Jada Pinkett Smith on her 12 yo daughter Willow’s career: ‘she will make a comeback’


We’ve heard rumors for some time that Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s youngest child, Willow, 12, wants out of the show business career her parents are creating for her and her brother, Jaden. Willow has laid relatively low lately while Jaden, 14, has a new blockbuster scifi movie coming out with his dad called After Earth. That movie premieres at the end of this month and Jaden is poised to become a young superstar. He has a rap career and a fashion line as well. So in comparison Willow’s pop stardom was short lived and she’s being a kid and doing her thing. But that’s ok, because her mom promises Willow is going to “make a comeback.” Willow is 12 freaking years old. How do you make a comeback at 12 years old? Yes she had a hit single, but please.

Jada said this in an interview with the AP, in which she’s promoting her new documentary about 70s activist Angela Davis. Will has told this story about Willow rejecting the lead in Annie before, but it’s interesting to me how Jada words it.

AP: Wasn’t Willow supposed to star in “Annie”?

Pinkett Smith: She was supposed to star in “Annie” and Willow has decided not to. … She decided that she wants to be 12 and says right now she’s really concentrating on music skills. She’s taking piano lessons, taking her singing lessons every day and writing. She’s really just developing herself. … She’s taking her time to develop her skills, so when she feels like people are ready to know the real Willow, then she will make a comeback.

AP: As an actress, businesswoman, and the matriarch of a high-profile family, how do you deal with the constant rumors about you and Will?

Pinket Smith: They’re quite easy obstacles. When I really think about what people are going through in the world today, and dealing with people’s speculations is one thing. And knowing simply that that’s all that it is. (laughs) When you’re living your truth and you understand your truth, things get very easy. They get less complicated at least, so I’m very blessed. I am very blessed, so speculations I can deal with.

[From Huffington Post]

Notice that Jada doesn’t deny any of the rumors about her troubled maybe-open marriage with Will. She just talks about living her “truth,” which she’s talked around for a while now.

Getting back to the topic, the last we heard from Will on parenting he was saying that they let their kids do whatever they want, basically. Will saidas young as possible, give them as much control as possible.” This is the Scientology hands-off, old souls in little bodies approach to parenting, although the Pinkett-Smiths have denied that they’re members of that famous cult.

I think the Smiths have this philosophy as long as their kids are doing what they expect of them in general. It seems clear to me that stardom and fame is expected, hence Jada promising that Willow will make a “comeback.” Does that mean a comeback to her music career or a comeback that involves multi-hyphenates like Jaden? It doesn’t seem fair to these kids. They’re not just growing up in the spotlight, they’re being expected to perform just like their parents. But I do give the Smiths credit for letting Willow say she wasn’t going to do Annie. If Willow told her parents she wanted to go to school and get a degree towards a professional non-Hollywood career would they support that too? I hope so.

Oh and Willow got new hair! She dyed it lilac/purple. I like that her parents let her do her own thing with her hair and fashion.

Willow is shown on 5-9-13 with purple hair and on 2-13-13 at the Michael Kors show at Fashion Week. She looks so bored there! Credit: WENN.com

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92 Responses to “Jada Pinkett Smith on her 12 yo daughter Willow’s career: ‘she will make a comeback’”

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  1. Alexis says:

    Weird-azz family… In order to make a comeback, you have to go away. This is something that this family refuses to do.

    • LadyBird83 says:

      Took the words out of my mouth. Why not just let a kid be a kid?! Celebrities may have money but I had a childhood, which is priceless.

      • Wd says:

        I wish their hideous, talentless kids would go away.

      • @Wd says:

        Wow who pissed in your cornflakes today?? Let’s maybe not call 12 year olds hideous, ok?

      • Wd says:

        Hideous kids turn into even more hideous adults. If she doesn’t want to be called hideous, she needs to get out of the spotlight.

  2. Lia says:

    Let her be a child. At least she is strong enough to tell her parents she doesn’t want to be on the hollowood scene right now. She could always return when she’s older .

    • misstressofsylar says:

      i just want their whole family to go away. is it too mean that i’m really hoping that the new will smith is gonna bomb

  3. siobhan says:

    I feel really bad for Willow. It seems her life is being pushed in a direction that will be bad for her.

  4. paola says:

    Good Lord. She is only 12 and she is more mature than her own mother. Willow wants out and her mother wants her in. Unbelievable how stupid some parents can be.

    • BooBooLaRue says:

      Couldn’t agree more. Make “Jaded” go away — I like the kids and Will, but this woman is harsh.

      • dorothy says:

        Amazingly Jada seems to have a better head on her shoulders than mom.

      • EscapedConvent says:

        Jada Pinkett Smith, please, please go “live your truth” & “understand your truth” somewhere else.

        This is one of the very dumbest b.s. expressions that has ever inflicted itself upon my ears.

  5. neelyo says:

    Will has said in interviews he wants to create a show biz dynasty and that’s what they’re working on. Can’t stand Will and Jada so I really don’t want to see their progeny either.

    • Tia says:

      I think they have plans for their kids like all parents, but I don’t see them forcing them to do acting/singing. If anything they have shown that they give them a lot of independence

      • Sabrine says:

        It doesn’t matter what Jada says. Every comment that comes out of her mouth is hacked to death and she’s labelled as a vile, evil, stage mother. She’s just trying to make positive comments about her children and wants the best for them. Cut the lady some slack already. Both children seem happy with what they’re doing right now. They’re not being “forced” to do anything.

      • Gelda says:

        I agree.

        People just decided to hate them and their reasoning is irritatingly inconsitent. First the kids have too much freedom and are being allowed to chose careers too young. And now its the kids have no freedom and are being forced into showbiz.

        And what good would it do for Jada to declare that her marriage is happily vanilla. The same people would just snidely dismiss her and say she was a liar. It sure would be nice to read a nice piece about a black celebrity *sigh*

      • irishserra says:

        I think many of us are just so tired of the exposure. It’s a little difficult to get away from if you don’t live under a rock; hence, the tendency to pick when continually flouted. But you’re okay, you’re still free to idolize. 🙂

      • Jarredsgirl says:

        ” It sure would be nice to read a nice piece about a black celebrity *sigh* ”

        Yeah… cos people are only saying mean things BECAUSE they are black … *sarcasm* Look around you. On this site, EVERYBODY has mean things said about them. You don’t need to bring race into it.

    • V4Real says:

      The Smith’s have become just as insufferable as a few other celebs.

      As for Willow saying she no longer had interest in doing Annie; I heard it was taken away from her because they thought the role was more suited for Quvenzhané Wallis the little girl from The Beast of The Southern Wild.

      • Kate says:

        Will smith is a good actor. It’s to early to say about the kids. And willow pulled out from Annie weeks before they hired the new actress because of her age i think. And will and jada are producing it so she didn’t get fired

      • V4Real says:

        Yes I know the Smiths are producing Annie and even though they are saying it was Willow’s age they already had that little girl in mind around the same time Willow was let go. They only went public with it a few weeks after she was let go from the role.

      • Kim1 says:

        Will is producing Annie so if Willow wanted it it would be her role.She said she was too old for it.

      • bridget says:

        The Smith family was producing that project specifically as a vehicle for Willow. It was supposed to be *her* big movie so they didn’t bring in Miss Wallace until after Willow backed out.

      • V4Real says:

        I don’t want to get into a debate over something so minimal but it wasn’t Willow who said she was too old. That came from another place. Also keep in mind just because actors can also serve as producers even with their own production company they still have higher ups to answer to.

  6. Kim1 says:

    Is that Zoe next to Jada? Just read Zoe may take dip in lady pond.As for Will and Jada,Im sure they will support their kids unconditionally.Will let Trey try being in the biz and when Trey decided it wasnt for him they supported his decision.

  7. annaloo. says:

    A ‘comeback?” She’s TWELVE for crying out loud. She’s barely been here.

    Between the Gwyneths and the Cameron Douglas defense and this…these people are insufferable!

    • andrea says:

      Looks like tatyana ali to me

    • Rosalind says:

      This. She’s 12!!!! Not 32! She’s going to make a comeback? They want their 12 year old to make a comeback? My mind is boggled. Shouldn’t they be more worried about Willow receiving a good education? Having a normal childhood? I just can’t with Jada Pinkett. She’s intolerable.

  8. kim says:

    Will smith sucks it’s simple and honest….how’s that for living truth?

  9. Mia 4S says:

    I just can’t help but think reading this that if Willow decides she wants to be a marine biologist (which would be awesome) or something her parents won’t be happy. I hope I’m wrong but I doubt it. It’s “do your own thing that we approve of” really.

    • Red says:

      I’m not sure. Will’s let his older son find his own path, don’t know about jada she seems more controlling than will

      • Tasha says:

        I think that more has to do with Will’s Ex wife then Will letting his son find is own past.

        Put I agree Jade seems more controlling.

      • Kim1 says:

        No it had nothing to do with Will’s ex wife she discussed it on her reality show.She said Trey preferred to participate in sports didnt want a career in show business.Also that Willow and Jada attended almost all his games as supportive parents do.

  10. Tasha says:

    Why dose a 12 year old neebd a comeback?

  11. kay says:

    i feel like maybe you read too much into this. she’s just saying that willow’s taking a break and when she wants to sing again or whatever she’ll come back. I don’t think she’s like forcing her kids down that road. I also think it’s probably more not bothering to acknowledge rumours, instead of being like ‘well she didn’t answer the question so it must be true!’ I also think the idea is in general giving your kids room to make their own mistakes. I doubt will literally lets his kids do whatever the fuck they want. Especially as will himself bankrupted himself, I doubt he gives his kids free rein

  12. Apsutter says:

    If I hear the phrase “live in my truth” one more time I will get stabby. It’s bullshit psycho babble and the only people who say to about themselves are the ones who are lying about their life.

    • bk says:

      YES. Drives me crazy.

    • Emily says:

      Yep. It’s a Scientology thing, btw. Whatever you believe to be true, is true for you. Typical New Age horse hockey, but most of the airheaded New Age types don’t belong to an abusive cult that enslaves people.

    • Annie2 says:

      So agree. I’d like to “live my own truth” too, but I’d probably get arrested or something:)

  13. lucy says:

    I did not realize she’d gone away.

  14. bk says:

    I love that according to Jada, the world will know the “real” Willow when she’s done practicing, etc. I think that says a lot. It’s not “real” I guess to be working at something you’re not yet making money off of? If “real” equals professionalized to her, this little girl has got a tough road ahead of her.

    • Heebeegeebee says:

      I doubt that Willow knows the “real Willow”. What absolute crap. Poor child.

  15. Trudy says:

    It really seem like Jada is the one pushing her daughter into showbiz. Didnt Willow say she didnt want to be famous?

  16. Fritzi Schnitzer says:

    It’s easy to be a do nothing-kids-raise- themselves-parent. Cake. What’s hard is being the enforcer of rules, structure,teaching them actions have consequences & dealing with them being mad at you.Oh, sure, purple hair&Beetlejuice outfits,fine by me! GMAFB. Are they even educated?

    • Meanchick says:

      Why would you ask that? They have tutors is what I’ve read once before.

      • xxx says:

        Yeah but Willow has also said in interviews that she is “dumb” and way behind in her classes, particularly math because she doesn’t get the time to study/learn like she needs to. It came from her own mouth, you can listen to her saying it in a radio interview. Clearly education is not a top priority for her parents.

  17. Cool Phosphorescent Shimmer says:

    It might be nice for ol’ Comeback Willow to finish 7th grade before she has to worry about showing the effing world who she is.

  18. diva says:

    This family is getting tiresome. No one cares about these mediocre kids. I wonder why they want to push these kids into the industry so bad? Will n never pushed his oldest son into fame. I’m thinking jada wants this more than will

  19. gg says:

    The hair isn’t lilac or purple – it’s gray hair on a 12-year-old and if this were my daughter I’d make her change it. It looks ridiculous.

    • gogoGorilla says:

      I know! Yuck! Looks ridiculous.

      Also, Jada looks like Skeletor in that first pic.

  20. Marty says:

    I hope that, if she wants to, she continues her music career. Her new single “Sugar and Spice” is actually very good, but it’s definately a more mature sound. Let’s hope she really is able to pull away and do what she wants to do.

  21. Dibba says:

    Ew

  22. Itsa Reallyme says:

    I used to really like Will. I think his wife has gone completely off the deep end though and it’s getting hard to tolerate both of them.
    I haven’t seen Jaden look happy in years. Leave the children alone Jada! Why do they need careers when they’re children??? Why does Jaden have to have an acting career, a *cough* fashion line, and a music career? Let them be children!!!!
    I fear that these kids are going to be really messed up.

  23. mel says:

    My 12 year old just sent me a text pic of her and her friends acting silly at field day…my “truth” is letting my child be a child. I feel for Willow…she seems to be resisting what they are throwing at her.

  24. Soxfan says:

    There should be one whole category of STFU Parents dedicated to the Smiths.

  25. Dedrie says:

    Go to school.. become a normal member of society with wit, love for humanity, useful experience, levelheadedness and conscientious of reality.. you aren’t all that talented if you cant create with help.. special without practical smarts.. clothes you buy and money you spend aren’t signs of individual creativity and won’t make you happy.. just another wandering, sell out to fads ego-brat..

    • jaye says:

      I don’t understand why the kids are being bashed…especially Willow. She doesn’t come off as an entitled brat. She has never, to me, come across that way. Jaden seems a bit obnoxious, but as the mother of a teenager, I think they all come with a healthy dose of that.

  26. lulu1 says:

    In the Mail today there’s a quote from Will that Jaden has asked for his own HOUSE for his 15th birthday.
    They must be so proud.

    • Itsa Reallyme says:

      Well, most 15 yr olds would probably like their own house. lol I wonder if they’ll give it to him since they don’t believe in parenting anyway. smh Those poor kids. Maybe Jaden would be better off to be away from those weirdos though.

  27. TheOneAndOnly says:

    To think I liked will smith in Fresh Prince of Bel Air – anyone know what Karyn Parsons is doing these days. Certainly not pimping her child in show biz, i hope.

  28. Emily says:

    Scientology parenting is not hands-off. They expect children to be little adults, and treat them the same way they treat adults, from 16-hour work days to sexual harassment and abuse during so-called “auditing”.

  29. Dinah says:

    Huh. I was unaware that she had actually achieved any level of fame that after ebbing could generate demand for any type of comeback. LOL.

  30. Jayna says:

    Wow, she really talks in circles now when discussing her marriage. There is no warmth of love in her answers. In years past, it would have been, I am so in love with Will, blah, blah.

  31. janie says:

    What is wrong with this couple? She is a little girl? 12 yrs old? A comeback? Have these kids raised themselves? What a piece of work both parents are! I never knew what Will saw in Jada? They are polar opposites! I feel bad for both kids, no one is there for either one.

  32. Meanchick says:

    Willow DID say she didn’t want to be a star. Parents not listening to what their kids want or don’t want, is the start of bad things ahead. I feel sorry for her. *side note* Whatever Jada had done to her face, undo it!

    • Kim1 says:

      She also said music is her passion just like Elle Fanning said acting was hers.The Fannings put Elle in movies when she was a pre schooler and Dakota when she was 6 yet they are great parents GMAFB.If Willow cant pursue her interests in making music then that should apply to all child entertainers

      • Loira says:

        I bet the Fannings, just like other parents of actors children wanted them to make money for their future.
        Some parents end up like the Lohans, where they expect the children to maintain the whole family, and others, maybe like those Fanning, or Kristen Stewart, Brooke Shiwlds, or others were making money for their own future.
        The Smiths do not need to do this. To me it feels fake. I saw that Karate movie and it was awful, and the character of the child was not relatable. The girl, Tnks God I never heard her hit song in my country. I do not know her talent, but I suspect it is not great.
        They are being educated to take over after his parents or something like that. I do not buy it. To me, it feels forced.
        I will not go see his newer film.
        I do not like the parents, I used to like Will, but not anymore. And the children have yet to prove themselves, and up until now they just seem regular HW bratty kids.
        He, hanging around with Beiber, with horrible clothing and a face of eternal stomachache, and the little girl who is more known for her clothes than any talent she has.
        They are not shining because they have their own shine at all..

      • bridget says:

        This is a little girl who literally told her parents ”I’d like to just be a kid for a while”. Also, I’d strongly suggest you take some logic and reasoning classes because that is a terrible argument that you’ve tried to set forth. I take it there’s still no school at Gold base?

      • Itsa Reallyme says:

        Loira, Willow’s song was “cute”. She was a little girl with a little talent and it was adorable. My little daughter loves the song and it’s one I don’t mind her listening to.
        At the time it came out, I thought it was a case of the child showing an interest in making music and the parents supporting her since they could afford to get it produced. I didn’t realize then that it was probably more than that. Now, it seems like she’s being pushed and that’s just so wrong.

      • Loira says:

        Aitsa, in my country there are a trio of two brothers and a little sis who went up on youtube singing covers for fun and became famous because they had charisma and were kind of talented. They have moved up after two years to finally record a cd (their parents would not let them become professionals because they were worried about them, but finally relented).
        Here, seems that the Smiths looked at the boy and saw that he wanted to rap and was interested in clothes and Wham! A singer career and a clothes line…he wanted to act? Mom and Dad produced the Karate Kid especially for him to protagonize, etc.
        The they look at the girl. She wants to sing? Ok, they got Jay Z to produce her a record and booked her gigs at the White House and opening for Bieber. I do nit believe for a second that these achievements were won solely for their talent. And I bet they have “helped” them more than that.
        So much for their independence and being like little adults. They are being presented with world careers. They have not had to lift anything o sweat to become famous.
        I find that not unfair, but over the top. They want a career? Give it to them on a gold plate, even if they do not want it (like Willow). Totally blame the parents.
        It reminds me of when Katie Holmes wanted to make dresses and Tommy boy bought her a clothing line and BAM! She became a designer… With no talent at all for it. What a waste, instead of helping others with more talent.

  33. Kelly says:

    Slap some knee socks on her, get a water gun and some American Girl books and let her be 12!

    And if JPS face gets any smaller it is going to disappear. It’s positively ant-like. Does it look superimposed to you all?

  34. Stacia says:

    These kids will be either f**ked up (mentally) by the time they reach their twenties OR they will high functioning young adults…we will have to wait and see.

  35. KellyinSeattle says:

    WTF? If a career is so important to Jada, she should focus on her own. Willow looks a lot like Will! Her striped outfit is hideous, but I like Jada’s pink suit…as for Jaden, oh my gosh, have you ever heard him rap? Between the “I’m cool” facial expressions, and the insufferable music, it’s enough to cause a person to run away screaming. I do think it’s cool how they named their kids Jaden after Jada, Willow after Will…like both names. But I won’t cry if none of them has a comeback; if the kids want a stab at fame, well, they should have to wait til them get older, focusing on school now.

  36. Lisa says:

    You have to go away first to have a comeback.

  37. Asdfg says:

    I glanced at Willow and thought she was a 80 yr old grandma!! LOL

    I cant believe she dresses the way she does at 12 yrs old!

    I had no style what so ever at her age! LOL! I don’t think I cared about style at that age? Hmmm…

    I do like her style though it’s fun and edgy!

  38. lisa2 says:

    I guess I’m too old fashion. I saw this on Oh no they didn’t.

    Despite being young, Will has revealed the extra freedoms they have been allowed has encouraged his actor son Jaden to ask for a house of his own for his 15th birthday in July.
    In an interview with The Sun newspaper, Will explained: ‘He says, “Dad, I want to be emancipated,” I know if we do this, he can be an emancipated minor, because he really wants to have his own place.’
    **********************

    I wonder if Will’s older son was raised the same way. Doubt it. I look at Jaden and he looks like a baby. I just couldn’t imagine him buying a house and running it.

    I guess we are free to raise our children as we see fit. I just don’t agree. But they don’t care so..

    • EscapedConvent says:

      “Will….encouraged his actor son Jaden to ask for a house of his own for his 15th birthday in July…..`he can be an emancipated minor, because he really wants to have his own place.’”

      That is just straight-up ridiculous. These parents are goofballs.

  39. Connie says:

    What parents have plans for their kids, they hope their kids will be successful in what they presue, help and encourage but who plans their kids future.

    And even if their children’s inclination is to get into showbuz, the two parents know more then anyone how brutal and taxing it can so why would they want their children not to have childhood and not wait until up after high school or college get in the busniess.

    They’d have alonger career , the public would know as adults not children, experience more of life then being on a set all day and the brutal promotions schedule that goes into selling these movies.

    Something so wrong with how they push their young children who are still elementary school age to sing and dance like puppets, awful parents.

  40. Lemon says:

    I feel bad for these misguided scienos

  41. lisa says:

    jada is a homely no talent. i see nothing in that poor child but i feel sorry for her.

    i dont think trey trying to be an athlete is a great example of the smiths letting a kid do his own thing. pro sports is a type of entertainment.

  42. Mrs.Krabapple says:

    Watching her mother butcher her face in a desperate attempt to stay attractive cannot be good for Willow’s psyche. I think they’ve also said their kids don’t get allowance, only what they earn — and Willow’s brother probably earns a lot more than she does (Hollywood is not kind to females), which can’t be good for Willow’s psyche. Yet the parents keep pushing her into show business, which I suspect is more for their own egos. Pretty sad, really.

  43. LittleDeadGirl says:

    Amazing, the girl is more mature than the mother to know she wants to be a kid. Being a celebrity, and seeing how shitty it can be, why would you push your kids into it? Let me be children. Let them explore. If they want to be actors or musicians or whatever they can be afterwards but you can never be 12 again.

  44. BuBu says:

    The Smith family are practicing members of the cult religion Scientology and they put children to work asap for “the church.” I feel bad for their kids they are both very under-educated, and have no chance with these parents and their “religion of Scientology.”

    • loira says:

      you are probably right. They have to make money to fund their cult, hence the launch of international “careers”, to make money worldwide, and try to make them “stars” and household names to provide tax free donations for the years to come.
      No other big young stars are $cienos right now, so they have to work with what they have. The second generation of “artists”.
      I am sorry for my wordds, but I do not like $cientology or their tactics.

  45. RHONYC says:

    Zzzzzz 🙁

  46. MK says:

    Willow would do well as a model. She’s tall and leggy, and her fashion choices are are surprisingly age appropriate and edgy at the same time.

  47. Martha says:

    Dear Willow,

    GO BACK TO SCHOOL

  48. Bella Bella says:

    Ugh, I’m so old fashioned. I would never let my 12 year old wear heels. EVER.

  49. Carolyn says:

    Wow. Will & Jada would be furious Willow has pulled the plug on Annie.

    Something’s seriously wrong with these parents. Jaden appears to be toeing the line but Willow not. Hope she’ll be OK. Hope she gets great female role models as she grows that will give her proper guidance so she can see that her parents are wrong.

    Agree…how can a 12-year old “make a comeback”. Putting that out in public proves Jada has no clue about parenting. That’s shameful to suggest her daughter is a hasbeen.

    The more I read about Will & Jada the more I despise them. Bad parents.