Jada Pinkett, Willow & Jaden Smith Support Will Smith At 'King Richard' Premiere After Actor Details Traumatic Childhood In New Memoir: Photos
A family affair!
Will Smith and his famous family attended a screening of his latest film King Richard at the 2021 AFI Fest Closing Night on Sunday, November 14.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star was accompanied at TCL Chinese Theatre by his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and his two children, Jaden Smith and Willow Smith.
King Richard stars Will as Richard Williams — father of tennis phenoms Venus and Serena Williams — as he raises the budding athletes from the streets of Compton, Calif. to the international stage at Wimbledon.
The family outing comes as the Aladdin star is ripping open childhood wounds in his upcoming new memoir, Will. In an excerpt published by the Sunday Times, the 53-year-old actor revealed he suffers from guilt as he feels he failed to protect his mom as a child when his father would physically abuse her.
“When I was nine years old, I watched my father punch my mother in the side of the head so hard that she collapsed,” he wrote, recalling a specific traumatic moment that has stuck with him throughout his life. “I saw her spit blood.”
The I Am Legend star’s dad, Willard Carroll Smith Sr., and mom Caroline Bright divorced in 2000. Willard died in 2016, but the effect of his father’s abuse on his mother lives on. “Within everything that I have done since then — the awards and accolades, the spotlights and the attention, the characters and the laughs — there has been a subtle string of apologies to my mother for my inaction that day,” he explained.
“For failing her in that moment,” Will continued. “For failing to stand up to my father. For being a coward.”
Scroll through to see photos of Will Smith and his family at the King Richard premiere.
- Will Smith Jokes He Should Get 'More Time' To Speak At 2022 Critics Choice Awards After Winning Best Actor For 'King Richard'
- 'It Sucks': Jaleel White Reveals Reason Behind His Falling Out With Will Smith in New Memoir
- Who Are Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Close Friends? Inside His Inner Circle — From Jay-Z to Beyoncé and More
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
Jada looked lovingly at her husband of 24 years on the red carpet.
Will wowed in a dapper blue suit, while his wife stunned in an off-white dress with a gorgeous long cape trailing behind her.
Willow, 21, and Jaden supported their father during opening night of his new film.
The 23-year-old and his mom stunned on the carpet.
Willow and Jaden opted for matching edgy looks, sporting black outfits with prints.