Share

Will Smith: Showbiz is like drugs

Los Angeles - Will Smith thinks the showbiz industry is like a drug.

The I Am Legend actor and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith were worried about introducing their children Jaden, 14, and Willow, 12, into the business because the constant media attention is so addictive and all-consuming.

According to The Sun newspaper, Will admitted: "I think that the major risk of this particular business is strictly emotional. The business has almost a narcotic quality.

"It's almost as if you're introducing a narcotic into your kid's life."

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air star - who has had success as both a rapper and an actor - has been helping Willow pursue a singing career, and supporting Jaden with both his movie and music dreams.

However, Will insists he isn't pushing his children into the spotlight and is merely offering them a helping hand to achieve success in their chosen career paths.

He explained in an interview with Vuture.com: "It may seem like we have pushed our kids into the business, but that is absolutely insane. I would never, ever, push somebody to have their face on a poster that's going be everywhere in the world.

'I can be a huge help'

"[Jaden] is making a choice from the informed. It's less scary to me than if he wanted to be a dentist in that I couldn't help with what he'd chosen.

"I have relationships with some of the biggest filmmakers and actors and producers on Earth. So I can be a huge help."

The father-and-son duo first appeared on the big screen together in The Pursuit of Happyness when Jaden was just seven years old, and have now reunited for new sci-fi flick After Earth.

Asked whether they would work together again in the future, Jaden quipped: "I definitely would do another one, absolutely. You know, how Johnny Depp and Tim Burton always do movies together, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio? We'll have a relationship like that."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE