Us Weekly Mobile - Celebrity News - Jada Pinkett Smith Defends Daughter Willow's Buzz Cut: It's Her Decision

November 28, 2012

Willow Smith** is lucky to have a mom like Jada Pinkett Smith.

The tween "Whip My Hair" singer found herself being heavily scrutinized after getting a buzz cut in February, which she later dyed neon yellow, bubblegum pink and green. Pinkett Smith, 41, addressed the controversy via her official Facebook page Nov. 21.

"This subject is old but I have never answered it in its entirety. And even with this post it will remain incomplete," the 41-year-old Matrix Revolutions star began. "The question why I would let Willow cut her hair. First the 'let' must be challenged. This is a world where women, girls are constantly reminded that they don't belong to themselves; that their bodies are not their own, nor their power or self determination. I made a promise to endow my little girl with the power to always know that her body, spirit and her mind are her domain."

The actress (also mom to Jayden, 14, and stepmom to Trey, 20) continued, "Willow cut her hair because her beauty, her value, her worth is not measured by the length of her hair. It's also a statement that claims that even little girls have the right to own themselves and should not be a slave to even their mother's deepest insecurities, hopes and desires. Even little girls should not be a slave to the preconceived ideas of what a culture believes a little girl should be."

The actress' husband, Will Smith**, 44, addressed similar concerns during a May interview with Parade.

"When you have a little girl, it's like how can you teach her that you're in control of her body? If I teach her that I'm in charge of whether or not she can touch her hair, she's going to replace me with some other man when she goes out in the world," the Men in Black III actor explained. "She has got to have command of her body. So when she goes out into the world, she's going out with a command that is hers. She is used to making those decisions herself. We try to keep giving them those decisions until they can hold the full weight of their lives."

Willow, 12, spoke up for herself via her 2012 single, "I Am Me."

"Days pass I'm trying to find who I really am. I've been looking people don't like the way I dress," she sang. "I dyed my hair and it's not just vanity. Your validation is not that important to me."

This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Jada Pinkett Smith Defends Daughter Willow's Buzz Cut: It's Her Decision

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ITS ALL ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING ITS A PART OF LEARNING WHATS WHAT AND BEING OPEN MINDED TO ALOT OF LIFES SITUATIONS NOT TO MENTION INDEPENDENCE ITS REALITY ITS LIFE U GO JADA

Posted by doug December 4, 2012, 4:31 am

All parents should be as open minded as Jada Smith, little girls need to learn how important finding themselves is and be confident in their own skin. I think it's disturbing how so many uneducated Americans pull out the race card anytime an African American gets critique over anything. We all know a black person can raise a child, how they just like any other parent choses to raise said child is up to them.

Posted by Veronica Walters November 30, 2012, 12:11 pm

I so relate to jada!i go through this with my daughter all the time,shes 9 and last year i let her shave her head but she has a side swoop kinda like cassie,and she gets designs once a month its so cute and shes her own person with a different style and personality and i let her be her own self.people maybe get a first impression that shes a troublemaker because of her different look but she gets straight a's,is in the gifted program and is so sweet and well mannered.so i identify with this and agree with will and jada!

Posted by -christine- November 29, 2012, 6:54 pm

Why all the fuss, its not important.

Posted by ripetomato November 29, 2012, 5:02 pm

Well, how can Jada tell Willow not to cut her hair when she has drastically changed her soft look into what it is now. I'm not saying Jada doesn't look good, she just doesn't look like herself anymore. So telling Willow to be one way would be like the pot calling the kettle black.

Posted by Shawn25 November 29, 2012, 2:51 pm

It's only Hair!! It will grow back. Leave the child along. At least she's not getting into trouble.

Posted by cryss November 29, 2012, 2:35 pm

I Hate that people ACT LIKE BLACK PEOPLE, DON'T KNOW HOW to Raise their Children! Blacks were good Enough TO Raise White's Children! In Slavery times! Worked in the fields, Cooked the Meals! And Cleaned the Houses! BLACK PEOPLE! DID THAT! That Lazy! They Don't know Anything! Hello! NOT Only have Blacks Never in Life had the CHANCE to be LAZY! They Not Only had to Raise their Own Children, they Raised Others! Leave People Kids Alone! It's Hair! How does that Make Willow Out Of Control? I've seen Worst ON here From Younger White Children! But the Posts are Always; OH, What a Great Mom! That will let their child express themselves! I hate the Double Standard!

Posted by Bbthumper November 29, 2012, 11:51 am

having a mother like jada would be amazing for who she is her parenting skills are to be respected and admired what a great example to parents of the rich and famous

Posted by doug November 29, 2012, 10:34 am

Well I partly agree but I still think they want to be these liberal parents that raise their kids to be their friends. Trust me they need parents that will put their foot down and be firm when needed. Ans she just looks strange without hair. Her face doesnt look right. They need the guts to at least tell her the truth about how no hair makes her look awful.

Posted by jojee November 29, 2012, 2:49 am

Great post below @gellie.I honestly don't see the problem with Willow's hair.Will and Jada seem like great parents..People wll find any reason to talk trash.Leave the girl alone though,she's just a 12,year old child!

Posted by j.lee November 29, 2012, 1:08 am

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