Gossipmongers are speculating that LL Cool J and Simone Johnson-Smith’s marriage is on the rocks (again).
LL Cool J and Simone attended the star-studded opening night of “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” on Broadway at Barrymore Theatre in New York. Fans noticed awkwardness between LL and Simone as they walked the red carpet.
Fans noticed LL didn’t appear to acknowledge his wife on the red carpet.
A rare date night in NYC ?
LL Cool J and his wife Simone Smith stepped out on the red carpet at the Broadway opening of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and all eyes were on them… Opening night energy ????? pic.twitter.com/lyoAUdvYuI
— New York Mickey (@MickmickNYC) April 26, 2026
LL married his high school sweetheart, Simone, in 1995. They share 4 adult children. Simone remained loyal to her husband even when he cheated on her with Quincy Jones’ daughter Kidada Jones for 2 years.
In an interview last year, Simone said she had to change herself to make the marriage work.
“You’ve gotta have God first,” she said. “Growing up, I’ve had my times when I would be going off and mad at this one because they looked at him this way. You know, but that was years ago.”
Simone said she found inspiration in a book titled “The Power of a Praying Wife.”
She said women have a tendency to ask God to change their men. But the book taught her to change herself.
“You can’t change nobody. You can have standards and you can have boundaries and all of that, but you can’t change anybody. You can change yourself and that’s what I did, I changed myself.”
(L-R) Tyler Perry, Kandi Burruss and Brian Moreland attended opening night of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway.
Kandi Burruss’s daughter Riley Burruss and her boyfriend attended the opening. Riley confirmed their romance during her July 2025 appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.” But she won’t reveal his identity.
Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris attended opening night of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway at Barrymore Theatre in New York.
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good attended opening night of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway at Barrymore Theatre in New York. April 25, 2026.
Taraji P. Henson and Cedric The Entertainer attended opening night of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway.
Actress Eva Marcille attended opening night of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway.
Bevy Smith attended opening night of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway.
Click any image to see more photos from the opening.