Will Smith has revealed that his 14 year old son with wife Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden, wants to be legally emancipated from his parents so he can live on his own.
Jaden has expressed interest in being emancipated, and has asked that that be his 15th birthday gift in July. The Men in Black actor has also revealed that their parenting style includes not punishing their kids at all.
“He says, ‘Dad, I want to be emancipated.’ I know if we do this, he can be an emancipated minor, because he really wants to have his own place, like ooh,” Will told The Sun. He added, “That’s the backlash. On the other side, if kids just want to have command of their lives, I understand.”
In their second movie together After Earth, Jaden plays Kitai Raige, who helps his father Cypher, after they land on the earth 1,000 years into the future. He has to prove he can match his father’s greatness.
“It’s very similar for Jaden and me,” Will explained, “your father’s the biggest movie star in the world, and you’re struggling for your little piece of dignity in this extreme shadow.”
Vanity Fair notes Jaden would have to either join the military, get married or file legal paperwork to get legally emancipated from his parents.