Jaden Smith walks away when Kanye West is mentioned

Smith was questioned about 'Ye' but walked away from the interviewer mid-question

Jaden Smith made headlines this week after abruptly walking out of a red-carpet interview when Kanye West was mentioned a moment that has since gone viral across social media.

The incident took place during the Los Angeles premiere of Coulda Been Love season two, where Smith stopped to speak with a reporter about his latest fashion collaboration with designer Steven Smith. As the interviewer referenced Steven Smith’s past work with West’s Yeezy brand, Smith immediately ended the exchange and walked away without answering the question.

According to footage circulating online, the journalist asked about the collaboration and said, “I see that you’re working with Steven Smith, who designed Yeezy footwear with Ye… what are y’all cooking up?” Smith paused briefly, then exited the interview mid-question, prompting the reporter to turn to camera and remark, “I guess we’ll never find out.”

The brief but striking moment quickly spread online, with viewers debating whether Smith’s reaction was a deliberate boundary or simply an awkward red-carpet interaction.

Smith’s relationship with West has long been complicated. He previously cited the rapper as a major influence and even attended West’s wedding to Kim Kardashian in 2014, but in later years he publicly distanced himself. In 2022, Smith walked out of a Yeezy fashion show after West debuted a controversial “White Lives Matter” design, writing at the time that he “had to dip” and that he didn’t support the message.

The viral exchange comes as Smith continues to carve out his own path in fashion and entertainment. In 2025, he was named men’s creative director at Christian Louboutin and recently debuted his first collection at Paris Fashion Week, signaling a new chapter in his career independent of his earlier influences.

As the clip continues to circulate, Smith has not publicly addressed the moment, leaving fans to interpret his reaction as either a firm stance or simply a desire to avoid revisiting a contentious chapter of his past.