Why Jaden Smith Won’t Talk About Former Idol Kanye West

Jaden Smith refused to respond after being asked a question about Kanye West, making it clear that he wants nothing to do with him.

The two singers have had a complicated relationship in the past. Although Jaden once looked up to Kanye, things have long changed over the years.

Meanwhile, Kanye West seems to be chasing a redemption arc, following his recent apology over his past antisemitic comments. 

During a red carpet interview for Druski’s screening of “Coulda Been Love,” Complex journalist Jillian Hardeman-Webb threw a question at Jaden, saying, “I see that you’re working with Steven Smith, who designed Yeezy footwear with Ye. What are y’all cooking up?”

The journalist had barely finished her question when Jaden turned and stormed off without saying anything.

Taken aback, Webb paused for a moment before turning back to the camera to say, “I guess we’ll never find out.” 

The incident went viral on social media, with some fans defending him and others questioning his actions. 

“What was the point of him doing that?” One fan asked. “He actually handled this the smartest way ever because if you speak Ye’s name in the spotlight, he comes after you like the boogie man,” another wrote. 

One surprised fan wrote that Jaden was “rude,” and another defended him, writing, “Her question was not thoughtful. Bringing up Ye. She tried to bait him and thought it would work cause she’s cute.” 

Jaden’s reaction to the journalist’s question wasn’t altogether surprising, given his complicated past with West. 

In the past, the young singer has often credited West for inspiring him. He even wore a Batman suit to West’s wedding to Kim Kardashian and, in 2015, explained that he did so because he felt the need to “protect everyone there.” 

However, three years later, he revealed that while he was once “Little Homie” to artists like Ye, Donald Glover, and Drake, the dynamics have changed. 

“I always felt like Little Homie before, and that allowed me in all of their circles. But now that I’m on the charts next to them, I’m not really Little Homie anymore,” he said, according to Entertainment Weekly.

However, what finally severed their relationship was when Jaden walked out of the Yeezy show at Paris Fashion Week in 2022.

At the time, the “Stronger” rapper walked the runway in a shirt with the slogan “White Lives Matter.”

Jaden’s refusal to speak about West comes weeks after the “Donda” artist apologized for his past antisemitic remarks.

“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” his letter read, per The Blast. West noted that due to his bipolar disorder, he may have lost touch with reality, which led to a lot of actions he regrets. 

“I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. Looking back, I became detached from my true self,” he admitted. 

Despite West’s seemingly sincere apology, fans came after him and accused him of only apologizing ahead of his album rollout. 

According to The Blast, one fan noted that the singer only apologizes when he has a new project coming out. 

In the same vein, another fan mentioned the likelihood of his new album being released soon. Yet another slammed him, asking others to “retire” him because nothing he does seems “sincere.” 

Despite being attacked for his statements, West maintained his innocence, saying he didn’t apologize for “commerciality” but because he truly felt remorseful. 

“This, for me, as evidenced by the letter, isn’t about reviving my commerciality. This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing my spirit,” he said, per The Blast.

He also doubled down on his apology to Black people and the Jewish community, noting that most of his actions were a result of an episode of his disorder. 

The artist revealed that when he began treatment, the reality of his statements truly sank in, and he realized he had been really disconnected from his true self.

He further revealed that he is on a mission to find the right medications to help him continue down this path of recovery.