Jaden Smith stirred up some debate by abruptly leaving an interview during a red carpet event.
On Wednesday, Smith was present at an event where Complex journalist Jillian Hardeman-Webb engaged him for a conversation.
It appears that Smith has shifted his focus from music to fashion, having been appointed as the men’s creative director for luxury brand Christian Louboutin last year.
According to a press release from that time, the 27-year-old, son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, is set to ‘oversee the creation of four collections annually across men’s shoes, leather goods, and accessories.’ He will also work on developing the brand’s visual and emotional identity for marketing campaigns, events, and experiences, as reported by People.
Smith attended Druski’s exclusive screening for the second season premiere of the Coulda Been Love series in Los Angeles last week, where he spoke with Hardeman-Webb.
Considering his fashion involvement, she inquired: “I see that you’re working with Steven Smith, who designed Yeezy footwear with Ye. What are y’all cooking up?”
Smith abruptly walked away without offering any explanation, leaving Hardeman-Webb in an awkward position.
“I guess we’ll never find out,” she remarked to the camera.
The incident sparked mixed reactions online. One Twitter user remarked, “Omg lmfao I’m sorry but that was sooo dramatic.”
Another commented, “The problem with taking Nepo celebs seriously.”
Some speculated that Smith’s departure was due to the mention of Ye (Kanye West).
One individual noted: “Disrespectful af…. maybe it was the Ye reference that made him feel she was being messy? I miss the nepo babies with PR training… There was a better way to handle that.”
Another added, “Mentioning Kanye was random and maybe he saw it as shady, he still shouldn’t have stormed off like that.”
Smith and Ye have had a rocky relationship over the years. While Smith once acknowledged the ‘I Am a God’ rapper as an inspiration for his music career, it is believed they are no longer in communication.
In 2022, Smith exited one of Ye’s fashion shows after Ye wore a ‘White Lives Matter’ t-shirt.
Following the incident, the Karate Kid actor expressed in a now-deleted tweet: “I can’t stand behind what Kanye’s saying. He does not have the full support of the youth.”
He further stated in another post, “I don’t care who it is if I don’t feel the message I’m out.”
UNILAD has reached out to Smith’s representatives for comment.