• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Will Smith Felt Like A 'Coward' For Not Protecting Mum From Abuse

Home> Film & TV

Updated 20:26 23 May 2022 GMT+1Published 20:25 23 May 2022 GMT+1

Will Smith Felt Like A 'Coward' For Not Protecting Mum From Abuse

"That just left a traumatic impression of myself as a coward"

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy Phillipson

Will Smith has opened up about his past, admitting he felt like a ‘coward’ for not protecting his mum from the abuse she suffered at the hands of his dad. 

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star appeared on a recent episode of Netflix’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman where he discussed a whole manner of topics, from his rap origins to his spiritual explorations. 

The pair also touched upon Smith’s recent memoir Will, which the 53-year-old star described as a ‘labour of excruciating discovery’ as he had to dig into how he truly felt about various events throughout his life. 

Netflix

Advert

As they discussed the purpose of the book, Smith spoke about his parents – the late ​​Willard Carroll Smith Sr. and Caroline Bright. 

“What I realised, there’s a person that you want to be and there’s a person you want to be viewed as, and then there’s who you really are,” Smith said. 

“The first line of the first chapter is, ‘I’ve always thought of myself as a coward.’ 

“When I was nine years old I saw my father beat up my mother and I didn’t do anything. And that just left a traumatic impression of myself as a coward.

Advert

Will Smith with his mum Caroline Bright.
Alamy

“And then when I discovered comedy I realised negativity cannot exist inside of a human body when you’re laughing.”

He continued: “I started to cling to a natural ability I had to make people laugh. So it started as a defence mechanism. 

“But ultimately Will Smith became a symbol of joy and fun, and when I showed up I wanted people to feel good and to be happy because I’ve found that when my household was that way, I felt safe.”

Advert

Highlighting Smith’s numerous appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman over the years, the host said: “That’s the guy that we know from when you would visit us on the show,” adding that for Will it was a ‘means of surviving’. 

Another topic fans were hoping to hear about was, of course, the infamous Oscars slap. 

Alamy

Most of you will be aware of the recent controversy whereby the King Richard star slapped Chris Rock across the face for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. 

Advert

However, as is highlighted at the start of the episode, it was recorded prior to the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony and so there was no way it could’ve featured in the show.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]  

Featured Image Credit: Netflix/Alamy

Topics: Will Smith, Domestic Abuse, Netflix

Daisy Phillipson
Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

X

@DaisyWebb77

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
12 hours ago
19 hours ago
a day ago
  • 5 hours ago

    Amazon Prime series that left Stephen King's 'jaw on the floor' has an near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score

    Fans say it's 'excellent in every aspect'

    Film & TV
  • 12 hours ago

    Netflix viewers ‘can’t wait’ for season 4 of drama with perfect RT score after ‘unbelievable’ plot twist

    It's been rated 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes

    Film & TV
  • 19 hours ago

    'Unmissable’ Netflix mini drama has 100% RT ratings viewers are watching six times over

    'It's like comfort food'

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Netflix crime drama streamed for 38,900,000 hours fans are binge-watching ‘in one day’

    'A sweetly satisfying binge'

    Film & TV
  • Will Smith breaks silence on claims he was involved in Diddy’s 'freak off' parties
  • Mason Greenwood Removed From FIFA 2022 Following Abuse Allegations
  • Chris Rock Stopped LA Cops Who Were Ready To Arrest Will Smith
  • US Lawmakers Delete Controversial Will Smith Oscars Tweet