Will Smith Totally Didn’t Push His Kids Into Showbiz

Will Smith and his family are LOADED, make no mistake. Not only are he and Jada making bank, but now both kids (sorry – “mini adults”) are “in showbiz”. I put that in quotes because they’re not really doing any particular thing – at least not Jaden; Willow‘s been whipping her hair back and forth for a few years now. One might think that it was Will and Jada’s influence that made the kids want to follow in their parents’ footsteps, but he wants you to know that’s not the case – he never pressured them into the industry!

From Vulture:

“It may seem like we have pushed our kids into the business, but that is absolutely insane. I would never, ever, push somebody to have their face on a poster that’s going be everywhere in the world. He is making a choice from the informed. It’s less scary to me than if he wanted to be a dentist in that I couldn’t help with what he’d chosen. I have relationships with some of the biggest filmmakers and actors and producers on Earth. So I can be a huge help.

Willow chose singing and then un-chose it. She said, “Daddy, I want to go to school with my friends during the week, and I want to hang out with them on the weekends.” At the peak of “Whip My Hair,” she’s like, “Daddy, I’m done.” I was like, “Wow, wow, wow. No, baby, I got Annie [the upcoming movie remake, co-produced by Jay-Z], you know. It’ll be New York, you’ll be with Beyoncé. You can bring your friends.” And she said, “Daddy, I got a better idea. How about I just be 12?” At the end of the day, it has to be their choice.”

Well, fair enough, though I bet he wasn’t all that happy that Willow chose to back out. Good for her, though – she actually seems like a pretty cool kid and it takes a pretty mature one to be like, “Nah, not trying to be famous right now, I’m good.” As for Jaden, he’s just insufferable.