Will Smith recalls 'most terrifying' experience of welcoming first child, says it 'shook me to my core'

Will Smith revealed how becoming a parent was one of the first things that truly affected him
PUBLISHED OCT 4, 2024
Will Smith tearee up while sharing the most terrifying moment of his life (Getty Images)
Will Smith tearee up while sharing the most terrifying moment of his life (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Will Smith became emotional as he reflected on becoming a father for the first time.

The Oscar-winning actor opened up on the rare moment during 'An Evening with Will Smith' at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

Will Smith opens up on fatherhood and fear after son Willard Carroll 'Trey' Smith III's birth

Will Smith reminisced about welcoming his son, Willard Carroll 'Trey' Smith III, with his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: (L-R) Trey Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Will Smith
Will Smith reminisced about welcoming his son, Willard Carroll 'Trey' Smith III (L), with his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino (Getty Images)

The actor spoke about how the experience deeply impacted him, recounting the 'terrifying' birth of Trey, now 31.

Before performing his 1997 hit song 'Just the Two of Us,' Smith explained that the track was inspired by the overwhelming emotions he felt after Trey’s birth.

"It’s when my son Trey was born. I cannot tell you what it was like bringing that child home on that first night and realizing that he was my responsibility," Smith said, as per People.

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA: In this image released on June 5, Sheree Zampino attends the 2022 MTV Movi
 Will Smith shares Willard Carroll 'Trey' Smith III, with his ex-wife, Sheree Zampino (Getty Images)

The 'Men in Black' actor shared how becoming a parent was one of the first things that truly affected him.

"Parenting was one of the first real things in my life that really shook me to my core," 'The Pursuit of Happyness' star added.

Will Smith reflects on his relationship with his father

The 'Bad Boys For Life' actor also touched on how his relationship with his father, Willard Carroll Smith Sr, added pressure on him to be a good father.

"I had talked so crazy about my father and all the stuff my father didn’t do," he said as he recalled the heavy expectations he placed on himself. "And then I was like, 'Oh no, it is my turn now,'" Smith said.


 
 
 
 
 
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He revealed that the first night after bringing Trey home was particularly hard for him. "I remember that first night. I can’t even talk about it," Smith shared as he was overcome with emotion.

Will Smith's promise to his son Willard Carroll 'Trey' Smith III

The 'I Am a Legend' actor described the promise he made to his son to always strive to be the best father he could.

"I just fell down on my knees and I made one of the most hardcore promises ever made to a human being – that I was going to do everything I could do to be a good daddy to you," he said, addressing Trey, who was in the audience.

Will Smith expressed his relief that things had worked out well. "He’s cool now, thank God – he’s going to be 32 this year," Smith added.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 23:  Will Smith attends Nickelodeon's 2019 Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Cent
Will Smith described the promise he made to his son to always strive to be the best father he could (Getty Images)

Before his performance of the song, Smith reminisced about Trey's arrival which coincided with his recent purchase of a picture-in-picture television. He likened the instructions for the new TV to the experience of becoming a parent for the first time.

"His mother's water broke, Sheree's water broke and I had just opened my TV. I was trying to set my TV up and there was a thousand-page manual for my television," Smith said.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24:  Actor Will Smith attends the Warner Bros. Pictures'
Before his performance of the song, Will Smith reminisced about Willard Carroll 'Trey' Smith III's arrival which coincided with his recent purchase of a picture-in-picture television (Getty Images)

"It was a thousand pages. It was that thick and it was multiple languages and I needed a thousand pages of information to get this TV set up," he said.

"I remember I brought him home and put him in the bassinet," he said, adding that "Cedas-Sinai sent me home with a baby and not even a pamphlet."

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