American rapper Fat Joe joked about Prince Harry during a conversation with Jada Pinkett Smith about her newly released memoir in a video posted to Instagram on Monday.
Joe, born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, is best known for his hit songs "Lean Back" and "What's Luv," and was photographed with Pinkett Smith at his New York sneaker boutique, UP NYC, on October 16.
Speaking to the Red Table Talk host, Joe told his five million Instagram followers to buy the actress' new book Worthy, which has been the subject of widespread reporting since the star began a promotional campaign in the build-up to its October 17 release, mainly centered around the revelation that in 2016 she had separated from husband Will Smith.
During their conversation, Joe, told viewers: "You gotta get the book. You Gotta get the book, that's the whole point. We want this to sell like Prince Harry...You know Prince Harry moved some s***."
This was a reference to Harry's memoir, Spare, released in January 2023, becoming the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time.
This clip was reposted to X, formerly Twitter, by freelance writer R.S. Locke, who added the caption: "Speak on it! Fat Joe knows what the fastest selling non-fiction book of all-time is. Jada's got some work to do. #Spare"
Harry's memoir brought with its publication both praise and criticism, with the royal's revelations about life behind palace walls billed as a "raw" and "unflinching" account of his life story in his own words.
Publisher Penguin Random House revealed in a press release that on January 10, 2023, (publication day) Spare sold 1.4 million copies across the U.S., U.K. and Canada, being described as a "global phenomenon."
In the Instagram video, Joe, whose own memoir, The Book of Jose, will be published in November, discussed with Pinkett Smith the ongoing reporting and rumors about her marriage, which have preceded Worthy's release.
In the book, the actress reveals that she and Smith had separated in 2016, though remained legally married. The star told Joe that, despite tabloid gossip, she and her husband are now in a "really good place," and that after the 2022 Oscars where Smith sensationally slapped comedian Chris Rock for making a joke at his wife's expense, the pair "came back to a whole place."
Also in the video, Joe discussed the persistent stories that Pinkett Smith and the late rapper, Tupac Shakur, were in a relationship before his 1996 death.
The actress told Joe and viewers to "read the book," going on to state: "It's very clear in the book. Me and 'Pac were never an item...we were never together and when people read the book they will see how deep our friendship was."
Newsweek approached representatives of Fat Joe and Prince Harry via email for comment.
Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith, published by Fourth Estate, is available to buy now for $32.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more
