Will Smith may have one of the most famous faces in Hollywood, but the A-list seemingly isn’t above admitting when he’s made a mistake. Whether he’s apologizing for scandalous behavior, such as slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, or confessing his parenting mistakes. Recently, the I Am Legend star opened up about one thing he regrets when it comes to the way he parented his youngest two children, Willow and Jaden, whom he shares with his longtime wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
During an interview on Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Amanda, Will Smith opened up about parenting his now-grown children, and he didn’t hold back. The A-lister revealed that he and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith also preached “radical honesty” with their kids, which ended up backfiring, per BET.
“We made a very, very, very terrible mistake with our children, and we went with radical honesty,” Smith said. “But don’t do it, I’m not advocating for it.”
Will revealed that it’s a simple concept. As long as Willow and Jaden told the truth they wouldn’t face any major consequences from their parents. “The only way you can get in trouble in this house is if we find out you did something and you don’t tell the truth,” he elaborated.
Will Smith Admits To Parenting Fail With Famous Kids
However, as the Smith kids got older, Will and Jada soon realized that they may have given their kids too much freedom, as well as openness with their parenting technique.
“They do whatever they want and then just come tell you. It’s awful. Don’t try it. You want your kids to lie, definitely,” Smith declared. “You don’t want to know some of the stuff your kids are thinking of doing.”
Smith’s children have grown up in the public eye, and know all too well that their words and actions will usually be debated online by the masses. However, they’ve continued to march to the beats of their own drums. Willow has made a name for herself away from her famous parents with her unique musical talents and eclectic beauty statements. She’s also joined her mother, Jada, for roundtable discussions about family, love, relationships, and much more.
Meanwhile, Jaden has acted in films, even previously co-starring with his father. He’s also become well-known for his interesting fashion choices that push the envelope and encourage inclusivity.
While it seems that Will Smith may have everything figured out when it comes to his career, both in acting and music, he’s still learning what it means to be a father, although his kids are all now adults.
