Will Smith Thought About Killing His Own Father

In his new book, Me, Will Smith goes into detail about the relationship he had with his father and how at one time, he contemplated getting revenge on him in the worst possible way. Although he states the good things as well, he details the bad things his father did, and just how it made him feel growing up and what it almost inspired him to do.

Despite the upbringing in Philadelphia, Smith cared for his father when he was battling serious illness, all the while, the memories from his youth coming back to him.

“My father was violent, but he was also at every game, play, and recital. He was an alcoholic, but he was sober at every premiere of every one of my movies. He listened to every record. He visited every studio. When I was nine years old, I watched my father punch my mother in the side of the head so hard that she collapsed. I saw her spit blood.

One night, as I delicately wheeled him from his bedroom toward the bathroom, a darkness arose within me. The path between the two rooms goes past the top of the stairs. As a child I’d always told myself that I would one day avenge my mother.

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I paused at the top of the stairs. I could shove him down, and easily get away with it. As the decades of pain, anger, and resentment coursed then receded, I shook my head and proceeded to wheel Daddio to the bathroom. In the end, it will not matter one single bit how well (people) loved you — you will only gain ‘the Smile’ based on how well you loved them.”

Will’s dad, Willard Carroll Smith Sr., passed away in 2016. His new book, Me, comes out on November 9th.