Will Smith says his 'heart shattered' when son Jaden asked to be emancipated at age 15 over their 'critical failure' film After Earth: 'He lost his trust in my leadership'
By MARK MCGREAL FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 22:04 EDT, 5 November 2021 | UPDATED: 22:04 EDT, 5 November 2021
Will Smith will open up about his regrets as a father in his upcoming memoir Will which is set for a November 9 release.
In an excerpt shared with People on Friday, the 53-year-old actor recalled how devastated his son Jaden, now 23, was after the critical and commercial failure of their 2013 film After Earth.
'After Earth was an abysmal box office and critical failure," the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor wrote. 'And what was worse was that Jaden took the hit.'
'Fans and the press were absolutely vicious; they said and printed things about Jaden that I refuse to repeat. Jaden had faithfully done everything that I'd instructed him to do, and I had coached him into the worst public mauling he'd ever experienced.'
The Pursuit of Happiness actor was heartbroken when Jaden, who was 15-year-old at the time of After Earth's release, told him he wanted to be emancipated.
'We never discussed it, but I know he felt betrayed. He felt misled, and he lost his trust in my leadership," Smith said. 'At fifteen years old, when Jaden asked about being an emancipated minor, my heart shattered. He ultimately decided against it, but it sucks to feel like you've hurt your kids.'
Will Smith says his 'heart shattered' when son Jaden asked to be emancipated at age 15 | Daily Mail Online
By MARK MCGREAL FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 22:04 EDT, 5 November 2021 | UPDATED: 22:04 EDT, 5 November 2021
Will Smith will open up about his regrets as a father in his upcoming memoir Will which is set for a November 9 release.
In an excerpt shared with People on Friday, the 53-year-old actor recalled how devastated his son Jaden, now 23, was after the critical and commercial failure of their 2013 film After Earth.
'After Earth was an abysmal box office and critical failure," the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor wrote. 'And what was worse was that Jaden took the hit.'
'Fans and the press were absolutely vicious; they said and printed things about Jaden that I refuse to repeat. Jaden had faithfully done everything that I'd instructed him to do, and I had coached him into the worst public mauling he'd ever experienced.'
The Pursuit of Happiness actor was heartbroken when Jaden, who was 15-year-old at the time of After Earth's release, told him he wanted to be emancipated.
'We never discussed it, but I know he felt betrayed. He felt misled, and he lost his trust in my leadership," Smith said. 'At fifteen years old, when Jaden asked about being an emancipated minor, my heart shattered. He ultimately decided against it, but it sucks to feel like you've hurt your kids.'
Will Smith says his 'heart shattered' when son Jaden asked to be emancipated at age 15 | Daily Mail Online
every other week it's something new!!
Little ungrateful b*stard