14 DAY TRIAL // Jada Pinkett Smith and husband Will Smith have two of the most famous children in showbiz, little stars on their own. Willow already is a chart-topping singer, while Jaden is making a name for himself as an actor. What applies to neither, Jada insists, is that they’re exploited.
Ever since Willow announced that she wanted a career as a singer, when she was 9 years old, talk of whether Jada and Will were robbing their kids of their childhood never stopped making the rounds.
Author Terry McMillan said at the beginning of the year that Willow and Jaden were the best example of the worst in the industry: children led by parents down paths they didn’t want and would later hate, only because said parents wanted to exploit them and make a fortune off them.
Jada is now putting those claims to rest, pointing out that, unlike other child stars, her and Will’s have complete freedom to choose their future.
Not only do Willow and Jaden not have to support their family, but they also have enough financial backing from their mom and dad to do whatever they want with their life.
As it happens, they want to be in showbiz – and who’s to say they shouldn’t if that’s what gives them pleasure and what they’re good at.
“Our children are allowed to stay in the paradigm of being a child. They don’t have to take care of their families: become the complete emotional, physical, and financial focus that happens to many child stars,” Jada says in an interview cited by SingersRoom.
“Our family structure is a little different and it’s quite hard to comprehend because it’s so outside what usually happens in a family, but the paradigm is the same,” the actress points out.
“This isn’t about fame or money. They were still going to have their trials because of who their parents are. As much as I wish I could figure out a way I could protect my children, they have their destiny. I’m not going to put brakes on that out of fear,” Jada underlines.
In the same interview, the star admits that, even with her children being quite mature for their age, she still has to keep an eye out lest all the fame should go straight to their head.
“I will not overlook that. I have a 10-year-old who can stand up in front of an audience of 17,000 and rock the house. I have to keep her grounded,” she says of Willow.
Speaking of rocking the house, Willow Smith performed at the Kids’ Choice Awards 2011 over the weekend – and this is precisely what she did.