Will Smith Admits His Parenting Style Backfired With Willow and Jaden

[Doobie Doo]

Will Smith Admits His Parenting Style Backfired With Willow and Jaden​

The actor and rapper reflects on how giving Willow and Jaden total freedom to tell the truth—without consequences—ended up backfiring in a major way.
Lifestyle
By Sharmaine Johnson
June 18, 2025
1:37 PM

(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Will Smith is doing what many parents eventually do: looking back and realizing that some of the choices made with love didn’t always land the way they were intended.
In a candid new interview on “Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Amanda,” the Oscar winner got real about the parenting strategy he and Jada Pinkett Smith used while raising their kids and why he’s urging other parents not to follow in their footsteps. The 56-year-old said they leaned heavily into “radical honesty,” a style that seemed ideal at the time but ultimately opened doors they weren’t prepared for.
“We made a very, very, very terrible mistake with our children, and we went with radical honesty,” Smith said. “But don’t do it, I’m not advocating for it.” The idea was simple: as long as Willow and Jaden told the truth, they wouldn’t face consequences. “The only way you can get in trouble in this house is if we find out you did something and you don’t tell the truth.”





But in practice? That freedom backfired. “They do whatever they want and then just come tell you. It’s awful. Don’t try it. You want your kids to lie, definitely,” he added with a laugh. “You don’t want to know some of the stuff your kids are thinking of doing.”
Will shares 32-year-old Trey with his ex-wife Sheree Zampino, and 26-year-old Jaden and 24-year-old Willow Smith with Jada. All three children have grown up in the public eye, known for carving their creative lanes. From Willow’s eclectic, genre-bending music to Jaden’s bold fashion and philanthropic work, they are pursuing purpose and passion in their own ways.

Will Smith Admits His Parenting Style Backfired With Willow and Jaden

The actor and rapper reflects on how giving Willow and Jaden total freedom to tell the truth—without consequences—ended up backfiring in a major way.

www.bet.com

 

[Meowth tote da Uzi]

At least he knows it

 

[up in here]

Sounds like he is just joking about knowing too much

 

[DonB90]

I know a couple of people that raised their children on this Gen z gentle parenting talk about everything with me type shyt. Their children are weirdos. Another aspect of cac culture Black people let seep into our ethos

Your child is not your friend.There needs to be a chain of command and a child is not at the top they're at the bottom. If they don't like it they can pick up a 9-5 and go pay bills and all that. If not, they can stfu and follow simple basic reasonable orders given by a competent parent/adult.

 

[jwinfield]

 

[MicIsGod]

I think it’s cool for celeb kids who 9/10 turn out a lil strange regardless. At least they aren’t liars lol

 

[SunZoo]

He's obviously being sarcastic.

And just because you use a similar approach doesn't mean you'll get similar results. His kids growing up in Hollyweird has more to do with their behavior than radical honesty. Plenty of fukk ups, drug addicts and weirdos had your standard upbringings.

 

[Tasha And]

I know a couple of people that raised their children on this Gen z gentle parenting talk about everything with me type shyt. Their children are weirdos. Another aspect of cac culture Black people let seep into our ethos

Your child is not your friend.There needs to be a chain of command and a child is not at the top they're at the bottom. If they don't like it they can pick up a 9-5 and go pay bills and all that. If not, they can stfu and follow simple basic reasonable orders given by a competent parent/adult.

If the worst thing about Wills kids is they are weirdos then he did fine by them.

I can name a host of celeb and non-celeb kids who were raised with this chain of command "not white" parenting style and those kids are criminals and crashouts.

 

[Rasille]

That parenting style explains a lot…

 

[O.T.I.S.]

It backfired as soon as he listened to Jada with that dumbass idea in the first place…



The definition of choose who you make kids with carefully.

Eldest kid… moderately normal, hasn’t done any goofy/embarrassing shyt for attention. Actually seems like a real friend to his father from what I’ve seen.

Other 2 are still good kids but you can see the immediate difference in the women just through the kids

 

[Doobie Doo]

I think it’s cool for celeb kids who 9/10 turn out a lil strange regardless. At least they aren’t liars lol

There probably little azzholes cuz their parents didn't tell them when to NOT tell the truth to people.

I think about that Eddie Murphy joke about Aunt Bunny's mustache. Jayden wouldn't have gotten smacked the fukk up for calling it out.

 

[Scustin Bieburr]

His oldest child is the most normal of his children and thats probably because he spent time with his mother who compared to Jada is far more normal.

Edit: a picture says a thousand words.

Trey Smith

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden Smith, Trey Smith, and Willow Smith

m.imdb.com

Three unhappy weirdos and two men who actually seem happy to be alive.

 

[MajesticLion]

 

[Mike18jj]

"Tyler the Creator is my boyfriend" - Jaden Smith

 

[Da_Eggman]

He finally watched After Earth huh