jaden – have been public figures over the last few years through acting and music, yet your son Trey has lived a somewhat quiet life finishing high school. Was it a conscience decision by you as a parent to keep him out of the spotlight and grow up without the scrutiny of the media?

I have always wanted a somewhat normal life for my son. I wanted him to be able to live life under the radar, if you will. Trey was doing some acting, modeling and co-hosting when he was younger because that is what he wanted to do. Then he decided that he was no longer interested in pursuing those activities and just wanted to focus on school and football.

And if he wanted to enter the entertainment industry, would you encourage that knowing all you do about the business?

Who better than his dad to help him understand and navigate through the business? And of course I would have been there with him as a “stage mom,” if that’s what he had decided to do. But I’m glad that he chose to postpone the pursuit of a career in the industry. He is such a balanced, compassionate, and genuine young man.

As fans have seen on the show, you are now married to former NFL player and current pastor, Terrell Fletcher. What have you learned most about marriage and how to make it work? Is there a secret!

You go in with realistic expectations and knowing that marraige is hard work that has its ups and downs. There will be times when it’s the best thing you’ve ever done and times of “what have I done?” It’s all normal and par of the course. Marriage works because you choose to make it work!

I know we’ve only a few episodes into Hollywood Exes, but you’ve been labeled as the more conservative one of all the girls. Would you agree with that label?

I just feel like I have a clear sense of what is beneficial to me and mine, and what is not. Some things, quite frankly, are just out of my system.

To go along with that question, do you believe there is a misconception about Christians and/or being a pastor’s wife that you hope to break on the show?

For sure! When you say you’re a Christian people, including some Christians, immediately want to tell you what you can and can’t do. They have designed a “box” for you and unless you get in it, in their eyes, you aren’t what or who you claim to be. The biggest misconception is that as Christians we have to do certain things and follow a certain set of rules to be right or okay with God.

This is a huge error! We can never be good enough or do enough “right” to earn what God has given freely. God is into relationship, not rule keeping! Now, you add pastor wife to that and the “box” gets smaller and the list of rules longer. Being a Christian doesn’t mean you are perfect. It just means you are committeed to the process of being perfected by and in Christ. I became a Christian because I knew that I couldn’t live the life I wanted to for my family and myself on my own power.

Sheree Fletcher – Then & Now

One of our readers wanted to know if you had any reservations about signing onto Hollywood Exes that highlights your previous marriage, even though you are now remarried.

Yes and no. Firstly, the show doesn’t really highlight my previous marriage. It just makes reference to it. It’s taking what is familiar and in our past, our exes, and making an introduction to the viewers while focusing on what is now and current.

A lot of critics have praised Hollywood Exes for portraying women, especially African American women, in a positive light. How was the experience of filming the show and would you be up for a second season?

It was challenging on some levels, but was a great deal of fun as well. I found myself in situations and conversations that I wouldn’t have been in if it were not for the show. But I’m always up for new challenges. And I really love all of the ladies. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to do this and would gladly go a second round!

In interviews you’ve mentioned your alter ego Ree Ree who might shock some fans. Will she be making an appearance on the show and in what capacity?

[laughs] Ree Ree is the reason Sheree got saved and needed Jesus for herself. Understand, Ree Ree is still very much part of Sheree. She is just kept in check and no longer runs the show. But she will pop up and say hello from time to time. Keep watching!

Lets shift and talk about your cream Whoop Ash. Very clever name! Could you tell us the story behind the name?

One day the name just dropped into my spirit. I had already chosen another name fo my body butter and was awaiting the official trademark to be issued when Whoop Ash was divinely downloaded. It’s God’s given!

Fans might be surprised to know that you came up with the recipe in your kitchen! Explain the transition between just giving it out to friends to transforming it into a successful business.

God just kept increasing my vison. It was like He was saying, “Nope this is not it. Dream bigger!” So I did.

One of the perks of Whoop Ash is that it is 99.9% natural. What are some of the other benefits?

[It's] paraben free, preservative free, petroleum free, 31% organic shea butter, highly concentrated, but not greasy, safe for the babies, known to be effective on eczema in both children and adults, great for post-chemo patients.

Everyone from Samuel L. Jackson to Chris Rock have praised your product. How does it feel to have Whoop Ash be a success and what are your goals to make the brand bigger and better?

It always feels amazingly gratifying when people love the Whoop Ash. The next step is national distribution so that we can make it more easily available and accesible to our customers.

Another one of our C+D readers asks, “A lot of celebrities create perfumes and skin care lines and I wonder if they even used their own products. Do you use Whoop Ass and how does it improve your skin?

Oh my god, yes! I don’t believe in promoting anything that I’m not loving or passionate about. For me it’s about integrity and I would never recommend using something that I didn’t use myself. I’ve used Whoop Ash for over six years and it’s only been on the market only three and my skin is literally baby soft!

Finally, how would you describe each of the ladies from Hollywood Exes in one word!

Nicole Murphy - Elegant

Jessica Canseco - Uninhibited

Mayte Garcia - Loving

Andrea Kelly - Comedic

Check out a sneak peek on tonight’s episode of Hollywood Exes:

 

| post by Brittney | bbcott