Did Jada Pinkett Smith Give the Most Nightmarish Stage Parent Quote Ever?
Willow Smith's still a wee hair-whipper, but that doesn't mean her movie star parents Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith aren't thrilled for her potential -- because it means a great new renaissance in their own lives! Read the quote Pinkett gave in UK's The Daily Mail and ask yourself if it's on par with an Toddlers and Tiaras soundbite.
"I like saying I'm going to be 40," she says. "I'm transitioning into a whole other state of being by having a young daughter who's now just beginning her career."
Is this not the very definition of living vicariously through a child? Pinkett's life is upgrading because her kid's "career" is taking off? That's the kind of conditional pride I associate with harrowing TLC shows, the game show whiz-kid in Magnolia, and that song "Perfect" from Jagged Little Pill. Traumatizing on all three counts.
Thankfully, she qualified the statement.
"That's the thing that's difficult for people to understand," Jada says. "This isn't about fame or money. They were still going to have their trials because of who their parents are. As much as I wish I could figure out a way I could protect my children, they have their destiny. I'm not going to put brakes on that out of fear."
"Our family structure is a little different and it's quite hard to comprehend because it's so outside what usually happens in a family, but the paradigm is the same."
"You have Mother. You have Father. Father is protective. Mother is the teacher. Most of the time with child stars, the child has all the responsibilities and the mother and father don't understand what's actually happening to them, so the child can trust no one."
"They feel: 'I have to do this all by myself.' And start to connect to people around them who might not be that trustworthy. But with us, the paradigm stays the same because the child can still be the child with an extraordinary gift."
Some of that is fine, but still: "As much as I wish I could figure out a way I could protect my children, they have their destiny." Defining a kid's destiny through fame is not right. Pimping your kid's "extraordinariness" is weird, too. But maybe these quotes don't tell the whole story -- we can only be sure this is a tragic situation if Willow ever ends up in a remake of Woo.
· Pushy parent Jada Pinkett Smith on Children Willow, Jaden's Ascent to Fame [The Daily Mail]
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Comments
If Willow's song "Whip My Hair" is any indication of her "extraordinary gift", maybe Jada ought to help her rethink her destiny...
It seems a bit presumptious to judge someone's parenting by a few soundbytes in an interview. Their kids live in the spotlight they might as well relish in it while its there.
My perception is they are loving parents who are giving their kids the change to grow in the direction they want to grow in, maybe they will change their minds in a few years.
Would you prefer they keep their kids down, tell them they are worthless and will amount to nothing. Maybe I'm wrong, letting their spread their wings and try things they want to because they can is absurd, let them wallow in mediocrity. Come on man they are kids and they have opportunities most kids dont, why shouldn't they take advantage of it?
"Would you prefer they keep their kids down, tell them they are worthless and will amount to nothing."
Riiiight. Because that's the only alternative to pushing them into the spotlight and manufacturing childhood stardom for them.
"Let them wallow in mediocrity."
What is mediocre about being a normal, non famous kid?
"What is mediocre about being a normal, non famous kid?"
Your momma dresses you instead of a highly paid stylist. Plus, the food sucks. Mac & Cheese?? Get me Chef Ramsay!!!!
Movieline writes the funniest straight-to-it headlines. The Pinkett-Smith family is stuff of nightmares.
I love how both Smith parents are obviously pushing their kids into the limelight, yet the charming one at least doesn't admit it. Nothing would make me happier than having that entire family find their destiny outside Hollywood.
You know Suri's next. The behavior of the Smith family in turning out their children fulfills everything fringe Black culture (like Professor Griff on Quincy Jones) has been saying about Hollywood for years. Visually, these people got real creepy real FAST!
I would LOVE to know if the person who wrote this article is a parent....Also I don't see anyone saying the same thing about Emma Roberts, Dakota Fanning or Justin Beiber. And I guess Dina Lohan has great parenting skills huh? Will and Jada are doing a great job with their kids. They have the freedom to express themselves which is very important with children. It will help them be well rounded in their life. As Jada said, they will be scrutinized regardless because of who their parents are. Just like any other child of a famous parent.
I think Will and Jada are great parents and role models for THERE children. Also, they're not pushing their children to do anything; singing and acting was something Willow and Jaden decided to do on their own. Being such great parents their simply supporting their children. Obviously the person who wrote this article did not do any research, but then again that don't matter these days cause people always talking out their mouth when they don't know what they are talking about (GOSSIP, HATE IT).
A lot of this "opinion piece: sounds like the writer just JUMPED to a conclusion without anything to back it up. That "defining destiny by fame" thing jumps to mind because nowhere in that quote does she say or even imply that she's doing that. That's what you interpreted. Don't try to state your opinion in a way that it comes across as fact. Just a tip. I hope you apply this same line of reasoning to EVERY child star that are currently taking over the music, television, and film industries.
P.S. I love how there's no mention of the other, non industry involved children. Nice job.
been sick of this family for awhile. it's as if we're all supposed to oooh and aaah about them constantly. i mean, they're fine, but no special appeal to me. i don't think the kids are any marvels, they just have unique opportunities. i don't wish them ill will, but i get the sense that the parents somehow think they're all better than the rest of us... and i find them all somewhat "eh". i like will all right, ever since his fresh prince days... he's good at a lot of things, but i don't consider him an artistic genius or anything. i imagine the kids will be the same- palatable with steady work. jada just seems like she thinks they are in a world of their own, and, that's really true only insomuch as she's living in her head and not the real world. that said, i would be a proud parent, too. so i shouldn't fault her for that. but, they're "just all right to me, dawg". nothing special as far as celebrities go...
Her kids have absolutely no talent. They absolutely, positively would not have their "careers" if were not for their parent's names. I would love to see them make it on their own with no family name to bank if on.
As a parent, I don't see anything wrong with the comments made by Ms. Pinkett-Smith. Moms say "stuff" about their kids, subtly or not so, out of pride, love, and sometimes awe. Awe because they/we feel blessed to have the experience of giving birth to, and have the the responsibility of caring for such marvelous beings. There's no difference between her and me for that matter. I think my son is fantastic. I know he's not perfect or "god's gift" to anybody but me. however I might give the same kind of "creepy, in your opinion" interview about my child if given the opportunity.
Are you a Geico troll living under a rock? Except for Emma Roberts (who didn't REALLY get into the biz until she was in her teens), ALL of your examples have been slammed at one time or another for sub-par performances, boorish behavior or (Dina) pushing your kids off the edge of respectable behavior. Willow is talentless and her brother has one facial expression (like his mother). It's one thing to use your fame to give your kid a leg up. Nothing wrong with that. But this family needs to let it go. And no..."Karate Kid" wasn't good and only made money because Will Smith's kid was in it. Both of them are getting a distorted view of their own talent as evident by their behavior in public.
Any time African-Americans do anything against what the "Ruling Class" deems is Right, there is a problem. There is nothing wrong with the way Jada and Will are raising their children. I'm willing to bet the house not will grow up to eat people, have sex with animals, or hate people all in the name of Jesus Christ.
Too many people try to submit their post to every social networking site that they can find only to feel overwhelmed by the huge number of social networking sites that have sprung up in a relatively short time.
Tami, my sentiments exactly. Too many comment boxes, too many useless comments. Just like the one I'm posting now. Gotta love it!
Honestly, it sounds like the author already had an agenda in mind and finally found the soundbites to sort of justify their opinions. Ace reporting.
These parents are exploiting their children to appear as the totally 'cool' family. In love with their own image!! The kids will probably pay for it eventually.
This is why I am afraid for humanity - all these people living in glass houses throwing stones - like em or don't, it's none of your effing business - yah, she had to grant an interview, it's the perils of the business - but don't for a minute think her words were taken in context - and.........who the hell are you all to judge?
PS those who are passing judgment on a child's talent.......beyond creepy!
Thank you Smith Family! for changing the playing field. When I was a kid there was no interest in African American girls. But my 9 year old is living it up with compliments that she looks like Willow Smith! How nice to make us visible! BTW she does not look like Willow she is just 9, and sociable. For to long, media has shown white girls to be the only sexy / females. Imagine boys grow up seeing only white girls on tv. What do they want when they grow up? I have nothing against (white girls) them. But I was never viewed as a sexy female option! Willow makes us visible for a generation at least.
Agreed. I don't get it about their "talent." What? Industry loves Will Smith and will support his franchise arm-n-arm all the way to the bank for years. The Smith brand. That's the bottom line.
I like Will Smith, too, but kids' gotta earn it. One thing I always admired about Nic Cage--he's a "Coppola" but didn't use that name in trying to get in and ahead. His actual talent got him there. It can happen and the kids' better for the effort. Imagine that.
I agree, Damien. Where is the evidence that Jada and Will are being bad parents? Are they forcing their kids into a life of fame, or simply shepherding them through doing what they want to do? This idea that allowing your kids to be famous is inherently bad is silly to me. What's bad is parents who are so desperate for money and vicarious fame that they force their kids through a situation without taking into account what the child is going through. I don't see that happening here. I just see people presumptuously getting up on their high horses.
LOL
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