Is Will Smith Exploiting His Kids?

Some think so—but Willow, Jaden seem to be having fun
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 20, 2010 10:51 AM CDT
Willow and Jaden Smith: Are Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Exploiting Them?
Will Smith, wife Jada, and children Willow and Jaden pose prior to the Germany premiere of the Film "Karate Kid" in Berlin Monday, July 19, 2010.   (AP Photo/Berthold Stadler)

At just nine years old, Willow Smith released her debut single—“an insistent, earwormy ode to the whipping of one's hair”—and will likely continue to act, too. Her 12-year-old brother, Jaden, also raps and acts. And, oh, they’ve both served as goodwill ambassadors to Zambia. It’s easy to be jealous of the progeny of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith—but, writes Mary Elizabeth Williams on Salon, “I, for one, welcome our new Smith family overlords.”

“There's an uneasy assumption that famous children must be mini-divas with pushy parents,” and “maybe the entire Smith clan are truly awful human beings, attention-seeking arrogant narcissists. Or maybe they're nice people who are encouraging their kids to do what makes them happy,” she writes. “More than just being little progenies, the Smith children combine their beyond-their-years giftedness with a truly kid-like apparent pleasure in what they do.” For more—or to see Willow’s “Whip My Hair” video—click here.
(More Willow Smith stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X