Will Smith’s ‘Heart Shattered’ When Son Jaden Asked About Becoming an Emancipated Minor at 15

In his memoir “Will,” actor Will Smith reveals the emotional and parental challenges he’s experienced. In a poignant excerpt shared by People, Smith recounts a heart-wrenching moment that left him deeply affected as a father.

This pivotal incident concerns his son, Jaden Smith, who faced intense media backlash after their 2013 film, “After Earth,” failed commercially. Smith’s upcoming memoir promises to explore his personal life with unflinching sincerity.

“‘After Earth’ was a monumental box office and critical flop,” Smith, 53, writes. “What hurt even more was that Jaden bore the brunt of the criticism. The comments from fans and media were brutal; they said things about Jaden that I can’t even bring myself to repeat. Jaden had done everything I’d advised him to do, and yet I had inadvertently guided him into the harshest public criticism he had ever encountered.”

Will Smith sensed Jaden’s feelings of betrayal and disillusionment. “Though we never spoke about it directly, I knew Jaden felt betrayed. He felt misled and lost trust in my guidance,” Smith noted. When Jaden broached the subject of becoming an emancipated minor at 15, Smith was devastated. “At fifteen years old, when Jaden asked about being an emancipated minor, my heart shattered,” Smith writes in his memoir. “Ultimately, he chose not to go through with it, but the sense of having failed my son was profound.”

Smith’s memoir also reflects on his daughter Willow’s journey The book offers lessons Smith gleaned from guiding his daughter Willow’s career. Now 22, Willow experienced early success with her 2010 hit song “Whip My Hair.” At just 10 years old, she signed on as the opening act for Justin Bieber’s month-long tour but soon realized that touring wasn’t for her. She expressed her desire to quit after the European leg of the tour, surprising her father.

Representatives for Will and Jaden Smith have yet to comment. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith share two children: Jaden (23) and Willow (21). Smith also has a son, Trey (28), from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino.

Willow’s defiant act of rebellion left a powerful impression on Smith Smith recounts Willow’s dramatic expression of independence during the tour. Initially resistant to her requests to stop touring, he was stunned when Willow shaved her head overnight. The next morning, she appeared in the kitchen, bald, making a bold statement that left Smith in shock.

“My mind was racing — how could she perform ‘Whip My Hair’ with no hair? Who would pay to watch a bald kid whip her head around? Before I could react, however, something clicked. I had a moment of revelation, realizing the significance of her act. I looked deeply into her eyes and said, ‘I got it. I’m so sorry. I see you.’”

Future directions for the Smith family? Will and Jaden Smith have collaborated on multiple projects, including the 2006 film “The Pursuit of Happyness.” In his memoir, Will Smith offers an intimate look into his life, detailing his relationships with his children Trey (29), Jaden (23), and Willow (21).

Smith openly discusses the highs and lows of his marriages, first with Sheree Zampino, with whom he shares Trey, and then with Jada Pinkett Smith, the mother of Jaden and Willow. He promises a comprehensive and honest exploration of his experiences as both a father and a partner.