Jaden Smith Walks Out of Red Carpet Interview After Kanye West Mention

13 February 2026

At a recent Los Angeles premiere event for the second season of Coulda Been Love, actor and musician Jaden Smith stormed out of an interview when a question touched upon Kanye West, a moment that has since gone viral and sparked discussion about celebrity boundaries and media expectations. The incident unfolded on February 11 as Smith was speaking with journalist Jillian Hardeman-Webb on the red carpet before the screening.

The reporter began by referencing Smith’s work with designer Steven Smith, who previously collaborated with West on the Yeezy line, and asked what the pair were “cooking up,” a prompt intended to tie fashion and creative collaborations together. Rather than answer, Smith abruptly turned and walked away, leaving the interviewer to quip that audiences would never know the details. The sudden exit quickly made the rounds across social media platforms, prompting reactions from fans and commentators who were divided over his response and whether it was warranted.

The 27-year-old creative has a long and complex history with Kanye West, now known as Ye, which provides important context for his reaction. Earlier in his career, Smith openly cited West as a major influence, even attending West’s 2013 wedding in a striking Batman suit and speaking about creative admiration. However in recent years their relationship cooled, and Smith publicly distanced himself from the rapper’s circle. In 2022 he made headlines for leaving West’s Yeezy fashion show in Paris after West presented a divisive “White Lives Matter” theme, immediately sharing social media commentaries that reinforced his disagreement with the message and that he could not support it.

At the time, Smith’s departure was widely noted as a bold stance against the controversial imagery and symbolism on display, reinforcing his position that he would not be part of creative endeavors that conflicted with his values. That earlier incident set the stage for his current reaction, and the recent interview clip reminded fans and followers of the distance that has grown between him and the Gold Digger rapper over the years. Some commentators have suggested that the mere mention of Ye’s name in a professional setting may have felt like an unwelcome reminder of a relationship Smith consciously chose to reject.

Smith’s recent career trajectory has shifted toward fashion and design as well as his ongoing artistic pursuits in music. In 2025 he was appointed as Christian Louboutin’s first male creative director, a role that has seen him launch collections and influence a historic luxury fashion house’s approach to menswear. His growing profile in the design world has further distanced him from his earlier associations with West and his influence in the music and fashion industries.

The incident has provoked mixed reactions online. Some users felt Smith’s choice to abruptly walk away was disrespectful or unprofessional in a public setting, noting that it created an awkward moment for the interviewer and missed an opportunity to address his current work. Others understood the reaction as a deliberate boundary Smith drew, emphasising that artists and public figures should not be obligated to answer every question posed by media, especially if it touches on personal or contentious relationships. Fan discussions highlighted the tension between celebrity privacy and public curiosity in an era where social media amplifies every moment.

By turning away from the question about West, Smith underscored his distancing from one of the most polarising figures in contemporary music and culture and reinforced the broader shift in his own career and identity. As he continues to build his creative portfolio beyond acting and music, his response offers insight into how artists navigate personal history, public perception and professional boundaries in an ever-connected media landscape.