Internet Tears Apart Willow Smith’s Public Service Announcement, With Few Calling It ‘Meghan Markle-Like Word Salad’

Willow Smith broke through the ginormous shadow of her A-lister father, Will Smith, to establish herself as a trailblazer in pop culture at a very young age, making music that speaks to Gen-Z. Starting with her breakout hit ‘Whip My Hair’, which propelled her into the mainstream, Smith became a new voice of young self-expression. Since then, Smith has reinvented herself with genre-bending albums such as ‘Ardipithecus’, ‘The Anxiety’, ‘Empathogen’, ‘Willow’, etc. Her voice blended neo-soul and alt-R&B to pop-punk and experimental rock. She has always been politically and philosophically vocal online; however, how much self-expression is too much self-expression? Fans wonder. 

Taking to X, fans have decided to dissect Willow Smith’s latest public service announcement that calls for an ascetic lifestyle. In this day and age of hyper-digital wokeness, Smith focuses on spiritual practice and discipline. Her most recent video on adopting the minimalist way of life has the internet on fire, with some calling it “word salad that Meghan Markle is always spouting,” referring to privilege and unrelatable social conditions. Fans are mocking her verbose reflection, yielding no value. However, few X users are also deeming it a wake-up whisper that is both radical and serene.

Willow Smith’s peaceful moment celebrating Indian rituals like Krishna Janmashtami, with a Vaishnav tika and devotional tunes, created a storm online. Posted in conjunction with the release of her new devotional song, Smith is on her spiritual odyssey, which interweaves ancient Hindu deities and modern music. In her latest didactic PSA, Smith condemns “tomfoolery” and accepts devotion towards the “Holy mystery“, sprinkling heavily philosophical words into her speech. But from a standpoint of socio-economic privilege and cultural appreciation vs appropriation, fans are not having it. 

Looks like Smith’s unapologetic truth about adapting a minimalist lifestyle has a maximalist digital impact, though not what was expected.

Fans act confused over Willow Smith’s orotund PSA mocking it with sarcasm

Willow Smith’s ascetic-predisposed public rhetoric is now the internet’s latest fodder for humor. Several X users are accusing her of not understanding the true meaning of an ascetic lifestyle, essentially calling it overtly preachy. This has opened a fiery discourse online about her financial privilege and lack of comprehension of an ancient philosophical culture, with some users calling out the entire Smith family.

Though there are a few fans who are trying to side with her thoughts with compassion, the majority have been siding against her while mocking her words with sarcastic returns.  

Willow Smith’s ascetic lifestyle PSA may have backfired heavily; however, a few fans have opened their minds to a broader acceptance. Rebranding herself by creating a narrative that is rejuvenating, introspective, and resistant to minimalism, Smith is calling for simplicity to be looked at not as loss, but as clarity. Smith’s journey from shattering the nepo-baby label to cashing in on millions of dollars through her music gives her a platform to speak her mind; however, social media remains the final judge of her disposition. 

What are your thoughts on Willow Smith’s latest PSA? Tell us in the comments below.