Earlier this month, a photo surfaced of Willow Smith, 13, laying in bed with a 20 year-old actor named Moises Arias, who happened to be shirtless. Many people wondered if underage Willow was being left unsupervised with young men. Her mom Jada’s response was to blame people for worrying about her daughter. Jada said “There was nothing sexual about that picture or that situation. You guys are projecting your trash onto it. And you’re acting like covert pedophiles and that’s not cool.” So we’re all “pedophiles” for wondering what’s going on. For his part, Arias said that he’s been longterm friends with the Smith family and considers Willow like a younger sister.
After all that, we saw photos of Willow’s 15 year-old brother, Jaden, in bed with his presumed girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, 16. I’m sure Will and Jada would call us perverts for questioning those pictures too. We’re not the only ones wondering. Radar Online reports that, as a direct result of that photo of Willow, the California Department of Child and Family Services has opened an investigation into the Smith family. It’s supposedly a thorough one too.
RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that the Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services has officially opened an investigation into the incident.
“The investigation was formally opened last week and is being taken very seriously by the department,” an insider told Radar. “Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been extremely cooperative with officials. Of course, they aren’t happy that their parenting skills are under scrutiny, but they understand.”
The source revealed, “Social workers will also be talking separately with Willow, and they also want to talk to the young man in the picture with her as well. This won’t just be one or two visits with the family, and it will likely be an open investigation for at least a month, out of an abundance of caution.”
Do you remember how Radar was the first outlet to publish the letter that Denise Richards sent to DCFS about Brooke Mueller’s twins acting violently? Denise said that she never meant for the letter to go public, which makes me wonder if Radar has a source who works at DCFS.
Isn’t it true that DCFS has to open an investigation whenever they get a tip that sounds serious? I’ve heard stories of people calling in anonymous tips on their ex spouses and hated enemies just to get revenge, which is evil. So the alleged fact that there’s an open investigation on Will and Jada Smith doesn’t mean that anything will come of it. I’m not saying that this shouldn’t be done, we need to protect children, it’s just that an investigation might not mean much.
I do think that Will and Jada need to be put on notice for the fact that their underage kids are going unsupervised, particularly because they’re defending it and acting like it’s our problem for noticing. Will and Jada’s self-professed parenting philosophy is very hands-off and treats their children as little adults. They’re not, they need someone telling them “no” when they’re just 13 and 15. It’s not like much will come of this, though. Octomom still has her kids and Brooke Mueller got her sons back after her 20th rehab stint. I doubt that CPS will even ask Will and Jada to read a single parenting book that wasn’t written by L. Ron Hubbard.
Photo credit: FameFlynet and WENN.com
It’s very disturbing , how did the Smiths end up backing such nonsense, as level headed as they seemed for all those years.
The only reason they *seemed* level headed was a great publicist who kept all their nonsense out of the tabs + social media has made everyone more accessible – see also Tom Cruise and a host of other stars who were previously well regarded as far as their personal lives or behaviour and now appear to be running amok.
I For one am DOWN with them getting embarrassed or shamed into parenting their kids, whatever it takes so we can stop seeing these kids with adult-not-their-parents all over the world, whatevs
@ QQ-you have it right there. If this was an ordinary family, there would be hell to pay. If these two think two teenagers are little adults, they must have oatmeal for brains. Fools.
Agreed. I can believe they are mature for their ages, but they’re still young. They deserved to have a real childhood, and better guidance from their parents.
Now if only that would happen to the rest of the parents around the world, famous and not. The children that run around now are just so lacking of manners, respect, and everything in between.
The whole COS promote that children are actually adults in little bodies. That’s so sick, and robs these kids of proper development. LRH was mentally imbalanced, and these insecure actors get lured into COS, then take this type of advise. Just because they are wealthy celebrities doesn’t give them the right to promote child abuse. Good for HHS. This is good news!
Loopy,
I agree that the Smiths seemed level-headed for all those years. I was a huge fan of Will’s, what I thought of as his smart marriage and old school parenting influenced that. I have been so disappointed over the past few years 🙁
I’m pretty sure there were many people questioning the inappropriateness of Michael Jackson’s relationships and behaviors with those kids (despite the parents of those kids defending it). Ironically, MJ appears to have been a more responsible, protective and engaged parent to his children than the Smith’s are to theirs (and much better for his children than the members of the Jackson family left to raise his kids)
I don’t really think the people that defended Michael Jackson being left unsupervised with young boys are really the people that we’d use as an example rational, logical thought and good parenting advise. And the issue with the Smith’s isn’t necessarily that something was going awry specifically with the photos, but the fact that these two children are clearly completely unsupervised and potentially putting themselves in risky, adult situations. They’re 13 and 15 – still unquestionably young.
@Lindsay
Others have made valid riposts to your comment, but just to touch on the ‘they’d hide it if it were naughty’ riff. No, not necessarily. Quite likely they wouldn’t. Check out what the ‘young people’ are doing on their social networks – open social networks – and you will see that is a little out of date. Being ‘technically’ not over the line, for example, is popular – such as being in bed with an older guy, but being clothed so it’s all kosher.
It is about time that these two start being parents to their kids and not be only friends to them. I really am a fan of the old saying ‘If your teenage kids don’t say they hate you at least once a week it means you’re not doing a good job as a parent’.
And i would also investigate the 20 year old scumbag that prefers the company of teenagers instead of people of his own age.
“i hate you” is such a horrible thing to say to your parents… what a white trash family relationship is it, in which a thing like that is acceptable…
Really? “I hate you” coming from a CHILD is really that offensive to you?
We all hated our parents during the teenage years.. at that age there is love or hate. If my mum didn’t let me go to a party or some special place i told her i hated her guts. Not every day, but only when she didn’t want me to do some things i was really wanting to do and that they wrong for me. Like going out with a guy 5 years older then me when i was 17. I now know she was right then and I love my parents dearly. And i am a better person now because of the ‘no’ my parents said.
I guess my mom and I had a “white trash” relationship then. I don’t think I said it once a week, but I know I said it a few times. Because I was a moody teenager and I was an idiot. Now I know how lucky I am to have parents that were there for me, even if I don’t agree with some of the decisions made, I know they did the best they could.
What on earth does race have to do with it? Teenage years are downright ugly, any parent will tell you that. They really start pushing and testing their boundaries with parents. Hearing ‘no’ is not something they like too much, and ‘I hate you’ has slipped out of the mouths of many teens, whether they are white, black, asian etc. It happens. At that age they tend to drift away from you, but within a few years they drift back and start to see and appreciate what you have been trying to teach them.
The expression “white trash” is far more offensive, in my opinion.
Please do not use the term ‘white trash’. Specifically, the WHITE part. Many thanks.
by “white trash” i didnt imply race, lol, just a level of, u know, culture or smth… Maybe it all comes down to language differences, or maybe Americans are more thick skinned in general… In russian, these words – “i hate u” sound really harsh, and are not often used. Especially to your parents, that would be completely mental.
I’ve never told my mom that I hated her, because I knew it would completely crush her. She’s had a hard enough go of it over the years, that I didn’t need to add to that. Even when I was ridiculously angry at her. Never said it to my dad either, though he really wasn’t the child enforcer in the marriage haha.
On the other hand, fiances bitchy younger sister would completely straight faced tell their whole family (very often, and very loudly) how she hated them. And I don’t think it was a case of bratty teen. I think it was a legitimate claim because she’s absolutely batshit crazy.
The comment “I hate you” from a child to their patents isn’t exactly race specific lmao. Wow.
I hate the term “white trash”!
Oh Lana, whatever bubble you live in can I please join you for a spell?
It’s sometimes a thin line between love and hate, especially for teens. I don’t think it has as much to do with culture or class as it does with trying to carve out their independent selves and raging hormones. 😉
Wow! You should really watch your labels and generalizations. Lots of kids say things they don’t mean in the heat of the moment. Kids are not known to have to think before they act – that’s a big part of maturing – to recognize when they are being reactive before they say or do something they regret and training themselves to be proactive (thinking before they speak) which quite frankly, sounds like you need to do yourself. Usually people quick to throw out such harsh judgment like “white trash” are the ones who are trashy and seeking to judge to deflect attention away from themselves. I’m thinking things worse than ‘white trash’ were flung or done in your family.
So, now you’re claiming you and your fellow Russians are more cultured? I’m not even going to say the obvious – just that you need to get over yourself and stop pretending to be something you are not.
I think people in the US don’t take it as seriously, because we know teens are prone to hyperbole (it was THE BEST/WORST thing EVER, etc.).
You get that people of all races tell their parents they hate them?
JenniferJustice , chill, I admit I probably sounded ruder than I intended…. sorry… And it’s true, I need to get over myself lol 🙂 Honestly though, phrase like that is not commonly used in here. Does it mean we are more cultural? I dont know. Might be we are 🙂 i’m ukrainian though, not russian.
Well, I think it’s disrespectful to say’i hate you’ to your parents. I was a rebellious kid, my parents grounded me all the time but I would NEVER be disrespectful to my parents. One thing they made sure to instill in me, is respect. I actually used to cringe in horror when I watched teen movies/shows when the teenage daughter/son would say ‘I hate you!’. I definitely think it’s a linguistic thing. I think if I ever said it to my mom in Arabic, she would be crushed.
you are not very bright are you?
OMG my mom cherished those I hate you moments and loved to bring them up during family/friends “do I have a blackmail story about cranky for you” events. The only thing she liked better than reminding me of those hissy fits was when, as an adult, I’d call her up to say “goddammit, you were right!”
I would never have said that to my parents and my brothers never did either. Not because they’d tan the hide out of us but it just never got that way. They were strict but good about it so we never had any reason to fight with them. Nobody I knew ever said anything like that to their parents back then either. I remember my friends and I would watch tv shows where teenagers constantly talk back and abuse their parents and we’d wonder where on earth that would fly lol.
@Paola, I totally agree with you. It’s called setting boundaries and enforcing those boundaries. I grew up in a great family, and I have a great relationship with my parents. But they infuriated the teenage me when they tried to enforce their boundaries — I definitely said “I hate you” more than once. I thought I knew it all. Thank god for tough love. I am a much better person today because of it.
Heh, my daughter is nearly 23 and lives and work in Dubai now and I told her about this last night and she laughed. I was never her ‘friend’ growing up, but her mother. The person she could rely on most, the person would set boundaries but also keep her word. I don’t think she ever told me she hated me, although I’m sure she felt furious with me on occasion ( oh the slammed doors of teenagehood!), but she does groan and call me up to tell me I was ‘right’ about things. Turns out teeangers don’t know everything after all and that’s why it’s out job to protect them.
When I was a teenager and would complain bitterly about the boundaries that my parents set (such as an 11pm curfew right through the end of 11th grade), my mother would always say the following:
“I’m not your friend, I’m your mother: you have lots of friends but only one Mom. My job is not to make you like me. My job is to raise you and protect you and if you don’t like that then too bad.”
I always think of that when I see these “friend” Moms….like, are you really doing your kid any favors? Or is this just all about you?
Oh my god….sounds like we grew up in the same household.
My mom said the same stuff. I also had the 11PM curfew until I was a senior in high school–always the earliest curfew out of all my friends.
My mom always made it clear that she’s NOT my friend and I thank her every day for all that she did for me as a mother.
I always told my kids that I would never say “no” to them, just to be mean…I only say “no” because I love them and need to do whats best for them. They actually seemed understand this, and didn’t “hate” me too much for setting rules…
“I’m not your friend. I’m your mother.” I say this at least once a week to my son. It is my mantra!
My idea of friendship is a person who loves you, has the best of intentions when it comes your feelings, will tell you the truth even if the truth hurts and will hold you accountable for your words and actions. Based on THAT description, I’d say that an involved parent is the best friend a kid could ask for. My mom used to say that to me all the time when I was younger. “You may not like me now, but honey, one day you’ll realized that I’m the best friend you’ll ever have”.
Your mom sounds like my mom.
The young man is clearly GAY and there clearly was NOTHING going on in the photo. Jeez. Meanwhile some cracked out boyfriend is shoving pepper down a babies throat and the DCFS is wasting their time with this.
Plenty of people have problems with how they are raising their kids, but at the end of the day, they’re still THEIR kids. We aren’t there 24/7, so we don’t know how they are at parenting. And surely one photo won’t tell us.
I think sending them to Coachella ON THEIR OWN is enough for me to judge them. Sorry.
Wow, guess I’m “white trash” too 😒
@Delorb, how is the young man clearly gay? Also, being gay doesn’t preclude one from being a sexual preditor. He is a “friend” to both the children (key word here being children).
Also, I roll my eyes HARD when I hear the family say this man is a trusted friend of the family. Those of us who were molested or raped are usually abused by people we know pretty well.
I would bet someone called DCFS to complain about the picture. And then they have to look into it…I’m sure they didn’t see the pic and just decide to investigate…they are pretty busy…
@paola,
That’s just it, they weren’t on their own. They were with friends AND body guards.
@Mortician,
My gaydar pings really loud while looking at all his pictures. And yes there are plenty of gay predators, but what exactly was he doing to her that made YOU think he was a predator? If my gaydar can’t be trusted, then surely your predatar can’t be either. Certainly not from a photo.
@MrsPitt,
I hope that was the case and not that they saw the picture and started an investigation.
I must be an ‘odd’ parent because I can count on one hand the number of times my teens have said ‘I hate you’ *as* teenagers. As an FYI I have an 18 year old son and a 15 year old daughter. However, they did say it a a lot more when they were younger.
Also, I am friends with both my kids but do not have an issue with being their mother when that role is needed. I also told them frequently as children there would be lots of times they would hate my decisions but I emphasised that my goal with them has always been to help them become responsible, healthy, functioning, and productive adults. NOT make their life easier at that moment. And all things considered, I’ve done an okay job. But I’m certainly not a perfect parent (no one is) — far from it.
Fine, but on the extreme there are parents who are actually afraid (consciously or unconsciously) of not being liked by their children.
Maybe it has to be with the gilt felt for leaving them to go to work all day, and then coming back and having to discipline them… they do not see you all day, and then you correct them… Also it may have to do with laziness, it is easier to just be nice and give them what they want, trying to reason with them and then bend to their likes and needs, for everything.
I hear a lot from parents of difficult kids that yo have to choose your battles, but sometimes they leave them to do whatever and then it is hard to discipline them, or they start getting trouble at school.
At least I know three households like that, and many times when they are teens it is too late and the teens won’t listen.
You sound like my mother. I could be a real brat and drama queen sometimes, but I don’t recall ever saying “I hate you,” or words to that effect, to her. She wasn’t perfect by any means, but I think her parenting style engendered enough respect and empathy for her as a person that I just couldn’t go there.
•Ennie•
I actually set very firm boundaries when they were young and then loosened up as they aged (when appropriate).
I agree with your comment that too many people think any restriction is terrible and it’s not. We have boundaries and restrictions all over the place and that’s normal. There is an equal number that are lazy parents and let their children run free. Neither parenting style is good for children.
•mercy•
I think you can be a good parent any number of ways. It doesn’t HAVE to be a ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’ type mantra. Our end goal should always be: functioning, healthy, nurturing, responsible, fallible, and humble ADULTS and there is more than one way to accomplish that.
1000 yes. If you don’t at the least dislike your parents bi-monthly or more as a teenager, than the parents are doing something wrong!
We have no reason to believe he’s a scumbag, and he just turned 20 at the end of last month. I don’t know why people find it so hard to believe that some kids hang out according to interests, not age. Look at the guy’s info online. He’s been an actor for years, mainly playing younger than his age on kid shows. Disney used him quite a bit. He’s interested in directing, photography. This all ties in with the Smith kid’s interests, and the little sister hangs out with her brother. Not all siblings hate each other. Child actors and kids like the Smith siblings often don’t have opportunities for a wider circle of same-age friends which tend to happen in schools because schools group kids by age, not ability or interests. When given a chance, it’s not unusual for kids to group according to interests, which means a span of ages. There is only about a four year gap between the Smith boy and the barely 20 year old in question. This does not seem like a problem to me. I would have happily hung out with people of either gender with that age gap as a kid, if they let me, because nobody my age or gender was interested in science and I was. Common interests beyond video games really make such groupings very natural. Are you suspicious when college freshmen and college seniors hang out together? They certainly do. The age gap becomes even greater after college, including grad school. I’m not talking about dating either, but people getting together to pursue common interests. The unnatural grouping is by age alone, sometimes it works but often it doesn’t. Didn’t work well for me.
I would have NEVER fixed my mouth to tell my mother I hated her. I may have been thinking it, but no way would I have ever said it. That’s just beyond disrespectful, imo.
My first thought was, as the end of this article says, how ridiculous that even though these investigations happen people like Octomom and Brooke Mueller still have heir kids. It seems like nothing ever really comes of these type of investigations.
I know of a family who is investigated all the time. They are given notice when CPS is coming so they clean up their child, their home, and their act for the visit. Then when the visit is over they go back to living in filth, neglecting their child and having low lifes and drug abusers all around the home. It’s painful to see how nothing ever really gets done.
I never get that. Why warn them in advance?
My mother reported someone for serious benefit abuse/fraud a few years ago and they wrote to her in advance so gave her plenty of warning before they did a call out.
No wonder so many kids end up dead…that’s hardly an investigation! Of course people will clean up and act differently if they know DCF are coming. Instead, they should do an investigation interviewing people who have witnessed things and show up unannounced to see how they are *really* living! My heart breaks every time I hear about another child dead (or almost dead) despite numerous visits and investigations. With celebrities it seems even worse, they just seem to turn a blind eye …imo Brooke Mueller should never have gotten her kids back,or at least not for a long time and only after proving herself clean for through unexpected drug testing. Plus those kids should’ve been put through testing for damage parental consent or not! I mean, she admitted doing hard drugs and drinking while pregnant?! Should they not have been automatically tested? I just don’t understand the people making a lot of these decisions, it’s like they have no common sense. As for Jada and Will Smith…I used to like him, but in the last decade or so they’ve just become unbearable ego-maniacs and I don’t care how mature you think your kids are, they need you to be in charge when they are still so young. They need boundaries and limits, not just to keep them safe, but to show they you care what happens to them. I remember an interview with Willow years ago and she seemed very unhappy.
ITA. Well said.
Patricia, This is my experience as well, with DCFS in California – most often, folks receive notice they are being investigated, and are given ample time to ‘clean up’ their acts. It is downright disgusting.
I have personally reported abuse to CA DCFS and their investigation of abuse that was admitted by a known perpetrator was atrocious. They ‘required’ a physical exam of the child in question, and when the child was not produced for said exam, they ended the investigation, and deemed it ‘inconclusive.’ I’m told they are happy to speak with me again when I have ‘new information.’ However, due to my involvement with authorities, I am no longer given information about that child, and DCFS is not there in CA, checking in with her teachers, or caregivers, watching out for her, or the criminal, for that matter. The ‘investigation’ was minimal at most, it was no more than six weeks, and it is closed. It is a true tragedy, the state of affairs at DCFS in CA. I am actually shocked they are investigating the Smiths, in light of all of the other alleged abuses claimed in CA, especially when I cannot get them to sniff protecting my niece. I predict the outcome of the investigation will be ‘unfounded’ or, at worst, ‘inconclusive.’ It does not seem that DCFS is there to protect children, more like a CYA file for the state of CA.
It’s for publicity sake at this point. This keeps happening with celebs and their children and nothing comes out. All that happens is DCF gets good publicity from it and they can point to that and say’ see we do are jobs’ once in a while. Then cases like you mentioned get swept under the rug because they don’t have enough money, time or resources to investigate.
Patricia- exactly what i was thinking!
What a shame they did not more effort into Charlie Sheen’s poor boys!
I remember Radar posting pics of Octomom coming home with a ton of grocery bags a few hours before CPS arrived at her house. Yet Dr. Drew did interviews inside showing the younger kids were in a room so stinky from urine even HE made her keep the door open!
The advance notices are truly a disservice to the children.
Very true, but it might actually have an impact on these two and scare them into doing a better job. Mueller and Octo shouldn’t have their kids, period.
“they’re not happy that their lack of parenting skills are under scrutiny” fixed it.. I dunno, I don’t think they’re the best parents (no CO$ are apparently) but it seems a bit silly that this photo pushed into an investigation, I’m sure this is not the worst decision they have made.
“I’m sure this is not the worst decision they have made.” This.
They would never get a parent of the year award for me but I’m surprised the photo has prompted the intervention of Child Services.
Dani2: it’s always little seemingly unimportant things that trigger the bigger events.
It makes me wonder if someone who is closely associated with them went to child services and told them about other incidents, using the photo as a part of the claim. I can’t imagine the image on its own would be enough, but perhaps it was.
Remember when Willow decided she didn’t want to be in the spotlight against her mother’s will? Jada was pushing her into acting jobs and gigs since she was 10 years old. I guess Willow is much more mature than her own mother. What i really wish is for someone to slap Jaden’s brow off his face. That expression really grates on my nerves. His daddy’s money doesn’t make him an important person therefore the brow needs to go away.
Jaden’s brow look annoys me to know end. I really do not like this family.
Dat expression! I cannot stand it! What is he trying to convey? It just looks like he is constantly surprised. It reminds me a lot of the little Biebers go to facial expression. Do some people just have surprised resting face? SFF.
Has anyone read Jaden’s Twitter account? I just put my head down on my desk.
I hate it too. Surely he sees photos of himself, how does he not realize how stupid that expression makes him look.
+1 to Marie and Dani.
Except it wasn’t just one photo, or one of their kids. TWO of their kids have now had pictures posted of their underaged selves in bed with someone. That’s a pattern, and at that point should at least be questioned, imo.
Had we seen the picture of Jaden and what’s her face first no one would have batted an eyelash, they’re about the same age. But because we saw Willow and 20-boy first it becomes an uproar. As far as the photo goes, it was innocent in that Willow and 20 weren’t even touching. I used to hang out with my older brothers friends, granted there wasn’t that huge of an age difference but that’s what could have happened here.
(sorry, I don’t care enough about this to remember their names)
I’m not a mom yet but I probably wouldn’t let me 14 year old little girl hang out with a shirtless 20 year old on a bed whilst taking pictures. Just seems creepy but it probably was innocent. Its a little insane that DCFS is getting involved. That seems like overkill.
I do think hollywood probably has a higher tolerance for situations that seem weird and creepy to the rest of us. Look at how everyone flocks to take pics with Uncle Terry. Over sexualized = art to them.
I’m so glad someone is speaking sense. This whole uproar over whether or not these teenagers are unsupervised is a bit over the top. Teenagers go places unsupervised all the time. They frequently have the means to get their on their own too. At bigger events like Coachella (or in my experience the State Fair), it is not uncommon for teenagers to separate from their parents for a time and then meet back somewhere. Do we know there weren’t any adults with these children? As for the pictures, teenagers like to lounge around, on couches, on beds, on any soft surface. It’s kind of who they are. This is a lot of assumption and hand wringing over pictures that really aren’t that big of a deal in my opinion.
I think it will be a waste of resources to investigate the Smiths. But I do think that it probably wasn’t prompted by just the picture alone, but by media talk after about the “hands-off” unsupervised atmosphere the kids are living in (neglect) as well. Just my guess.
I think they are just lazy parents too focused on themselves to notice what there kids are up too. And you can just bet in 10 or 15 years we will have interviews from these kids saying how they had a screwed up childhood etc. There is no reason a 13 year old girl should be on a bed with a 20 y.o man shirtless without her parents around. I think Will and Jade need to be reminded they are the ones who are responsible for their children.
I agree, and I wish I thought this would open their eyes, but I think they are so entrenched in their position that a 13 year old girl can make her own decisions, and we are all covert pedophiles for thinking it’s inappropriate for her to be photographed on a bed with a 20 year old man, that they will never change their views. Think about the position that places their daughter in. If something bad does happen to her, her parents have basically said it’s her fault. She’s responsible for her own life. They aren’t responsible for guiding or protecting her, even though she is really still a child, with no life experience to speak of. I think Will and Jada are despicable.
+1. Any parent that comes up with the term ‘pull the parenting card’ is IMO not parenting, period. Being a parent means being involved, all the time not when it’s convenient or worse when the child has gotten into some bad trouble and needs help. I was very happy to read yesterday that these two flakes are being investigated. Why should celebs be above the law with anything let alone raising children? And their stance that a 13 year old is mature and responsible enough to handle her own life is just beyond ridiculous.
“If something bad does happen to her, her parents have basically said it’s her fault. ”
Good point, I didn’t think of that. Very troubling.
What I find frustrating is the Smiths have all the resources in the world. These children are unsupervised because their parents want them unsupervised. Contrast that with the poor woman trying to get off public aid and making the (very poor) decision to leave her small children unattended in the car while she interviews for a job. She’s in jail now and God knows where her children are.
As much fun as it may seem to embarrass the Smiths into being better parents, these resources are being diverted from children who are in dire circumstances. It’s a shame.
I kind of doubt this is a high priority case for them. Maybe it’s just meant to be a wake up call. But there definitely needs to be more resources devoted to social workers, counsellors, and psychologists these days.
Indeed. well said.
Nothing will come out of it, but I’m glad Smiths are being investigating. Maybe they start paying more attention to what their spoilt brats do, if only for the sake of publicity.
13…poor child. And I mean, really, there’s a child in her somewhere, that cannot be happy.
+1.
+1 agreed
Best comment and to think I like many used to watch and like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air; one of the big 90s shows. Willow and Jaden aren’t even that talented, even by today’s low pop standards, Why can’t these two idiots just let their kids be kids.
It’s seems a bit much, there has to be so many serious cases that need the time and attention. However it’s probably not a bad thing that they get a bit of a wake up call regarding their lack of parenting. I doubt it would make an impact on them, but maybe. If nothing else maybe they’ll be a little more cautious about what their kids and their friends put out there on social media.
Agree with everything you say here.
It seems extreme to me. Then again, if it makes them rethink the level of supervision they’re giving their children, then I can’t hate on that.
The bad thing is the wasted resources going into this ridiculous investigation instead of spending that money to help children who are actually in life-threatening situations. This whole thing infuriates me a bit.
I am guessing that it wasn’t just the photo, as the photo shows nothing illegal or neglectful. I am guessing CPS didnt just stumble upon the photo. IMO, someone probably made a claim to the CPS and the photo is just used as support for that claim. I don’t think the CPS can open an investigation without someone going to them and making a claim.
I still have a hard time wrapping my head around their choice to name their kids opposite versions of their names. Narcissism at it’s best. Their parenting choices should have been questioned right then and there!
OMG…I’ve never realised that!!!
Look, they are pushing the boundaries of what it means to parent. Y’all just jelli h8ers!! /sarcasm/
How tall is Willow? She seems to tower over Jada. As for Radar having a source in the DCFS I believe they do and I would wager TMZ and other media outlets also have someone. It does not matter if a person would face jail time or fines or lose their job. There will always be that one person who if offered enough money will sell some gossip to a tabloid.
The money and perks with being a celebrity sound good,but losing your privacy is not worth it
Jada is only 5 feet 1 inch. She’s tiny.
It’s ridiculous. The Department of Children and Family Services must be needed in other areas far more desperately than wasting time and taxpayer money with this frivolous nonsense. If these were regular people, no one would be investigating anything. It’s a waste of time and nothing will come of it.
this.
Exactly.
That might not necessarily be true. We are hearing that the photo caused the investigation, but it is very possible that someone reported them to CPS and the photo is just one part of the claim that was presented. We dont know the full story. If children are in danger, the parents should be investigated, famous or not.
good. i’m happy with any negative publicity their cult gets.
THIS! Did you hear that a senator from Oregon has formally asked the IRS to review the Co$’s tax exempt status? Three cheers for Oregon!
Personally, I would be happier if the IRS reviewed ALL church’s tax exempt status.
Yes, GO OREGON!
Given the profiteering and political activism going on in some houses of worship, I tend to agree with you OG Kitten. I see no reason for their tax exempt status, unless their proceeds are strictly devoted to charitable activities and things along those lines.
I think when the pastor starts telling his congregation who to vote for, it’s time to end the tax exemption.
I agree, kitten. Being a religious organization doesn’t make the entity charitable, and being a religious organization doesn’t mean that the entity isn’t making tons of money.
When I was 20, there is no way I would’ve wanted anything to do do with a 12/13 year old. Certainly not in bed or in any state of undress… Even if “like family” something is fishy here and it is sad DCFS is alone in looking out for this girl.
Kid might not realize she is being taken advantage of, her parents clearly need to be told that is unacceptable.
Oh and this gross, out of line 20 year old? Good luck with that career you used to have. I don’t want anything to do with such scum.
I know I am in the minority here but having CPS investigate seems invasive to me. I am not on board with the Smith’ lackadaisical parenting style but this is their religion, their philosophy. Their particular faith system raises kids to be highly independent at a young age. Those kids are not starved, neglected or abused. Spoiled and entitled yes, but being harmed to the point where the government has to intervene, no. I am not on board with how the Duggars raise their kids, how certain Islam and Christian sects raise their kids, but this country is about religious freedom. It’s already been established by looking through Moises’ blog that nothing sexual happened between him and Willow. He is a long time family friend. This family is strange, but I resent tax payer dollars being used to investigate just because we dislike their faith, and how they choose to raise their kids within that faith.
Agreed.
Agreed. There’s clearly no abuse happening here. Plenty of us grew up minimally supervised. Not because of religion but because our self involved parents couldnt be bothered. Thank you 1970s.
Also very true, but I do think it’s even more dangerous for kids these days, and children of celebs can be even more attractive to unsavoury types due to their parents wealth and fame.
I wouldnt say that we can determine that there is no abuse going on here. It is very possible that the photo wasn’t the entire case against them. There might be more to it that Radar either doesn’t know or isn’t passing on.
@ Tiffany – If there is any tiny shred of reason to believe they are casually letting their kids be sexually abused, I’d support any level of legal action against them. It makes me really sad that I use to love Will Smith as an actor and now I can barely tolerate gossip about him – but kids in L.A. grow up fast, and it’s totally normal for kids as young as 13 to begin experimenting with sex. I’m not going to hate on parents for that, but if they allowed/permitted/encouraged a 20 year old to have sex with their daughter, bring on the charges.
I also agree.
A waste of resources.
They may be legally obligated to do so. Any report to DFCS has to be investigated. Second it’s illegal for a 20 year old to have sexual relations ( statutory rape) with a child. They have to see if anything illegal was going on.
I agree and understand that if a complaint was being made, they have an obligation to investigate, but you’re making a huge leap to ‘having sexual relations’ based on a photo.
If the DCFS had the right to conduct an investigation based on every inappropriate picture of a child (and I mean really this photo is TAME compared to what kind of horrific garbage is out there) then the parents of every kid with an instagram account would be the subject of an investigation.
I don’t think you are in the minority.
Definitely not. This is a ridiculous waste of time and resources.
I agree
how do you know that is why? CPS is about M O N E Y. More they investigate, the more money they get from the gov. Has NOTHING to do with COS.
Wow, you have kids with a much taller man, you get kids that tower over you at 13. Nothing will come of this. There’s no real proof of anything and kids that age have sex. The only really sketchy part is the older man with Willow. If something did happen, that’s a matter for the police not CPS.
Willow could be wearing 6″ platform heels. You know, Jada wouldn’t tell her not to!
Pru, that’s a really good point, but Jada appears tiny in those pictures next to Will, so I can believe her children have outgrown her. I’ve stood next to my fair share of 13 year olds who towered over me, soo. . . .
“Isn’t it true that DCFS has to open an investigation whenever they get a tip that sounds serious? I’ve heard stories of people calling in anonymous tips on their ex spouses and hated enemies just to get revenge, which is evil.” Celebitchy, you are so right on this. My neighbor called DFS on me after HER dog (a yellow lab) bit my 2 year old grandson and my daughter had called animal control. They investigated and dismissed it (in the report it said I was letting my grandkids run wild and was watching the younger ones, 2 & 3 year olds, more than I was watching the 7 year olds. My oldest grandson’s father called DFS when his child support got upped. Again, nothing happened. I’m glad at least they are looking into it because those children need better supervision.
Nothing will come of this, and it is a waste of limited resources. There are many children who are abused and could use DCSF help and improve their quality of life. Unfortunately, they choose to investigate an overly indulged rich family who have parents with poor parenting skills. Probably doing this for publicity reasons only, because people were shocked by the pictures and Jada and Will’s response. I wish they would help someone who could use it and benefit from it. These kids are going to be who they are no matter what happens. That may sound cruel if something criminal was going on, but the reality is you only have limited resources and you should use them wisely, and to help the ones you can.
Soooooo, while I think it is totally abnormal for a 20yr old to br frirnds with 15 and 13 yr olds I think this is a leeeeeeeeetle overboard. Consider the state of MANY homes and children’s lives in this country that DFS totally ignores amd says they cannot get to investigating because the system is so overburdened.
I may not agree with the parenting style of the Smith’s BUT I am also not a parent. What might work for some families may not work for others. I highly doubt anything untoward went on between Willow and the 20yr old and find this a frivilous case to investigate when there are THOUSANDS of homes in California needing the attention of those truly abused and neglected.
Just my two cents.
CPS is only investigating to say “we tried” if/when something bad happens to willow. just (pathetically) covering their bases.
there is a slim chance something else was reported, not just the creepy picture.
What they don’t seem to get (Will and Jada) is we are not only talking about their “parental skills” (which are beyond questionable), but about the fact that as parents they are legally responsible for their underage children. They are responsible for their safety, their education and their well being.
Yes, you are 100% correct however the CO$ fosters a belief system that is completely at odds with parenting. For instance, education is held in very little regard and sometimes outright shunned. Well-being? if allowing your child to be interrogated about everything by a stranger while holding tin cans and being encouraged to “turn in” friends and family that aren’t towing the CO$ line isn’t a cause of great anxiety and mental harm then I don’t know what is. Safety? Well, I guess the Smiths can get some credit there…for physical safety anyway. I sincerely believe that the Smith children probably get more true parenting, as little as it is, then most CO$ children and I think that is mostly due to their “star” status and public scrutiny.
I get it, I really do, but I wish we could talk about their parenting skills WITHOUT constantly bringing CO$ into the equation.
The Smith’s belief system isn’t under investigation in the incident we’re discussing here, their parenting skills ARE. I get that religion (or cult, whatever you prefer) might inform their parenting style but most religions do and I don’t necessarily agree with how strict Muslim children are raised, how the kids born to Westboro Baptist Church members are raised, or how Quiverfull kids are raised. What about the Duggars? I don’t agree at ALL with how they raise their kids–I also don’t think that should be basis for the DCFS to investigate them or the basis for me to assume that their kids are being harmed or neglected.
I hope you understand that I’m not defending CO$ or saying that Scientology should be off-limits to this discussion at all–I’m just saying that a family’s religion does not AUTOMATICALLY guarantee that the children are being neglected, abused, or unsupervised–which is what the DCFS is responsible for-investigating incidents of abuse and preventing further incidents from occurring.
Ultimately, I think that how people choose to raise their children behind closed doors is their business, unless the child is physically, sexually, or emotionally abused, then it becomes the state’s business (and rightly so).
i’m admittedly judgmental anyway but this beats all. I used to LOVE Will Smith…Hitch is still one of my favorite movies, but what is the point in having children if you’re just going to breed irresponsible, disrespectful human beings? Jaden has the vacant “Beiber” stare in every one of these pics. I feel sorry for these kids and it’s hard to tell how they are going to turn out. Hearing things like this makes me wonder what these over-priviledged teens are going to be like in their 40’s and 50’s. And we complain about Leo’s Peter Pan lifestyle. It’s only going to get worse.
They might be partying with Leo in a few years. Look at Biebs!
My initial response was to loudly guffaw, then I immediately thought about what a ridiculous waste of time and state resources, omg.
CPS or whatever it’s called in CA is called whenever a child is considered to be endangered. Recently in my area, a girl roughly Willow’s age became pregnant. The school called in CPS who investigated the family. Turns out the girl’s boyfriend was about 20 and her mother knew about the relationship. They investigate whenever there seems to be abuse or neglect.
This is such a waste of state funds. Social services are always stretched thin and time is being wasted on this. Even if people do not agree with their parenting style, there is nothing criminal about it.
A 20 year old and a 13 year old having a sexual relationship is illegal. They are investigating to see if anything happened between an adult and a child.
Which they can’t prove unless she is pregnant or they have a video. … it’s a waste of time and resources.
Am I the only one or do the smith kids just look a liitle bit weird?
Is Willow still out of school?
Maybe DFCS could investigate that….
Please stop saying “in bed”. She is laying down on the bed. There is the problem.If you aren’t aware what your wording is doing, read some more bell hooks.
This photo didn’t come out by itself. There were 2 photos posted. The other photo leads to no question of the atmosphere within the picture. There clearly must be other people in the room. And then the photo with Jada Smith and the Jenner girl was done at the same time and released as to ‘calm the waters” that it was a bunch of teenagers and one 20 year old hanging out. Media does need to take responsibility that they did sexualize this event.
So YES, complain that Jada is friends with a 20 year old and that they all go to a music festival (which they got paid for their appearances) unsupervised barring the body guards. And condone parenting beliefs of scientologists.
But don’t you ever hyper sexualize a young black girl.
Cos now look, its true, state resources are going to be wasted because social services was pressured by the media.
Bella Thorne and that bunch get no shit. I am so done with double standards.
Just wondering, what does her race have to do with any of this?
I think the point was being made that young black females are often hyper-sexualized, and FTR, I do not disagree with that.
For the record, I wish Lohan’s parents were investigated, and many other parents of child stars who were clearly on a wrong path, regardless of their race.
I couldn’t agree with you more. How about Courtney Stodden’s parents, for example? Sometimes I feel like children who are famous or have famous parents or are otherwise associated with famous people enjoy less protection than normal children even though they are far more scrutinized and their lives are mostly public events.
So now a caseworker will have another case to add to his or her other 100 + cases.
I just don’t know how they ended up in this weird position. I mean Will comes from a family of teachers and Jada went to a private school in Baltimore. They both should understand how important education is. I think they are truly just lazy parents and too much into themselves and that waco religion. I wonder what Will’s oldest child thinks about his spoiled rotten siblings? I sure hope he is grateful that he has a different mother and one who believes in education. This is just so sad.
Child protection rules are there for a reason and the state has a role in protecting children, even from their parents, if that were the case as not all people are fit for parenthood. Sad, but true. I am not talking about the Smiths in particular. If a cult or religion claims that a child is allowed to make his or her decisions, including when to have sex, and the child decides to have sex while they under the age of consent – the legal (stress on legal) age of consent – then there is a problem. There is no such thing as a grown up child unless there is a child who is forced to replace a parent and fend for themselves, their siblings etc. Worldwide there are so many children who lost their parents or they were abandoned and they are abused, exploited, and don’t receive any kind of affection from anyone at all, and the Smith children have TWO PARENTS who are alive, healthy and fit and who don’t seem to be parenting them (apparently) because of that creepy cult. A child is a child and a child needs loving parents, protection and guidance. There are people who fool themselves and say that their children are so grown up and wise beyond their years and such, but that’s naive at best. I call it cxxp. Also, I would hold no judgement against people who leave Scientology.
Yeah, the cult angle is a whole nother aspect that needs a thorough investigation. All children with CoS parents are vulnerable because of the misguiding teachings of that cult.
Whatever they find or dont find- I only hope that the investigation is taken seriously, and not just something being done to gold star a famous couple…
About the only normal one in that family is Will’s oldest son from his first marriage, Trey. That’s because he was mostly raised by the ex. The rest of the family is screwed up.
I think the investigation is a waste of time and resources. Surely there are children who are actually “in danger” that they could help.
Totally agree
The whole family always has this weird “I’m totally in a cult” gleam in their eyes..
That’s called “supreme wealth”.
What sad witch-hunting trolls posting here about such an innocuous photo! The posts here bring up a lot of past faux “stories” from gossip rags which obviously the trolls have gobbled up and reposted. Yea, I’m expecting to take the heat for this opinion. FYI: I’m a middle class good mother( my kid is pre-med at good college)(yea, I’m bragging, so suck that up-tight seriously sub-mediocre people posting here) who lives in LA. I am not a scientologist. I don’t think there is anything strange about this photo at all! What a bunch of wankers you all are! Also it was 110 degrees here when that photo was posted, so why don’t you all go recompose your own shite so as to help with the climate change.
This is sad for Willow and Moises, who really weren’t doing anything wrong. Puts both of them in an awkward position that they honestly don’t deserve. If other people had been in the shot, perhaps nothing would have come of it. Or if the Smiths were better liked… On the other hand, the parentals should be more concerned about the pics of Willow’s older brother and the Jenner girl… They need to pay some attention to that relationship, or else Kylie’s demon mother will have her hooks into their son and the family fortune. Her master plan is to get them all pregnant by rich men (or boys).
hahaha this makes me so happy that the arrogant Smiths’ parenting is coming under scrutiny. Of course the picture should raise questions, and kids shouldn’t raise themselves. Jada is creepy.
Lord, those kids are homely. And that picture of Jada at the top is downright scary. They like to look down their noses at other people, but my goodness…. what justification do they believe they have?
Jada used to be so beautiful- what has she done to herself? I don’t think the picture of Moises/Willow is that terrible as they’re both clothed and not touching, but the Smiths should not proclaim from the rooftops that their kids raise themselves and I don’t get why people 18 and over want to hang out with middle schoolers. It’s creepy.