The Touching Significance Behind the Smiths' Aladdin Premiere Appearance


From Oprah Magazine

  • Will Smith's entire family joined him at the Aladdinpremiere on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

  • The actor's three children-Trey, 26, Jaden, 20, and Willow, 18-all walked the red carpet, as did his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

  • Smith has been open in the past about the troubled relationship he's had with Trey, whose mother is Smith's ex-wife Sheree Zampino.


Will Smith's entire family came out to support him at the Aladdin premiere on Tuesday night, which would be sweet under any circumstances, but is particularly significant for one reason. Smith was joined by wife Jada Pinkett Smith–who was essentially dressed up as his character, the Genie–along with their children Willow and Jaden, and his oldest son Trey.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Trey is Smith's son from his first wife Sheree Zampino, who he married in 1992 before divorcing in 1995. In the past, the actor has been open about their troubled relationship. During a March episode of his Bucket List Facebook Watch show, Smith admitted that he had "failed" when it came to spending time with Trey in the past, but that he had recently been focused on rebuilding their bond.

"This relationship with Trey is brand new," Smith said. "When you get divorced and then start another family, that had effects on Trey that we’re still healing and overcoming. Really in the last two years has there been enough wisdom and emotional development to be able to lovingly address the issues. We’re diving into creating a divine, loving friendship."

Last year, the actor shared an emotional Instagram post with a picture of himself and Trey, in which he described how they had "struggled for years" and Trey had felt "betrayed and abandoned" following his parents' divorce. Jada, too, has been open about her evolving relationship with Trey and with Zampino.

"One of the coping mechanisms with me with Sheree was really, like, ‘Hey, she gifted me.’ She really did," Jada said last year during an episode of Red Table Talk. "I started to put that into my psychology. She’s not an enemy. She did me a favor. But then on top of that I had to go into an even deeper psychology of, ‘She’s Trey’s mother,’ as my relationship with Trey deepened.”

All of which makes it incredibly meaningful that Trey showed up to support his dad's big Disney moment alongside Willow, Jaden, and Jada.

View this post on Instagram

Dad ruled the day, but @willowsmith owned the night. #Aladdin #smithfamily #Genie #Wheredidmylittlesistergo

A post shared by Trey AcE Smith (@treysmith0011) on May 22, 2019 at 7:03am PDT

The 26-year-old even shared a cute Instagram video to mark the occasion and shout out his half-sister, noting, "Dad ruled the day, but @willowsmith owned the night." Truth!

While Trey, of course, has previously walked the red carpet with the Smith family, his appearances are rare, with some dating back to 2016 and 2013.

Photo credit: Phillip Faraone - Getty Images
Photo credit: Phillip Faraone - Getty Images
Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris - Getty Images
Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris - Getty Images

It's good to see this group connect at such a large, public-facing event.


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