Will Smith Hilariously Teases Son Jaden Over His Plans for Kids in Epic 25th Birthday Tribute: Wait Till You Hear This!

Will Smith and Jaden Smith. Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock

On Saturday, July 8, Will Smith playfully teased his son, Jaden Smith, on his birthday. The 54-year-old actor, known for his role in "King Richard," took to Instagram to wish Jaden a happy birthday. Smith couldn't help but comment on the fact that his son is turning 25, jokingly comparing it to his own life when he was 25 and had a two-year-old. He ended his message by asking what Jaden is up to these days.

Will became a parent for the first time in 1992 when he welcomed his son Trey Smith with his then-wife Sheree Zampino. Eventually, the couple separated three years later, and Will moved on to marry Jada Pinkett Smith in 1997. Despite the end of their marriage, Will and Sheree continued to co-parent Trey. Jada, who was not a mother when she got together with Will, faced some challenges in understanding and navigating the role of a stepmother, which occasionally caused tension in their blended family.

Zampino acknowledged that Pinkett Smith, aged 51, has successfully adjusted to her role as a stepmother and has been exceptional to Trey. Zampino admitted that for Trey to consider Pinkett Smith as his mom, he must feel comfortable and want to fit in with their family dynamics. Zampino emphasized the importance of allowing Trey to go through his own journey and acknowledged that it does not diminish her role as his mother. She expressed her confidence in her role and stated that no one can undermine it.

Trey Smith, Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Will and Pinkett Smith ultimately became parents to two children, with their son Jaden being born in 1998 and daughter Willow in 2000.

In a 2013 interview with Haute Living, Will shared that his parenting style closely mirrors that of his own parents, with one notable difference. He explained, "We treat our children with the same respect we would give any other individual. For example, we don't instruct them to clean their rooms, as you wouldn't expect a grown adult to be told to do so."

In 2013, when Jaden was 15 years old, he even expressed a desire to move out of the house and be legally emancipated. Pinkett Smith recalled this moment during a June 2018 episode of Red Table Talk, describing it as one of the most heartbreaking moments of her life. She remembered Jaden telling her that he needed to leave in order to live his own life. Despite being devastated, Pinkett Smith understood and agreed with his decision, as she had recognized his maturity from a young age. She even shared with Will that they would be fortunate if they could keep Jaden living at home until he turned 16.

Jaden ultimately decided against pursuing emancipation, telling Ellen DeGeneres in May 2013 that he is “not going anywhere.”