I was looking at these new photos of Willow Smith – out and about in New York yesterday with her adorable puppy – and I came to the startling realization: In my whole life, the culmination of everything I do and say, all of it will never amount to the coolness radiating from 9-year-old Willow Smith. I know many of you think that she’s a poseur or she’s too young, but you’ve got to admit – she’s really, really cool for a 9-year-old, right? And check it out – her hair is even different. She’s already moved on from the “skunk” hair. Lady Gaga and Rihanna, take notes. Even her puppy is radiating a “I’m too good for this patch of grass” vibe! Anyway, just a thought.
Since Willow’s music video for “Whip My Hair” came out a few days ago, Willow has been giving interviews and it seems like her parents are letting her do her own thing, and speak without a filter. When being interviewed on the radio, Willow discussed her feelings about Lady Gaga (I feel another “mothership” reference coming): “[Somebody] I would really want to work with on a song would be Lady Gaga… She is amazing! She’s just so amazing, she’s a free person. She’s a free girl, baby.” Willow also talked clothes: “Sometimes I put my own stuff in it. I mix up the outfits too. My mom puts together outfits and I can pick which one I want to wear.” MOM! Additionally, Willow talked in greater detail about the “Whip My Hair” video to MTV… I also put the video up again!
Willow Smith had a little help from her friends on the set of the video for “Whip My Hair.” In the clip, which premiered Monday, Roc Nation’s latest signee, joined by her crew of pint-size girls, turns a drab classroom into a kaleidoscope of color with a few energetic flicks of her paint-dipped braids.
“Having my Warriorettes there, my best friends caring — Jade, Angel Punky, they’re just all my best friends — and my family there just made it even better,” Willow told MTV News about the shoot when she stopped by Tuesday (October 19).
“Me and my friends were touching the oranges, ’cause they were, like, real oranges but they were spray-painted,” she said. “It was gooey,” she added, turning up her nose at the recollection.
The 9-year-old progeny of A-list actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith explained that her BFFs are her Warriorettes, a supportive team that fully subscribes to the ethos espoused by her smash single “Whip My Hair.” The outgoing tween, who describes her style as “schoolgirl-meets-punk rock,” also opened up about the significance of the track.
“‘Whip My Hair’ means don’t be afraid to be yourself,” Smith explained, “and don’t let anybody tell you that that’s wrong. Because the best thing is you.”
A sampling of the lyrics bear that out: “We turn our back and whip our hair/ And just shake ’em off, shake ’em off, shake ’em off/ Don’t let haters keep me off my grind/ Keep my head up/ I know I’ll be fine.”
As for filming last month in Los Angeles, Willow, a girl firmly on her grind, said she “liked it” but admitted it could be intense at times.
“It was a long day. … It was hard sometimes, but, like, if you have a commitment to that, you have to stick with it,” Willow said.
Clad in circus pants, a military blazer and a Lady Gaga brooch, the upstart artist turned serious for a moment. “And it’s not because I have to, it’s because I want it,” she said of her percolating music career. “Most people, if they don’t want it, they’ll just be like, ‘Oh well, I can do that tomorrow’ — is that what’s called procrastinating?” she added with a grin.
[From MTV]
So now we know the feminist, girl-power message of “Whip My Hair”. Now you can move forward with your life with that knowledge, right?
Yeah…she’s so deep. UGH!!
My neck hurts just watching the video.
Well Willow explained for all the people who don’t get how we roll and speak. The song is about shaken off haters and being fabulous and fly and heck I already knew that.
Willow sounds totally normal and nice. Also she was trending on Twitter yesterday, the song and video are a hit ladies and gentleman.
I really like it and I like that whole family. They will keep the kids grounded, while them express themselves, and they are gonna have some great careers.
Nine years old going on 20. Not cool. Not cool at all.
Is it only me or is it so that the cult that this family belongs to is suddenly putting its kids in the spotlight? First Suri Cruise all over the press, now Willow Smith. I wonder how quickly John Travolta’s newest addition will be thrust in front of the paparazzi??
I think she’s adorable. Much much MUCH less annoying than most kids imo.
I simply cannot understand why there is all this hatred towards this nine-year old child. I haven’t seen anything that she has said or done that can be considered inappropriate or offensive. She put a catchy, if somewhat silly song out, so what?
And if the song is indeed about empowerment, kudos to her I say.
The only thing I WOULD say is that perhaps her wardrobe and definitely her jewellery should be a bit toned down. But it’s still relatively harmless and she might be just trying to express herself. At least she’s not out there sporting too much make-up or showing skin or anything like that.
I notice when the little girl who plays Betty Draper’s daughter on Mad Men (sorry, I forget her name) is mentioned on this blog everyone is like, “Oh, so cute, how precious” – which she is indeed. No one is accusing her of being inappropriate or offensive. When she displays a startling level of maturity in her interviews everyone praises her for how mature and intelligent she is; they don’t accuse her of trying to act too old for her age. No one is bashing her parents for putting her in the spotlight too young, or attacking the directors/producers of Mad Men.
I don’t know if it’s the cult that’s putting the kids out there, or their attention hungry parents, but I find this child insufferable- almost as insufferable as that younger Cyrus child. It depresses me to realize that they’re going to be shoved down our throats for the rest of their CHILDHOOD, (yeah- disgest that) and teen years.
She’s really cool. I hope Noah Cyrus would take notes too.
if little girls want to go with words of empowerment and layers of fun clothes i’m all for it!
better than miley and britney.
Totally agree LindaR. Not cool.
And to all those who lurrrve the ‘style sense’ that this little 9-year-old child exhibits, thank mom Jada for that – as if there was any question. Too bad the Smith’s couldn’t just let their kid be a kid…if even for a few more years.
Cute video. Okay song. I just don’t get Will and Jada’s motivation for pushing their kids into the spotlight at such a young age. They don’t need the money. It seems like they’re on an ego trip to be the most famous family on the planet. There are huge pitfalls to being famous too young. They should know that.
I like her style. And I love girls having someone to look to who is still a kid and dresses like one (albeit a cooler-than-I-ever-was-or-ever-will-be one).
STILL think the hook is a brain-eating worm.
@Mia-Yeah I know what you’re getting at and I’m not sure if that’s the case or not but the difference between how people react to the two is still very striking. I also think a lot of the hate stems from people disliking Willow’s parents. Punish the child because you hate her parents. Way to be, guys! Maturity all the way.
Also, I noticed that it only took 4 posts before someone brought the Scientology thing up. So hate on people because of their purported religion and then hate on their 9-year-old CHILD because you hate them. Fantastic.
lady gaga has her ‘monsters’
nicki minaj has her ‘barbiez’
now, willow smith has her ‘warriorettes’
call the pentagon…these gals are buildin’ an army! lol 🙂
girl powah!
Yeah, I am sure she came up with that all on her own!
*eyeroll*
I haven’t watched the video and have no interest in it.
Ok, so earlier this week we were talking about celebrity’s kids being stalked and hounded by the paps. I believe it’s all set up by the celebrities anyway, at least in the beginning, and others disagreed. These shots are obviously staged so my question is, what category does Willow fall into now.
Are we supposed to feel bad for her if the paps hound her even though her publicists obvioiusly set these “candid” shots up. Her parents have now set her up, complete with music videos, paparazzi shots, interviews, etc., so is she supposed to be treated like any celebrity who courts the press or do we treat her like a kid who has no control over what’s happening? I believe we continue to treat her like a kid but I am curioius as to her parent’s motivations here. They obviously don’t need the money or fame yet they knowingly dropped their child into the shark tank that is Hollywood. I don’t get it, unless they believe that they are so powerful that they can protect her and control the media. Possible, but personally I wouldn’t take the chance.
I just can’t shake the fact that this song was meant for Rihanna all the way, but seeing the catastrophe that is Rihanna’s hair, the record company execs just gave it to the first girl who wanted it.
What does a 9 year old know about empowerment? Can she even spell the word? Ugh already so pretentious and she’s barely out of pampers.
i like my 9 year olds with pig tails, scabby knees and
much less attitude.
Please No! Not again. Jada take your kid home and please stop shoving her down our throats. And if I hear one more young person use the word “amazing”, I’m going to puke. Think about it. EVERTHING is amazing! So overused. This kid needs to take her butt to school and stay out of “the scene”. No talent!!!
I love her! How much of her image is manufactured – I don’t know and I don’t care – she is sending out a positive message and having fun. Rock on Willow!
If I did not dislike her overrated parents so much, I probably would not be so annoyed with his kid. Forget that, this kid would still be annoying. This entire family are just pretentious brats.
a 9 year old might not fully comprehend the grown-up term of “empowerment” but she can inspire other little girls to emulate someone with self respect versus someone who sings about being a tart and dressing like one.
What a smug kid.
She’s adorable. If only more girls were so self-assured and confident at such a young age. She isn’t all tarted up or wearing any suggestive clothing. I think she could be a good role model and inspiration for young girls.
Willow’s demographic is pre-teen girls. So why do you care? You don’t have to like it. Nobody is shoving her down your throat.
Of course she didn’t come up with that “empowerment” spiel all by herself, but aren’t a crapton of adult celebrities told what to say and what not to say, as well?
Annoying song, but I’d sooner let my kid look up to her than jailbait Noah Cyrus. I like that Willow’s covered up, and not out and about in a push up bra and a mini skirt. Hopefully, she’ll stay that way!
I think she’s adorable, that being said she definitely inherited Daddy’s ears.
While I’m not a fan of Jada, I’ve adore Will forever, I’m going to give his kids a pass for now. Wait and see how they turn out in the future.
I just honestly think that she is WAY TOO YOUNG to be talking about “be yourself” “don’t let the haters blah blah blah” … She hasn’t even been through puberty yet… she ain’t even a teenager!!! You can’t talk about stuff that you haven’t experienced yet! Even if you’re a freaking celebrity’s kid!!!
I just love Willow Smith.
She’s a fun, talented, aware little girl.
Did you expect her to salivate over Miley or Sabrina?
I feel really grossed out about how the nay-sayers are calling her a wanna-be and too grown. Really guys?
She’s just a 9yr old girl, calm down and go do something productive instead of bashing a young girls endeavors to shine.
It makes sense that she’s this cool, both Jada and Will Smith are trendsetters and are extremely cultivated talents.
fine line between self-confidence and arrogance and age 9 is too young to be walking it in public.
@Mia (#7) Well, I’ve been critical of the child actress from Mad Men. They are dying that little girl’s hair! It’s weird & age inappropriate.
As for Willow, I’m not a ‘hater’ nor am I a fan. I think her clothes are cute (if not contrived), but at least her limbs & torso are covered. The song is cute, and harmless.
However it’s hard to watch any young child in the entertainment industry and not wonder if they will wind up like Britney Spears, or Lindsay Lohan, or Miley Cyrus. It seems to be really detrimental to a young person’s personal development to give them the pressure of a career before they have the maturity to handle life when they are no longer revered by the masses.
I still have a serious problem with her promoting this dance move!! Young girls have been seriously injured and even died form brain injuries doing the ‘Dutty Wine’ dance move!!!!!!!!!
I don’t hate Willow, her singing, her styling or her parents. I just can’t understand how they could ignore that even Willow herself, let alone all the young ladies watching, could seriously break their necks swinging their head around like this!!!
I haven’t heard the song, and I only sw a clip of the video on the news last night (why was it on the news???), so I really can’t comment on the song itself. However, in the clip I saw, she was sporting a lip ring and a brow piercing, which I feel is totally inappropriate for a 9 yr old and a video intended for children.
she is as cool as her parents money..
Wow, a bunch of grown people hating on a little girl. Just, wow.
@Mia: I agree with your comments all the way.
Jeez people, calm down. You understand we are talking about an innocent 9-year-old girl here, right?
Her song is a hit, she is articulate and cute….so back off everyone!
Oh, she’s harmless.
And as someone who is regularly in elementary schools, you’d be freaking amazed at how many FIVE and SIX year olds have bleached and dyed hair. It’s repulsive. Some parents also don’t care if their kiddos are covered up. Willow doesn’t even come close to that.
Honestly, pre-teens need to hear that it’s cool to be yourself from someone their own age. Why not her? Better to hear it from Willow than Miley.
Sorry, I am not buying this “cool” vibe thingy. Creativity is an intrepretation of your experience and knowledge gained throughout your life. It’s takes deep reflection of your experiences. She has only lived nine years?
Unless she is an alien with highly developed brain, pun intended, then I don’t feel it’s right to put this child in this type of media position. She looks like nine going on twenty, as mentioned by another commentator on this thread.
Jada needs to stop trying to relive her past childhood through this child. I just cannot imagine what longterm damage this could possibly have on this little one’s psyche.
I think the song is really ok for kids — it is totally relate-able from their day to day lives. My daughter is this demographic, she just started middle school, the conformity is a BIG DRAG. When I was a kid, the only schools with uniforms were the ritzy prep schools. Now all our area schools have uniforms, and it is really oppressive, identical everythings. Our current school demands the top button of the shirt to be buttoned! So this video is very, very appealing with the idea of your individuality bursting out and coloring everything. My kids sure aren’t struggling the way say, their cousins in Africa are (watered-down stew to make it stretch, carrying your own chair to school) but everyone has their own little daily grind to get through. This video is about kids’ daily grind, not ours.
And I don’t think she is smug, she looks so totally HAPPY performing.
For those of you that don’t get the “haters”. I haven’t seen that many comments that reflect that. Most of the negative comments are about a 9 year old girl being thrust into a world that she is not yet capable of understanding. She’s just a kid. She should be playing Barbies or climbing trees, not spouting philisophical bullshit that stems from a pop song.
Bore.
I used to whip my hair back and forth years ago and seriously damaged my neck.
And this song makes me scramble to hit the pause button before my brain and ears short out. Oy. I really hope she isn’t turning to a high maintenance brat because that is not “empowering”, it’s irritating.
It really goes to show her parents live in a bubble thinking how great all of this is. How is her ‘home schooling’ going through all of this?
I really am beginning to think celebrities really don’t possess a lot of brain cells. Heather Locklear’s THIRTEEN year old daughter is doing runway modeling now – with her approval. I saw the girl. There is no way she would have had the job without the name.
Can these parents for once have their kids have a childhood and go to school without thrusting sex and adulthood on them at age 9 now apparently?
Now society has to deal with their loser kids. Thank you.
I think some of you are just old and jaded. This is not the 1950’s. This ‘children should be seen and not heard’ mentality is just plain ignorant and silly. So until you reach some magic age where you become an official person like everyone else you should just shut up and play barbies huh?
The industry is full of child stars and always has been so why is she any different? For God’s sake what’s the big deal? She a beautiful little girl and seems pretty grounded and cool and is just having fun while doing something she likes. And least she’s making music with a positive message for people her age. In a world full of Lindsay’s and Paris’s I personally think that’s a good thing. She’s making fun clean pop music much like her father did and Jada is also in a band so why wouldn’t she be interested in making music too? These personal attacks on this girl are completely uncalled for.
@ Kaiser “I was looking at these new photos of Willow Smith – out and about in New York yesterday with her adorable puppy – and I came to the startling realization: In my whole life, the culmination of everything I do and say, all of it will never amount to the coolness radiating for 9-year-old Willow Smith” I agree with you 🙂 I wish I had her scarf and it would look good on my middle aged self, like her necklace too. I think its tiger eye. I do have one of those 🙂
@feebee, well said:
“fine line between self-confidence and arrogance and age 9 is too young to be walking it in public.”
Aaaand cue the slutty clothing, slutty magazine spreads, and the “I’m just growing as an artist”, in 3..2..1..
Getting ’em started young for the $$$.. way to go Will and Jada!
Meh…She’s looks like a 9 year old kid who’s having a lot of fun. I expect she will appeal to other kids. This “old and jaded” mother of a 9 year old also hopes this kid gets lots of time to be a kid. Promotion schedules can be pretty crazy. I’m waiting to see how she turns out in another 20 years before I form a real strong opinion.
i feel bad that she wont get to run and play in the mud or rain because shes too concerned about her image. that was the best part of being a kid— not worrying about anything except when dinner was.
This song is blowing up at my college. Can’t walk ten feet without hearing it. And for all my cynicism, I actually think it’s kind of fun
she has an incredible voice and will be huge. just watch. hopefully her parents will keep her in line though…
I am so over the crazy hair that all these new celebs are coming up with. Just give us someone who can actually sing and not try to trick us with outrageous hair and clothing. So boring. Moving on.
@Rachel I believe both of the piercings are fake. The lip ring is in fact stuck on crystal/rhinestones (hell maybe diamonds, the kid can afford it). Nose and eyebrow piercings are easy to fake so I don’t think she has any real face piercings.
@psychiceyes &@eva, etc…
For the people saying a 9 year old can’t possibly have the creativity, or life experience, or understanding to have an opinion…um, she’s a person. Like a real human being. Who has lived a life that is probably stranger than many of ours, what with celeb parents, a cult religion (sorry, I’m not down with Xenu), and normal kid stuff.
Did you guys not have independent thoughts when you were 9? And who actually thinks kids aren’t capable of creativity? She’s basically doing exactly what other kids her age do, but on a larger scale. Personally I had been through some major shit by age 9 and was writing poems with an equal level of “philosophical bullshit”. Besides the fact that she isn’t writing for us adults to relate to – she’s writing for other kids.
This little girl is dressed appropriately for her age (you may not agree but she is covered up, no undies showing, no Cyrus or Lohan style issues thus far) and having fun!
Her message is something that most 9 year olds can relate to – being yourself despite how teachers and parents and peers can try to bring you down or try to fit you into a box. I have to worry about Disney brattitude on Hannah Montana, Glee kids doing near child porn photo shoots, Noah Cyrus with her training bra on display, both Cyrus girls on poles, etc, when considering the media that might influence my sisters. I will take a fierce little hair whipper as a role model over those disasters any day of the week.
fine line between self-confidence and arrogance and age 9 is too young to be walking it in public.
@feebee…you nailed it, girl.
I’m with Mia and a few others, I have no understanding of the hatred spewed towards this child. I don’t see anyone commenting about Dakota or Elle Fanning’s lost childhoood or what a tragedy it is that Abigail Breslin’s parents pressured her to go to work at such a young age. Hollywood is full of people who have advanced in part because of their family connections Drew Barrymore, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, etc., yet the vitriol spewed towards Willow and Jaden seems to be extreme. And as for antipathy towards their parents, I don’t know a thing about their personal lives or their spiritual beliefs but I do know that they have never badmouthed anyone in interviews, are never rude, and are always gracious. I hope Willow pays attention to the words of her song and brushes the haters off because she’s doing her thing and she’s not hurting anyone.
I think she is adorable. She’s dressed appropriately, and she’s obviously intelligent, which maybe is off-putting to some who think she is too mature for her age. I like that her mom picks her outfits (note to the Cyrus clan!). And I think she will grow into her looks and turn into a beautiful young woman. Not sure about the Will Smith ears though…
I’m on board with everyone who doesn’t understand why kids like Kiernan Shipka, the Fanning girls, and other porcelain-skinned bottle blonde and mascara-ed Hollywood infants are held up as the apex of human achievement, in general. Have they not been pushed into the industry by their parents? Are their images and comments not coached and practiced with instructors? I don’t see how they are any less contrived and artificially polished, but for whatever reason, people have been cooing and fawning over them since they were even younger than this kid. Since when is acting on film ‘playing with dolls and climbing trees’?
Maybe these kids didn’t have the connections that we see here, but doesn’t that just mean that those children were put out to work at a much younger age? How is that better? I’m generally not a big fan of child performers in the first place, but I have to have to ask: what’s really the difference? I’m not going to be paying a whole lot of attention to this girl’s career, but how can we claim to have it all sussed out after a whopping single release?
@Jo, the thing about those girls is how often do you seem them if they aren’t at an industry event? And when they are the y are almost always promoting something they are involved in or being honored for. You almost never just seem them staging photo ops or anything else. That’s why people don’t pick on those girls.
Willow has been in the public eye with her parents forever. however I do like her, and am reserving judgement until she hits 16. she’ll either pull a Cyrus or Duff.
I have a seven year old daughter and I’ll take Willow over Katy Perry and Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus any day. At least Willow only sings about whipping her hair around, you know?
Personally, I think the song is stoopid but harmless. The video is stoopid but harmless and all the children are dressed, so that’s a plus. I don’t care how this kid is in real life, I only care about my kid not emulating hussies. (Not that I hate hussies… I used to be one- the brazen kind. But I’m old now and OLD brazen hussies are lame.)
@Obvious — these are the only Smith kid photos I’ve ever seen that weren’t specific red-carpet, industry events.
@44
You said it, sister!
The times they are a-changing…
Nobody is attacking the little girl. They’re bemoaning the sad fact that children are growing up way too fast.
You can look to different cultures, across eras and see variations on the idea of childhood.
Lots of children in Victorian England did hard labor starting around age 6. The notion that childhood should be fun, innocent, playful and … childlike has changed over the years.
But, personally, I like the notion of childhood. And I think kids should be encouraged and guided to enjoy their childhood because it’s the only time in their lives when they can be so unaffected, innocent and free.
I don’t understand the parents who push Justin Bieber, cool fashion and other nonsense on elementary age kids.
It’s sad.
Okay, I can see what both Obvious and texasmom are saying, though I wonder where photo shoots fall. I can see cletus’s pragmatic stance, too. I too, am not a fan of the ‘hussies’, but hussies are going to hustle and if they’re above-age, it doesn’t matter too much what I think. That’s my trouble, too much thinking. I’m just so sick of boobs spilling out everywhere, why does everything always have to be about sex and nothing else? Yeah, yeah, and it’s not going to change, and I need to get the stick out of my ass, but I KNOW I’m not alone, here.
9 going on 30. Yikes. I worry about the kids of today.
That’s what every annoying popstar out there seems to think about their own music, right? Female empowerment.
Longing for the day one of them just comes out and say “Hey, I didn’t write this shit so how am I suppose to know what it is about? Porn in disguise, obviously.”
One final comment…
Here video is quite revealing as in some scenes her face looks a bit uncomfortable and neverous as oppose to the “cool image” that she’s attempting to project. I do wonder how many takes it took to get the shots just right. My guess, many.
My first impression of Willow from previous posts were “meh, Jada is just an over zealous parent who is allowing her children to express themselves” and nothing more. However, I have to wonder now if Scientology is behind Willow’s image and the marketing of this very young child.
She comes across as a Scientology new prototype which is aimed at the young and impressionable children. The image, the futuristic fashion and the over done “cool” persona seems too contrived — there is nothing natural or genuine about Willow’s behaviour.
Cute kid, annoying as hell song.
can’t stand the song, it grates on me. My nine year old step-daughter doesn’t like it either (she calls it “that nasal crap”). But that’s just personal taste. Yes, she is a bit processed in production, but pretty much everyone is. I think she has talent, creativity, and is completely harmless. I just hope to hell she keeps learning, keeps growing, doesn’t stop her education, and doesn’t move to fast to soon. She’s cute and precocious (almost bordering on obnoxious, but then again, so is my step-kid) and could have a nice career.
I like her. And “a” I am with you, I’ll take a punky, creative Willow over a cookie-cutter Cyrus any day.
9-year-old kids should NOT be cool. They should be 9 year old kids!
It’s sad when 9 year-olds are praised for being cool and fashion-forward. Are these truly the important values we want to reinforce in a child before she’s even 10 years old? (Even in adults, it seems that we give far too much respect to people who are stylish and not enough respect to people who are bright, kind, honest or hard-working.) I’d rather see Willow out and about in “kid clothes.”
What is so self-assured and empowered about a 9 year old child who seem to need applause and adoration from a public audience that do not know her personally, even her expensive clothes that seem to be able to pay the rent of many of the parents of the kids who might buy her cd, screams look at me I am a somebody. What is most digusting is her use of the word empowerment, when she is being empowered by her parents movie star status and money.
Is it true that Harry Connick Jr’s homely daughters are releasing a single entitled ‘Wipe my Butt’?
she is awsome i think i love her let her explore her talent and live her life.that is where i am heading to.