Featured Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Food and Drink, Will Smith, Los Angeles, US News
Lucy Devine
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Food and Drink, Will Smith, Los Angeles, US News
Fans have been praising Jaden Smith for his new career direction outside of acting.
As fans of Jaden will know all too well, he is the son of Hollywood superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, who both in 2023 bizarrely announced they'd secretly been separated for seven years.
Anyway, away from that, Jaden and his sister Willow have long been recognized as 'nepo babies', but it seems as if they're wanting to carve paths of their own.
The rapper, 27, is opening a restaurant to feed the homeless, providing free vegan meals to those living in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles.
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It comes after the launch of his 'I Love You' food truck, which he began back in 2019.
Speaking about the restaurant, Jaden explained that while anyone can visit the eatery, those who are not homeless will still have to pay for their meals.
“It’s for homeless people to get free food,” he told Variety. “[I]f you’re not homeless, not only do you have to pay, but you have to pay for more than the food’s worth so that you can pay for the person behind you."
Jaden has explained that those who need it can access breakfast, lunch and dinner with no questions asked.
A few years ago, he opened up about the truck, explaining on Instagram: ”You know, it’s always been a dream of mine to give back. And growing up in LA, so close to Skid Row, it felt like a no-brainer back in 2019 to create the I Love You food truck and give away free meals to the community.
“At the end of the day, having access to water and food is a human right and we’re just trying to help people live a better life.
“So when people ask us why we do what we do the answer is very simple: it’s because I love you.”
Jaden said he was initially inspired to help after working with his father in the 2006 film, The Pursuit of Happyness.
“Seeing it in real life, that’s what really made me decide to create the I Love You food truck,” he said. “For something to give back to the community.”
The film is based on a true story and stars Will as a dad who is doing everything he can to keep his family in their home.
It's based on the true story of American businessman Chris Gardner, who became homeless while bringing up his son.
People have praised Smith for the move, with one calling it 'genius'.
"Now this is genius," said one person, while another added: "Aw this is so awesome." And a third said: "I commend him for this!"
While a fourth added: "Man got a good heart."