Jaden Smith covers the new issue of Nylon. At first I thought it was just a magazine cover to promote nothing, or some fashion endeavor, but Jaden has a part in a new Netflix series, The Get Down, and that’s what he’s promoting. The Get Down was created by Baz Luhrmann, and it’s set in the late 1970s during the birth of hip-hop. Which is fine. But this Nylon interview is, predictably, crazy. I largely given the Smith kids a pass because of their age and because I don’t think their parents bothered educating them in any way. While Jaden says crazy sh-t regularly, he actually does seem like a sweet, well-meaning kid. His current cause/issue is the blurring of gender norms, specifically in fashion. Which makes sense because he’s the current face of Louis Vuitton womenswear. Anyway, you can read the crazy Nylon piece here (it includes lengthy comments from Jaden’s friends and coworkers about how sweet but weird he is) and here are some highlights:
His lifestyle/clothing brand MSFTSrep: It’s a collection of T-shirts featuring eye drawings or Martin Luther artwork and French terry straps, tie-dye socks, and joggers, with which he wants to “inspire and change the way people think about clothing and about life.”
What advice he gives to kids struggling with self-esteem/bullying: “You just have to believe in yourself, you know… The world is going to keep bashing me for whatever I do, and I’m going to keep not caring. I’m going to keep doing the same things—I’m going to keep doing more things. I’m going to take most of the blows for my fellow MSFTS. So, you know, in five years when a kid goes to school wearing a skirt, he won’t get beat up and kids won’t get mad at him. It just doesn’t matter. I’m taking the brunt of it so that later on, my kids and the next generations of kids will all think that certain things are normal that weren’t expected before my time.”
Modeling LV womenswear: “It was lit because we all knew that we were going to impact the culture and change the game and make a difference.”
People in the 1970s had to seek out what they loved: “They were more dedicated to learning and I feel like that is not something that we necessarily have right now. People would go to record stores and actually buy the records they wanted. They would go to bookstores and read up on Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Gandhi, and all these different people. And now we just have the internet to do everything for us.”
The greatest lesson: “The greatest lesson I’ve learned from my parents is to be myself, at all costs, no matter what anybody thinks.”
This interview actually inspired me to look at Jaden’s MSFTSrepublic site – you can see the clothes here. The clothes look slightly better-quality than, say, Kanye West’s clothes. And I could absolutely see Jaden and Willow wearing all of it. But anyone other than Willow and Jaden? Eh.
Also: I love the romanticism of kids today. Yes, the 1970s were such a special time! People actually went to bookstores and record stores! Don’t get me wrong, I actually have a romanticism for those kinds of days too, only I can remember them because that’s how I grew up, going to record stores and bookstores in the pre-Amazon days. I do think that the kids growing up in the Internet/social media age really don’t understand how people managed to survive without instant access to every single thing. I was watching a movie from the ‘80s recently and I was struck by all of the phone booths everywhere. And how people used to smoke everywhere.
Photos courtesy of Nylon.
His comment is so ridiculous: “They were more dedicated to learning and I feel like that is not something that we necessarily have right now.” he has every bit of help and income at his disposal to learn and be educated yet he chooses to do……well whatever he does…kind of hypocritical to judge when you fall into the same category Jaden
Yep, agreed.
Exactly.
And there are millions of people dedicated to learning. He just doesn’t know them because he hangs out with the Kardashians.
Yeah that comment was rich. So says the child who doesn’t even hold a high school diploma. He’s lucky to have famous parents. If he was a regular Joe in that same situation, he’d be flipping burgers at McD’s right now.
On the other hand I do have fond memories of browsing through book and record stores. Internet is fine but there’s nothing like actually touching a book or cd!
I do have to say doing research for a paper is so much easier now. Yes my kids jump on the internet and google it. I used to stay in the library for hours trying to look for things! They used to make you learn the dewey decimal system and the card catalog. Now kids just do a search on the library database.
I think his heart is in the right place, but he’s lives so far in the hollywood bubble that he doesn’t understand how the real world works. He wants to be a pioneer, which is great, but he’s not doing much about it, yet thinks he is. It’s frustrating because he has the resources and obvious desires to make a change, but only has yes people telling him he’s making a difference when he’s not.
He thinks everything he does is new and interesting and that he pioneered it. Poor baby doesn’t realise everybody has this phase as they progress to adulthood.
This
Also, I want to cut him slack because he’s a kid, but, his head is so far up his ass……
Hee. I like him. I know he’s full of himself and has no clue how much his parents are shielding him from (I just don’t see a lot of boys wearing skirts in five years), but he’s entertaining. “Sweet but weird” is my kind of people.
I like him too. He has chosen a very rough road with this gender non conformity. He may be shielded from money issues and his fathers name opens up opportunities but he isnt shielded from the backlash. He wants to wear a dress and still date girls, so he does. Very publicly. Whether his detractors admit it or not, this boy has a lot of courage. I also thank god he is not another cold oatmeal Hollywood kid. I can live with the crazy as long as he keeps bringing the brave.
I truly think he means well. If he seems out of touch that’s on his parents. I’m curious to see what type of person he grows up to be. I hope – considering his enormous resources – that he will figure out how to follow through on those intentions.
I agree @Insomniac. He’s just a kid, and most parents try to shelter their kids. I can remember things I said in my all-knowing youth that I cringe about now. He seems like a sweet kid.
I saw a man wearing a kilt today. It’s hot & he was all that. My thought was I bet he is feeling nice & comfortable. I rather enjoy seeing men in skirts. Better than overly tight skinny jeans or spandex or too tight, too tight shorts.
this kid is so PRETTY, like actual Pretty!
IDC IDC IDC I don’t care about his kooky quotes No More if we let Miley and Shailene cook with whatever ridiculousness they say we are letting this one cook too #CarefreeBlackKids2016
Ur so brilliant!
Lol gtfo look at his wonky eye on the cover
Yep. Cute but empty-headed just like all the other celebrity spawn, because they care too much about public opinion to stay out of the spotlight and behind books or in school (to actually learn), despite their claims to the contrary.
WORD UP.
The Smith Kids are fashion.
“No More if we let Miley and Shailene cook with whatever ridiculousness they say we are letting this one cook too”
Oh absolutely, I’m all about equality…. And by equality I mean I equally dislike and roll my eyes at the empty-headed, self-important, immature nonsense of all of them. 😉
Mia4s I’m with you! Can’t stand either of Will & Jada’s spawn who such special snowflakes in their own minds. And pretty much same goes for Miley & Shailene.
I was just thinking about the same thing – he really is an amazingly good looking kid. He does look sweet. Dreamy eyed stoner look to him and undereducated, but he seems kind. And he said such a nice thing once about Kylie Jenner when she changed her body and face in Kardashian fashion – he seemed a bit wistful that such a pretty girl was changed, basically. That’s the kind of friend to have, who likes you the way you are, no surgery required.
I wonder if he realizes that libraries still exist, so he could get the 1970s experience first hand if he wanted? Rumor has it that there are also still bookstores. Amazon also sells old fashioned non-electronic books, new and used.
It’s really too bad that he didn’t have the chance to go to a good school with small unstructured classes that would let him fly free while gaining the background and skills he needs to do whatever he wants. He seems to have a thirst for learning but just spins his wheels for lack of the basic skills.
I’m in my early fifties and grew up in the 70s, and regularly went to record and book stores. But we weren’t more “dedicated” to learning, it’s just the way it was if you wanted new music or books — there were no other choices.
It’s like planning a trip now — in the 70s, 80s and even part of the 90s if you wanted to travel, you used guide books and other reference materials to figure it out. It took time, but it also was part of the adventure. I find it hilarious that kids are all about everything from the 70s and 80s now (especially the 80s!).
Honestly. He is equating the entire process of learning with having to go to a brick and mortar for said intellectual stimulants (insert eye roll here).
Right there with you. My 12 year old thinks the 80s must have been the coolest time ever. I just laugh.
I must be “incredibly dedicated to fashion” because I actually went to the mall to buy an article of clothing last week. LOL
It wasn’t just the 70’s for record stores… what about the 90’s…
And the thing is, there are record and bookstores now – cool, new/used ones that stay open late and even have live music/signing’s/etc…assuming he is in LA (of course, they got them in other cities)…and has access to them… so why not use them?!!! I did/and do in my new city, and it’s 2016.
Glad I took my much younger little bro to this stuff starting in his childhood, now that I think about it.
It’s simply a matter of being the type to seek it out, or not.
Hey, I remember the 1950s and early 1960s – we would go to record stores and get single songs on 45 rpm vinyl records a little bigger than a cd/DVD today. The flip side was usually some weird unknown thing like the creepy Rubber Dolly. I remember once my mother took us all over town to locate Purple People Eater. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini was another daring must-have of my extreme youth. The record stores had booths you could go into to listen to the records before you bought them.
I don’t quite see how people find him harmless and cute yet rip Kylie Jenner to shreds.
As far as I know they’re both vapid, not the brightest, and very much Hollywood kids.
Jaden promotes dissolution of gender norms/tolerance and being yourself. While he does say some kooky things I think he’s coming from a place of goodwill, and genuinely wants people to feel happy. He hasn’t been involved in any scandals or huge mishaps that I’ve heard of either. (His girlfriend is very sketchy tho, so it’s probably just a matter of time.) While he is pretty uneducated/into Scientology I don’t see him encouraging others to do the same beyond vague quotes that every celebrity his age says.
Kylie promotes her family, herself, and her wallet. Many of the things she does are self-serving, and doesn’t really offer any value to her fans/the public beyond superficiality. (With the exception of her bullying initiative.) She also built herself a brand new body, got involved with a grown man underage/Blac Chyna feud, the whole lip fillers thing, multiple cultural appropriation issues, etc. I can see how someone might criticize one more than the other.
Neither he nor Kylie are cute, and I actually think both of them can be quite harmful. (Edit: When I say neither are cute, I don’t meant physically…I mean their entitled and vapid comments are the furthest thing from cute.)
I would/could say more about this (esp about Kylie) but Lynnie already said it so beautifully. Girl, you took the words right out of my mouth!
Haha thanks 😊
Kylie doesn’t seem very nice, while Jaden seems sweet and more genuine. I think that’s the difference. He actually comes across as much younger than his years while she looks old.
The Smith’s children seem so jaded and bored with life. Sad.
Yup, Jada has a jaded kid named Jaden. Only in Hollywood!
Another clueless rich kid.
I think he’s a terrible model. Kardashian level mouth-gaping. I don’t hate what he said, because he’s still a kid after all, he’s going to say stupid stuff. Often!
Can he even stand upright? He always looks likes he’s in the slow process of slumping into a diabetic coma.
I can’t get mad- I remember being ridiculous at his age
Same here.
This is ridiculous. His parents owe it to him to keep him from sounding like an idiot while he’s under age. No child still growing and maturing should be given this kind of access to lots of people. He is going to be so embarrassed by this in 10-15 years.
Meh. He’s 18. He’s free to be as much of an idiot as he’d like, I suppose.
“The Art of Being Jaden” Big fat eye roll to that magazine header and everything else about this obnoxious kid.
Yeah, you had to go to record stores and book stores cause there was no Internet. There was literally no other way to get books or music unless you subscribed to Columbia House or something. And the selection at some of those stores — like where I lived in the Midwest — were usually piss-poor. The 70s weren’t all that great, kid.
Every time he opens his mouth he sounds incredibly stupid.
I think all in all he’s a good kid. But he definitely thinks he has more power than he actually does. He alone is not going to be able to change the way people think about fashion. He alone isn’t going to stop boys from being bullied for wearing skirts to school. We need to do a lot more than have Jaden wear a skirt for people’s mindsets to change. But all in all, I find this kind impressive especially for the generation he belongs to. I see no harm here. I’ll take his attitude over those that are anti-gay/racist/prejudice any day.
I clicked on this headline thinking, “what is this ridiculous, spoilt little Hollywood monster going to say now?” and was surprised at how interesting and fresh he sounded… how he wasn’t drawn to the 70’s by retro imagery or music or fashion, but by the notion of having to make an effort to follow your interests and passions.
And I wonder if those who find his observations so mere, are truly remembering what the process of research was like beyond going to the library to check out a couple of books on the civil war or the cretaceous period or the migration patterns of honey bees for a 1000 word essay due Monday.
I was doing research for a tv magazine program in the 80’s and it could be pretty heavy lifting to find compelling, original material, contacts and leads for stories, so the only way to do it well was to get interested and get in deep.
He’s right. Back then if you were truly interested in something (some place, some idea, someone) you had to be dedicated to learning about it if you wanted to go further than simply skimming the first three texts you found in the card file.
That this goofy little fashion sprite who seems to speak mostly in blank verse sprinkled with sparkles and patchouli finds not just ideas interesting but the deliberate, time-consuming process of discovery an engaging and illuminating experience (plus his interest in making it easier for future boys interested in wearing skirts to wear ’em) has caused my cynical mind to check my automatic eye roll. I’m interested. My mind has cracked open an inch. I’ll listen more closely next time.
^^ Beautifully put whirldly.
He’s a really pretty kid,
I actually have to agree with him about the decline in learning and the willful diminishment of intelligence in this country. Being smart and well educated is not valued anymore, and a growing majority of people (and politicians) in the country refer to college-educated people as “elites.” There seems to a pride in being ignorant now that didn’t exist in the 70s. Now, if you use multi-syllable words people ridicule you and call you a snob.
All the other weird shit he says, I don’t know. But on this point, he’s correct.
I was in grade school and high school from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, and learned to hide any brain cells I had. Kids in school were pretty anti-intellectual. But on the other hand we didn’t have happy talk newscasters, and tv shows and politicians weren’t afraid of using big words.
Just wait for like another 3yrs and he will surely get followers,omg this are the times
He seems like a thoughtful kid, but like many his age, given to overgeneralizations. Yes, people were exploring different world views in the 1960s and 1970s. Espousing love and an enlightened mind set. Unless it came to our American soldiers in Vietnam. There was very little love and humankindness given to them by the enlightened American public. But that was a long time and easily forgotten. Unless it was your experience, of course.