Will Smith, the renowned actor with an impressive list of blockbuster movies and Academy Awards, is equally famous for his unwavering dedication to his family. Despite facing a significant career challenge in the past, Smith’s love and commitment to his family have remained unwavering.
In an attempt to support his son, Jaden Smith, in his acting career, Will Smith faced a challenging time after the movie “After Earth” experienced a disastrous box office performance, leading to a detrimental effect on Jaden’s career and mental well-being. Having previously enjoyed success together in the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” and witnessing Jaden’s growth with “The Karate Kid,” Will Smith was determined to help his son maintain his success in Hollywood.
With the ambition to relaunch Jaden’s career, the father-son duo collaborated on the movie “After Earth” in 2013. However, the film faced commercial and critical failure, with Jaden bearing the brunt of public criticism for his acting skills. Despite their best efforts, the movie did not resonate with audiences, leaving Jaden feeling humiliated and unable to handle the harsh criticism.
The aftermath of the movie’s failure was particularly heartbreaking for Will Smith, as Jaden expressed a desire for emancipation at the young age of 15. Feeling betrayed and misled, Jaden lost trust in his father’s leadership, leading to a heartbreaking moment for the family. Will Smith reflected on this difficult period in his memoir, “Will,” acknowledging the “abysmal box office and critical failure” of “After Earth” and his son’s subsequent emotional response.
In a candid confession, Will Smith revealed that his heart shattered when Jaden broached the topic of emancipation. He deeply regretted the impact of his failed attempt to support his son’s career, and the thought of hurting his child weighed heavily on him. The actor expressed how painful it was to feel responsible for causing distress to his own children.
Despite the hardships they faced, Jaden ultimately decided not to pursue emancipation, indicating a reconciliation between father and son. While the failure of “After Earth” had a significant impact on their relationship, the Smith family managed to work through the challenges and emerge stronger as a unit.
Recalling the moment when Jaden Smith sought emancipation, the Aladdin actor stated, “at 15 years old, when Jaden asked about being an emancipated minor, my heart shattered”. Feeling regretful and guilty of destroying his son’s career despite trying to do what’s best, Smith confessed, “it sucks to feel like you’ve hurt your kids”.
