Jaden Smith turns 25 on July 8, 2023 and will surely celebrate the day with his beloved family including dad Will Smith, mom Jada Pinkett-Smith and sister Willow. But ten years ago, the actor and musician felt “betrayed” by his world-famous father and asked to become an emancipated minor at the age of 15.

Will and Jaden starred together in 2013’s box office dud After Earth, and writing in his self-titled memoir, released in 2022, Will revealed how Jaden felt “betrayed” by his father’s advice because it was Will who had “coached” his son only for the teen to be hit with “vicious” critiques and reviews.

“After Earth was an abysmal box office and critical failure, and what was worse was that Jaden took the hit. Fans and the press were absolutely vicious; they said and printed things about Jaden that I refuse to repeat. Jaden had faithfully done everything that I’d instructed him to do, and I had coached him,” Will wrote.

“We never discussed it, but I know he felt betrayed. He felt misled, and he lost his trust in my leadership. At fifteen years old, when Jaden asked about being an emancipated minor, my heart shattered. He ultimately decided against it, but it sucks to feel like you’ve hurt your kids.”