Filed under: Author Updates
Earlier this week, news broke that 'Whip My Hair' singer and Roc Nation artist Willow Smith would star in a Jay-Z produced remake of 'Annie' being produced by Columbia Pictures.
But, there's one person who isn't thrilled about the celebrity of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's children, Jaden and Willow.
NAACP Image Award nominee and New York Times Best Selling author Terry McMillan took to Twitter to blast the Hollywood heavyweights for encouraging their entertainment children to follow in their footsteps.
"The Smith children already act like child stars. There's an arrogance in their demeanor and behavior. I find it incredibly sad," McMillan said on the popular social networking platform on Jan.27. "It feels like the Smith children are being pimped and exploited. Or, they're already hungry for fame. What about 4th grade?"The 'Waiting To Exhale' author continued, "A lot of A-list movie stars shielded their children from the Hollywood-world until they were old enough to decide. Look at those who didn't. Look at Lindsay. Phoenix to name, but a few. They miss out on childhood. It's more important than fame."
She cited her own experience raising her son and how she relayed to him that she was a popular novelist.
"In 4th grade, my son came home complaining that the kids in his school said I was famous and rich. I told him that was not true," she said. "That some of my books were popular but not everybody liked them. That we could afford a vacation. 'Oh' he said, and went back & repeated it. I wanted him to think of me. He didn't read any of my novels until he was 15. He only read 26 pages. Was bored."
The 59 year-old Michigan native also got into a war of words with music critic and television personality, Toure. He countered her, "Willow and Jaden are not being pimped. They want to be out there. They're modeling their parents behavior. And they're good," to which she replied, "Shut up, Toure! You make my point even clearer."
Fed up with the response from her Twitter followers, McMillan ended the conversation by exclaiming, "I raised my son. I'm not wasting another minute worrying about how Will & Jada are raising their kids."
But added, "P.S. I loved the 'Karate Kid.'"
How's that for keeping it real!
Update: McMillan issued a quasi-apology regardling her earlier statements on Twitter. She wrote, "I apologize for using the word pimp and exploit in referring to the Smith children. It was insensitive of me and wrong. Twitter is not the best forum to express some things. I didn't know folks would take my opinion so personally. It is amazing, though, how fast an unflattering comment gets retreated versus one that's flattering. I'm done with this issue. My opinion isn't going to change anything. There are a lot more important things going on in the world right now. My Mama used to say: 'They'll talk about you if you do. And talk about you if you don't. Let 'em talk.' Some folks look for a reason to criticize you. They're getting off on it and are saying much worse things than I did. I've got work to do. I hope everybody who has something important to do today besides worry about the Smith children, does it. And for those of you who were so offended by what I said or thought I was being disrespectful, unfollow me. So, I'm on blast? Too bad when I talk about what's happening in the government, the GOP, racism, love, etc., doesn't go viral."