Jaden Smith Says Willow Smith Is ‘Strong’ for Dropping Her Last Name

Jaden Smith, the 22-year-old son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, is supportive of his younger sister, 19-year-old Willow Smith. They root for each other in everything they do and have a tight-knit relationship.

Jaden supported Willow in her decision to go by her first name only. In fact, he admired the move so much he did the same thing. 

Jaden Smith says Willow Smith going by her first name is a sign of strength

Smith opened up about why he sometimes goes by “Jaden” during a July 2020 interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show. He explained the idea came from Willow.

“I realized that Willow changed her name to Willow at some point in time. And that she was no longer Willow Smith,” he said. 

Smith continued, admitting it took him “a while” to notice the change. But when he finally did he couldn’t help but admire the switch.

“And I was like, ‘Yo. That’s so strong,’” Jaden said of his sister. “You feel like you don’t have to say your last name. You’re just Willow.” 

Now, Jaden goes by his first name as a musician but sticks to his full name when it comes to acting and charity work. 

Willow Smith says her parents have never forced her and Jaden Smith to love each other

Only a few years apart in age, Willow and Jaden have always been close. The sister and brother opened up about their relationship speaking to Pharrell Williams for Interview magazine in 2016. As Willow described, their famous parents never tried to force a bond between them. 

“I could’ve spent my entire childhood like, ‘I have to love this person.’ And it becomes a chore. But our parents were never like, ‘You have to love them,’” she said.

Instead, Will and Jada let the kids figure things out for themselves. 

“It was more like, ‘You have your life. He has his life. And when you guys want to come together, when you guys want to commune, that’s up to you,’” she said.

Over time, Willow says she and Jaden discovered how well they get along. 

“And throughout us realizing ourselves and realizing each other, we just opened our eyes and were like, ‘D**n, you are the yin to my yang,’” she said. 

Willow continued, saying that’s usually not the case.

“Not a lot of siblings have that opportunity because they’re always being pushed together so much,” she said. “They need their time apart in order to realize themselves and realize who they are.”

This isn’t the first time Smith’s taken his sister’s lead. As previously mentioned, he’s said there’s no competition between him and Willow because she’s “always better.” 

Smith noted how growing up, Willow always seemed to be one step ahead of him despite being younger. Today, they’re both embrace their similar interests. The siblings went on tour together in 2019 as Willow and Jaden.