‘We’ve Survived So Much’: Jada Pinkett Smith Opens Up About CPS Showing Up to Home Over Claims She Was ‘Abusing’ Willow Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith has no issues with being open and candid on her talk show. And she says the reason is that her famous family weathered the “storm” of having child protective services show up at their door.
Smith made the admission while at the Ham Yard Hotel in London hosting a screening of her Facebook Watch series “Red Table Talk” on August 1.
“We’ve been through so much as a family, it takes a lot to rock us,” she told the Daily Mail when talking about the worst thing that has ever happened to her clan. “Once you’ve survived having child protection services come to your house because someone called and said, ‘You’re abusing Willow, you’re not feeding her’ … When you’ve gone through crazy stuff like that, whatever you’ve spoke about at the ‘Red Table Talk,’ doesn’t mean anything, due to the storms you’ve survived off of that table [and being so open].
“We’ve survived so much as a family, so that’s one of the things I’m grateful for,” she added. “We hold it down together and give each other that freedom to speak our truth.”
In 2014, the Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services showed up to the Smith family home. At issue was a photo showing a then-13-year-old Willow lying in bed with her shirtless friend, actor Moises Arias, who was 20 at the time, that was posted to his Tumblr page.
Radar Online reported the agency got involved after receiving an anonymous tip “about the welfare and safety of Willow, based on the contents of the photo.”
Smith and her husband, actor Will Smith, were cleared after CPS investigated.
A source with DCFS told Radar there was “no evidence presented that Willow has ever been in any danger around Moises, or that she has ever been physically or emotionally abused.” Additionally, they found Willow was “a very well adjusted, smart, and articulate young lady.”
Speaking to TMZ before the clearing, Jada said “there was nothing sexual about that picture or that situation. You guys are projecting your trash onto it. You’re acting like covert pedophiles, and that’s not cool.”
Article via AtlantaBlackStar