Soon I’m going to need a Smith-siblings intervention. I’ve really come around on Willow and Jaden Smith. While they are problematic (they regularly spout Scientology-related ideas), they are also undeserving of a lot of the hate they get. They are talented as models, and Jaden might even be a decent actor. Who knows? All I know is that Willow and Jaden’s Interview Magazine editorial made me happy – you can see the Steven Klein photos here, as well as the full interview conducted by Pharrell Williams. The editorial is, hands down, one of the best from both Smith kids. The interview? Well… I mean, they’re still Willow and Jaden. They’re still a little bit weird.
Willow on her thoughts: “This morning actually was pretty intense because I was thinking about the world and my place in the world, things that I have made or want to make. I was thinking about all the things that I could do that I don’t do. But, you know, I was just thinking about the world and everything.”
Willow on the importance of social media: “I know so many kids who literally are, like, Instagram-famous. They have done nothing but post pictures on Instagram. And they have followings. People love to see them in person, but it’s only because they post on their Instagram. It’s literally crazy. Kids will paint a picture of themselves that is so far beyond who they actually are. It’s like they’re wearing someone else’s skin…. And then there’s people, like me and Jaden, who want to utilize social media to elevate the consciousness of those people who feel like all they want from social media is to be famous. Like, you can actually be a voice. You can actually say something that’s inspiring and not just make people feel like you need to buy things and be a certain way.”
Jaden on role models: “I 100 percent agree with Willow on that one. My parents are definitely my biggest role models. And that’s where me and Willow both pull all of our inspiration from to change the world. It all comes from a concept of affecting the world in a positive way and leaving it better than it was than when we came. I feel like that enters into all types of different areas because there are so many different outlets that life has to offer for us. That goes into technology, into music. That goes into science, into spirituality, into education. Where me and Willow come from, a lot of it is trying to make society more efficient, so that kids don’t cry, like, “Why do I have to go to school?” Instead, kids are like, “Yeah! I’m so glad to go to school! I’m a better person than I was yesterday, and I can help people.”
Willow on the sibling dynamic: “Yeah. It’s crazy, the sibling dynamic. I could’ve spent my entire childhood like, “I have to love this person.” And it becomes a chore. But our parents were never like, “You have to love them.” It was more like, “You have your life. He has his life. And when you guys want to come together, when you guys want to commune, that’s up to you.” And throughout us realizing ourselves and realizing each other, we just opened our eyes and were like, “Damn, you are the yin to my yang.” Not a lot of siblings have that opportunity, because they’re always being pushed together so much. They need their time apart in order to realize themselves and realize who they are.
There are so many more quotes, but if I delve too deeply into the Smith world, I get a headache. It’s better for me to just breeze over their actual thoughts. I mean, I do believe these kids are Scientologists (or CoS-lite), but I also believe they’re just teenagers with media exposure. In many ways, they’re just typical teenagers in that they think they know everything and no one understands their depth or genius or whatever. In any case, pretty pictures.
Photos courtesy of Steven Klein/Interview.
They are strikingly beautiful and seem like good kids. They are very refreshing. Honk for Jaden and Willow!
Completely agree. They are gorgeous! Honk!!!
Honk, honk. They are both very beautiful. All the best of both parents.
HONK HONK HOOONNKK , Sorry, even Jaden grows on me, that Band willow mentioned in the interview?? I read this last night and actually played it to sleep, FANTASTIC music, that girl innately has good taste….I also Love the lack of ego in Jaden to say my little sister is better than me at everything LOL
Also Megan to agree with you i’ve always found them both to be such perfect combination of their parents, I see both Will and Jada on both of them like a perfect blend (sorta like the way their names are good inversions of their parents names??)
#CarefreeBlackKids
Seriously? I mean they are good looking and seem artsy and everything, but they say such dumb things! “I think about the world!”. Wow, no teenager is actually thinking about their meaning in the world.
I won’t deny that they are talented in a way or interesting, but they seem like they don’t have a clue what goes on in the world. Maybe it’s just that other teenagers don’t get interviewed, but I can’t help it, their answers make me cringe.
@QQ I think Will and Jada are both beautiful, but put them together, and it goes to a completely new level. I suspect they are going to get even better as they age. Their parents certainly have.
Honk!
Sick of all the hate directed at a couple of teenagers whose worst possible offense is sharing a few cookie ideas. Go pick on people who actually deserve that vitriol.
Agreed. Their ideas seem hippie-ish to me but they mean well and at least they’re interested in something other than Snapchat and plastic surgery *cough*Kylie Jenner*cough*. If you have to be nasty about someone go on the Chris Brown posts.
HONK! HONK. These kids are just trying to discover themselves and their place in the world. I know people rag on ’em cause nepotism blah, blah but who are they hurting?
Also I consider them both to be excellent models, Willow in particular.
agreed! they are just kids. if we cracked open our own 10th grade journals could we tell them apart from this interview? no way. they seem genuinely curious about the world – which is pretty cool.
i don’t love the COS connection but that is on their parents – not them.
i get nepotism is a thing for these two but i would say either could be professional models w/out famous parents. look at them!
I agree, they could be models without the prestigious parentage. Willow especially has IT. She is Naomi Campbell level striking. Whatever she chooses to do I’m sure she have a tremendous career in her future. And so do Jaden. That reminds me I must watch The Get Down asap.
I reserve the right to be annoyed by anyone I wish. I am just sick of the entitlement of celebrity children in general. Have been for years. It did not used to be an automatic ticket to the top of the heap (beyond the usual trust fund, which I would give to my own child if I had one to give). But now it seems if you have been swimming in the gene pool of someone famous, your place in the pantheon of young celebrities is assured. It is like some new aristocracy we have helped create.
But yes. They are pretty children, no more obnoxious at the end of the day than any teenager including my own.
ITA, and I find them both striking to look at. Jaden especially.
At the end of the day the COS and the weirdness factor is on fleek but never seem to read any bad press about them.
I don’t know though- what exactly have Will or Jada done to change the world though.?? Have they been good performers/actors? Sure. Role models to their kids? Obv. Good parents, seem to be all that other crap aside. World Altering, I don’t know if that is over stated, but seems like it a bit.
I really like both of them. Honkety.
They’re both just so gorgeous. Can’t really get behind the pretentious Xenu speak though. Great models. Truly beautiful kids.
I think he is a very handsome young man, and she is an attractive young lady, but she has that same vacant/dead behind the eyes expression as her mother, which does not help.
They are very, very beautiful but look like a couple of replicants in these photos.
They are really stunning kids! Like Bennetton models!!! Love their look.
She has lovely eyes.
I’m full on support for these cute weirdos. They seem sweet, and actually want to make a positive change in the world.That’s so much rarer than the desire to be famous, wealthy, popular. I hope age takes away the CoS, but that seems unlikely.
They are weird and kind of wonderful and stupidly beautiful, the both of them.
“That’s so much rarer than the desire to be famous, wealthy, popular.”
Well, they are already famous, wealthy and popular…
Would everyone like them and call them nice kids and is so forgiving when they Talk nonsense if they were not pretty and Children of popular people?
Yup, they’ve got money and connections and the silver spoon already in their mouths.
And despite that they are still talking about others, and speaking about giving back to people and the community. Even if that community is instagram or snapchat. Most people with money want more, with celebrity want more.
In comparison to the current celebspawn they are awesome.
I’m a fan of weirdos regardless of their background, so I might not see them if they didn’t have the exposure, but I support the kids in my area who are like this too. I’m pretty forgiving of a lot of nonsense, especially from kids. If they say something offensive, hurtful or bigoted I’ll be all over them, but the random philosophical meanderings? It’s all good. Dream on you crazy kids.
Willow has such stunning eyes and Jaden looks so much like his dad!
I’m here for weird and wonderful. And they’re both better models than any of the rest of their famous kid peers.
^^^ THIS
It’s adorable that brother and sister adore each other so much.
But also, they give me the creeps and wouldn’t want to be alone in a room with them.
Same here! They give me a minor case of the creeps and I can’t quite put my finger on why. The pictures are gorgeous, though, and I suppose I have to give them credit for actually sounding like they have thoughts other than “what Instagram filter should I use?” 😛
Ephebiphobia (fear of teenagers) is an increasingly common phobia. Could it be that?
uhm no. It just makes me uncomfortable because they look in love with each other, almost incestuous.
My brothers and I were despising each other most of the time during our childhood. That is a healthy brother-sister relationship not being so close to each other without feeling the urge to puke!!
LOL
@paolanqar – wait, so let me get this straight, the only kind of ‘healthy’ brother-sister relationship for teenage siblings is despising each other?
WTF.
Paolamanqar
In your OP you said you wouldn’t want to be in the same room with them. Are you sure you have made your way to the bottom of your motives sack?
They are cute & I love that they’re so close. Every time they speak, I giggle.
I like them for saying that you can do more with social media than trying to sell things to people or you have to be/look a certain way.
I still find myself in wonderment that Will and Jada named their kids the opposite sex version of their own names. That always seemed so peculiar, and narcissistic, to me.
The kids are all right, I agree with what someone else said; they are vested in making some sort of change for the world. Now they just have to find a way to do it instead of wax poetically about it.
“I still find myself in wonderment that Will and Jada named their kids the opposite sex version of their own names”. –
Oh wow, so true. I never even clicked on that!
I will add that Willow was always pretty, while Jaden used to look like he had being hit in the face with a frying pan (his demeanour didn’t help).
But he is actually growing to be a really, really, handsome young guy.
Trey used to be the cutest Smith kid IMO, but Jaden will end up being the damn swan!!
I don’t know…is it any more narcissistic than people who name their kid William VI or Thomas, Jr? Some families have a traditional name that’s passed down to each generation. I admit that style is NOT for me, but I’m not sure I would call it narcissistic either, just uninspired.
At least they changed their names and made them slightly more interesting, you know?
I still don’t think this kind of attention is really good for them. They’re beginning to grow into it as they age. But this started years ago.
They are so, so pretty. Look at her eyes!
Everything else about them is like chewing on tin foil. Mr Sixer calls them post-truth children!
I completely agree on both points.
Her eyes are truly gorgeous. She’s a stunning girl.
But yes, they are the annoying teens. But they’re teens. Hopefully, they’ll grow out of it as most do.
They make me smile, because they remind me so much of what it’s like to be a teenager–when you believe every thought you have is deep and that you’re the first person to think it.
This. It’s why I always stick up for them, because I was a “weirdo” teen like them.
And they’re actually interesting, when so many young famous people seem generic right now.
The word “problematic” is starting to make my eye twitch.
Hahahaha 🙂
Happening.
Too many back handed compliments or undisguised contempt for these kids. Lots of Will/Jada transference and a dislike for anything too non-traditional, imo. These two are interesting and refreshing. Even their eye-roll worthy comments are age appropriate so no problems detected.
^This!
They’ve put themselves out there and exposed themselves to public opinion. No one is universally liked. If you expose yourself to criticism, you’ll get it. Something tells me these kids can handle it. Their self esteem seems intact.
They are super weird in the best way though. I mean that with all the love though, since normal is boring and it takes bravery to be different.
‘Normal’ in their world is the Hadid’s and Jenners, the Smiths are more on Yoko Ono’s level and I love it.
Weird, outspoken and even sometime pretentious and silly teens become interesting and self-confident adults. Power to the Smith’s.
I love these crazy kids. They seem thoughtful and curious about the world around them in their own way, and honestly they don’t deserve the levels of hate they get.
I mean, there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to be more aware/enlightened/educated. You do you, kids!
Will and Jaden spawned very goodlooking kids. Willow takes after her dad in the looks department and she is strikingly gorgeous.
I know they sound crazy, but they are KIDS. My kid talks about things like this, and instead of me going calling her wacko, I try to listen. I think they’ll grow out of some of this, and come into their own. They’re stunning, and they could use that position for good. Hope they will!
I agree, they are just kids, and they don’t sound weird at all to me, they sound completely average and normal. It’s ridiculous to trash them!
But I guess that’s just the thing for me: they are decent models, but there are plenty of teenagers in the world who are just as beautiful. And their ideas about wanting to do good in the world are great, but are also extremely common for their generation. So I have no issue with them as people, but I do have issue with the amount of focus given to them merely because they have famous parents.
Personally, I’d rather that the media waited until they actually are out there doing all of the good that they plan to do with their privilege rather than shower them with attention now when they are just thinking about it. I’d rather see the spotlight put on the teenagers who are actually making a difference right now, like Malala Yousafzi. But such is the world of Hollywood!
I will always love those two weirdos. They had me when Jaden wore that white Batman suit to Kim and Kanye’s wedding and the K family had to pretend it was adorable when you KNOW Kris was seething inside at his pulling focus. I was insufferably “deep” at that age too.
I agree with you about being “deep” at that age. I was telling a student the other day that when I was his age my friends and I sat at Denny’s drinking coffee, smoking and reading Sylvia Plath. We thought we were too cool for the world too. It’s a rite of passage really.
Since I work with teenagers daily, Jaden and Willow seem fairly normal for being raised in Hollywood. They’ve grown on me.
They look happy.
I love them, especially Willow.
Physically attractive, mentally vapid, psychologically silly….teenagers basically. *Shrug*
Ditto
They are both really good looking kids. I don’t usually like looking at him because he usually has this weird posed expression on his face with the eyebrows all raised up. But he is really growing into a good looking guy. I think it’s really nice that they are so close. I know they live in a weird world. Would like to see good things happen for them. I used to love their dad.
I like them. Considering their parents have been trying to make them huge stars since they were tiny, they’ve turned out pretty well. Weird, but well-meaning.
It was a nice interview too, they made some good points there.. but yeah still famous teenagers.
Beautiful cover. I rarely say that about covers. Willow is so striking. Both are really photogenic and can be top models.
I don’t think they’re untalented (they make good models), but that social media Instagram answer made me laugh for some reason. It kind of sounded like something Gwyneth Paltrow might, but possibly even more conceited. The part where Willow said “Kids will paint a picture of themselves that is so far beyond who they actually are” kind of made me cringe. It’s not necessarily untrue, but it still sounded a bit judgmental. Like, you do your thing, and let others do their thing. Oh well, now I have to go look at their Instagram and compare it to Boomer Phelps’s.
The pictures are absolutely amazing. And the hate thing is crazy. Other than the weird things they say, I’ve yet to hear them say anything mean or offensive. Hopefully they won’t let it get to them.
Get a job.
Willow is a model/singer & only 15. Jaden is an actor (currently in Netflix’s The Get Down). Google is your friend.
I think Ariel meant: “grow the skills to get a job on your own merit instead of your parents’ connections” and/or “get the skills to get a job other than the one your parent’s connections set you up for”.
Seriously. Hollywood nepotism has never been stronger than in the present. I feel sorry for all the young kids who have raw, natural talent and will never get a chance to show it.
These two are very interesting to look at. They own those pictures. I think they have an innate sense of style, and they would thrive in fashion.
I’m less interested in listening to them, I’m big on dismissing teenagers.
Man, I grew up on Cosby and Fresh Prince. We somehow had access to those even when I lived in Karachi, and it was just comfort TV. Now that the former is dead to me (I’m on the young side for the original allegations against Cosby to have entered my consciousness), Fresh Prince holds an even higher place in my heart. So I will forever root for Willard Smith and his progeny, I will play Whip My Hair during all my runs, and I will continue to watch the Jaden Smith’s Karate Kid remake every year and senselessly weep during the emotional stick dancing scene with Jackie Chan.
But…that’s probably not the average reaction to this family 🙂
Don’t listen to Whip My Hair! Listen to Willow’s song “Natives of the Windy Forest.” SO BEAUTIFUL.
So much good looks, not much else going on here.
I LOVE THEM. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.
Both of them are absolutely stunning. I have always loved them so much. They grew up directly in the public eye never had a normal day in their lives and yet are so sweet and nice if a bit left of center.
I don’t remember people validating my opinion when I was a teenager and I quickly retreated into being more reserved, so I’m always a little surprised when people say teenagers sound like this. Not that I find it unbelievable, but no one ever gave me a pat on the head when I spouted m opinions. Instead, I quickly picked up on when people found me annoying and didn’t open my mouth as much.So I suppose I’ll give them credit for maintaining their sense of selves, and not trying to please people.
I can’t believe anyone who read this found something negative to say about the Smith children. They are thoughtful and intelligent. Weird? Sure, but what teenager isn’t? I think Will and Jada did an amazing job with them. These aren’t the typical out of touch, spoiled, idiotic brats of most Hollywood stars.
Have you seen The Get Down? I think Jaden does such an amazing job with so little (and relatively poor) material. Definitely a talented actor. The only thing that might hold him back is that baby face of his. He doesn’t look his 18 yrs and I doubt he will anytime soon.
Willow just comes off as so sweet.
Jaden’s actually pretty good on ‘The Get Down’, which is an absolutely fantastic show.
Yeah, he is extremely good in that show. I loved the show overall but don’t think Jaden got great material.
Yes that show (and the music) is amazing! I wish it was getting more attention. Netflix has been killing it lately with the original series.
I love Jaden in The Get Down!
They are amazing models. FAAAR way better than all the bitches of the moment put together !
That shoot is stunning, the cover shot in particular.
I think they are quite pretentious and annoying which is totally acceptable at their age. I wasn’t any better than that for sure.
I think their lack of education is very apparent, not in this particular interview, but in several others. But I do like that they at least seem to be concerned with more stuff than Instagram filters and facial procedures, unlike these other kids whose last names end in “enner”.
I don’t hate them. They’ve always striked me as humble and grateful, which is something so weird among Hollywood offspring.
I don’t know… I wouldn’t say they lack education. Maybe in the conventional sense, but when you take into account the BS most children learn from a conventional curriculum, maybe a different take on education is not a bad thing. But I absolutely concur with your last statement. I can tolerate so much more from a person if they are at the very least grateful and possess humility, which these children, despite some of their comments, really seem to do.
They really are a couple of beautiful children. And yes, they do sound silly, but the only difference between them and others out there in the world is that their lives (including the awkward years, as well as the pompous ones) are being played out in the public eye. Sure enough one day they will both look back and cringe a little at some of their interviews.
Will and Jada have always made me a little uncomfortable, but I can definitely see that they’ve put a lot of time and effort into their children, which is actually pretty impressive for celebrities. We may not agree with all of their beliefs and values, but Will and Jada can never be justifiably accused of neglect.
I really can’t hate these kids. Sure, they’re super privileged celebri-spawn, but at the same time, I gotta give them credit for at least showing interest in not wanting to be sucked into the world of vapid, boring superficiality like the Kardashians of the world. They at least seem to mean well.
+100
I’m not sure I care about their thoughts yet (although I’m also certain they’ll both wind up being brave and worthy artists in adulthood), but my gosh — they are both such gorgeous human beings. Damned fine DNA.
Will Smith gives off such a normal guy vibe, it’s bizarre to me how his kids ended up so otherwordly.
It might have something to do with the COS?
If they were my kids I’d send them to college. They seriously need some education.
Yes!
They are beautiful aliens, right?
IMPOSSIBLY beautiful.
I think they will grow into being adults with a very similar style and, hopefully, as talented as Beck. At the end, the three of them love to be edgy, indie and deep and most important is that they share the same belief.
I just wonder if they are gonna go all Jaime and Cersei…..?
I really think their parents did these kids a huge disservice by not giving them a thorough educational foundation though. If they didn’t have money and privilege, they would be in bad shape.
The more I look at him the more I think he’s done something to his face. He’s not usually this handsome. Photoshop? Nose job?
He’s just physically maturing. Happens at his age.
HONK for some coverage of The Getdown and its cast! It’s a beautiful show! And the cast is amazing! HONK HONK