Scroll To Top
People

WATCH: Will Smith on His Son Jaden's Gender Fluidity

WATCH: Will Smith on His Son Jaden's Gender Fluidity

BBC Radio 1Xtra

"Jaden is 100 percent fearless," the actor told a popular British teen interviewer. 

Lifeafterdawn
Support The Advocate
LGBTQ+ stories are more important than ever. Join us in fighting for our future. Support our journalism.

Actor Will Smith was asked how as a dad he handled jokes aimed at his middle child, Jaden, whose gender-fluid style has made headlines around the world. His answer, as Gay Star News reported, was one every parent should hear, understand and appreciate.

"There's a really powerful internal quality as an artist that as parents we encourage," Smith told BBC Radio 1Xtra host A.Dot.

At first, Smith joked about encouraging his children's freedom of expression: "Yeah, I think it may have been a mistake. We may have gone too far." He and A.Dot laughed, then Smith got serious.

"Jaden is 100 percent fearless. He will do anything, you know? So as a parent, it's scary. It's really terrifying. But he is completely willing to live and die by his own artistic decisions and he just doesn't concern himself with what people think."

Jaden is 17 and Smith's youngest son. The teen was unveiled as the new face of Louis Vuitton womenswear last month.

Thank You So Much @louisvuitton And @nicolasghesquiere For The Opportunity To Impact This World. |||

A photo posted by Jaden Smith (@christiaingrey) on

In April 2015, he posted a picture of him wearing a dress on Instagram that was captioned ""Went to TopShop to Buy Some Girl Clothes, I Mean 'Clothes.'"

Went To TopShop To Buy Some Girl Clothes, I Mean "Clothes"

A photo posted by Jaden Smith (@christiaingrey) on

Watch the interview from BBC Radio 1Xtra below, and scroll forward to 3:07.

Lifeafterdawn
The Advocates with Sonia BaghdadyOut / Advocate Magazine - Jonathan Groff & Wayne Brady

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Dawn Ennis

The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.
The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.