11 Lessons From Will Smith’s Esquire Q&A

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Will Smith is back. He might rap again, and it would appear his upcoming movie, Focus, will earn a lot of money and make us forget about After Earth.

But what do you really know about Willard Carroll Smith Jr.? Odds are that after checking his latest interview with Esquire, you’ll know a few more things than before. He pretty much opens up like Dennis Rodman on Oprah’s couch without the crying. Check these 11 lessons from Will Smith’s Esquire Q&A and be amazed.

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Photo: Esquire/Hearst Publications

photo: WENN

Will Fell In Love With Stockard Channing

Smith tried Method acting during Six Degrees Of Separation, and it worked a little to well. Much like his character Paul, he fell in love with Stockard Channing.

His First Album Dropped A Month Before Graduation

That would be high school graduation. The man was 17-years-old with somewhere between $500,000 and a cool million worth of Jive Records’ money.

'Justice For All' civil rights march on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.

photo: WENN

He Didn’t Know How To Be Helpful About Ferguson

Will Smith understands the systemic issues of racism and gun culture that are causing black men to get gunned down. He just “cannot figure out how to be helpful” yet.

Will Smith Has 10 Percent Body Fat

Dude is 46-years-old. This gets the obligatory pause just for being mentioned, but most people half his age aren’t it that kind of shape.

photo: WENN

Playing Muhammad Ali Was The Highlight Of His Career

It doesn’t get much better than sitting at a table with both Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali.

photo: WENN

After Earth Was The Most Painful Moment Of His Career

“My son was involved in After Earth and I led him into it. That was excruciating.”

He Says He’s Been “Clumsy, Ham-Fisted And Non-Poetic”

There are a lot of non-corny things Will wants to say (see his thoughts on Ferguson). He just hasn’t found the right way to express them through his art.

photo: WENN

Will Smith Has A Serious Inferiority Complex

“When I was fifteen my girlfriend cheated on me, and I decided that if I was number one, no woman would ever cheat on me.”

photo: WENN

The Young Turks Made Willow Smith Cry

Apparently Willow was/is a big fan of The Young Turks. She released something that gave her the distinct impression the feeling wasn’t mutual. Ouch.

photo: WENN

Will Wants Jaden To Get Another Pair Of Shoes

The one pair of kicks thing is apparently true. Will gets it, but he would like his seed to maybe grab another pair.

photo: WENN

2010 Was The Best/Worst Year Of Will Smith’s Life

His kids were respectively in The Karate Kid and on the top of the charts. He freaking interviewed Barack Obama. But will says he still felt empty and his family was “battered by conquest.”