Will Smith’s children get a lot of media attention and it’s not just for their musical endeavors. Jaden Smith’s twitter gets made fun of for being a smorgasbord of incoherent ramblings, and Willow Smith’s mature music videos and personal style has made people question Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s open parenting style.

But everyone should cut the Smith kids a break by enjoying their art and getting out of their personal lives. Whether or not you agree with Jaden and Willow Smith’s actions, there is no denying they have talent.

It has been an exciting week for actor Will Smith’s kids. Jaden Smith released a seven minute song “Blue Ocean” with stream-of-consciousness style rapping on Wednesday and followed it up with “Trophy” the next day. He was also featured on Childish Gambino’s mixtape STN MTN/Kauai that dropped Thursday. Not to be outdone, Willow Smith released her own single, “Your Love” on Friday.

The two kids get a lot of flack for simply acting their age. It’s hard enough growing up without the added pressure of fame. They are also criticized for piggybacking their parent’s success rather than working for it themselves.

Jaden Smith has been releasing music for several years and his collaboration with Childish Gambino is not the first time he has been in cahoots with a big act. Smith was also featured on Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” which landed at No. 8 on Billboard’s U.S. charts. In addition to his music career, Jaden Smith also has a clothing line MSFTS, and has had a successful acting career, with the exception of the flop “After Earth.”

Willow Smith had a modest acting career with appearances in “I Am Legend,” “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Movie” and “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.” But her music career has made many more headlines. “Whip My Hair” went platinum in the U.S., she performed “21st Century Girl” on The Oprah Winfrey Show and collaborated with Nicki Minaj on “Fireball”. And her most recent musical venture “Your Love” is her best yet. On the heels of the positive feedback from “Easy Easy,” her King Krule cover, she is well on her way to solidifying a spot as a respected musician.

But the talent that brought them fame, has also pushed them under the microscope.

Jaden Smith is an independent thinking 16-year-old who has been criticized since the beginning of his career. To promote his remake of “Karate Kid,” Smith, who was 12 at the time, appeared on Late Show with David Letterman. There was outpouring that Smith was an ungrateful brat because of his lack of enthusiasm. Since then, the criticisms have focused on his bizarre tweets and clothing choices, most notably the white batman suit he wore to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding. Even though he makes some quirky decisions, everyone criticizing him should remember he is only 16.

Willow Smith receives similar criticism. The 13-year-old makes daring fashion choices, has several ear piercings and cuts her hair when she wants to — much like every other 13-year-old. But because Willow Smith has famous parents her haircuts become subject of magazine interviews. When she shaved her hair in 2012, her father was interviewed in Parade Magazine and questioned how he and Jada Pinkett Smith could let their daughter make such a drastic decision. Willow Smith has also been criticized for her mature friends and a picture that surfaced early this year with her lying on a bed with a 20-year-old.

Both Jaden and Willow Smith are talented musicians. Their music should be appreciated for its innovation and skill. The criticism of their private lives is an unfortunate effect of their parent’s fame and should be stopped. The Smiths are not perfect but they’re growing up, which is hard enough as is without a worldwide audience watching you.

Erin G. Kelly is a senior broadcast and digital journalism major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at egkelly@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @egknew.

Published on October 6, 2014 at 12:51 am