The GEM Debate:
Should Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Be Under Investigation? (POLL)
By now you’ve probably already heard about the controversy regarding Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s daughter, Willow Smith. A photo of her (pictured above) with actor Moises Arias was posted on Instagram a few weeks ago. This dusted up a kerfuffle because Arias is 20 and Smith is 13.
Now, the Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services has begun an investigation of the Smiths. “The investigation was formally opened last week and is being taken very seriously by the department. Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been extremely cooperative with officials. Of course, they aren’t happy that their parenting skills are under scrutiny, but they understand,” a source told Radar Online, adding that social workers will be speaking to Willow separately, as well as Arias.
Meanwhile, Jada told a paparazzo that there was nothing to the picture, saying, “Here’s the deal: there was nothing sexual about that picture or that situation. You guys are projecting your trash onto it, and you’re acting like covert pedophiles, and that’s not cool.”
Related: The GEM Debate: Willow And Jaden Smith – Too Much Too Soon?
There is no way I would allow my 13-year-old daughter to hang out with a man. I’m not saying Will or Jada Pinkett Smith allowed it because I have no idea. Even if the relationship is platonic, which is possible, there is no reason or circumstance where I would be okay with that for my girls.
Having said that, I’m not freaking out about Willow Smith’s picture. I can see why it provokes outrage in people, especially those who don’t agree with the Smiths’ ideas about raising children. But when you look at this picture, what do you really see? What is inappropriate about it? If Moises Arias was 14 or 15, nobody would be clutching their pearls about it. Of course, I realize that his age makes the difference, but his age doesn’t mean that there’s something salacious going on. His age brings up questions, sure, but for me, it brings up questions about his judgment and level of maturity. I don’t automatically assume that deficient parenting is involved.
Quite frankly, the investigation of the Smith family disturbs me. It is possible that Will and Jada Smith thought Willow was in one place being supervised by responsible adults when she was hanging out somewhere else. If that’s the case, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time a teenager deceived her parents regarding her whereabouts. Some of you may have been there with your own children. Would you want child protective services to upend your life based on something like that?
If you’re thinking, “I would never let my child do that,” it might be a good idea to go through your children’s social media accounts and look for any pictures that could be open to interpretation, as the Smith/Arias picture is. Suppose there is a picture of your teenage son with a friend who is holding a can of beer. Your son doesn’t drink, but somebody with a knee-jerk reaction doesn’t know that and calls children and family services because you “aren’t doing your job.” Are you prepared to have every facet of your life examined by strangers based on a photo that proves nothing?
I understand that people want to protect children. We should all want that. My point is that if one is ready to get children and family services involved, there should be more evidence than two people pictured on a bed not touching and not looking at each other. Just because it doesn’t “look right” doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Related: The GEM Debate: Would You Let Your Daughter Do THIS?
What do you think? Should the Smiths be under investigation? What would you have done if your child was in a situation like this? Take the poll and share your thoughts below.
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