Will Smith Talks 'Family Protection' On David Letterman Show

Will Smith’s interview with David Letterman has hit differently after the 2022 Oscars incident with Chris Rock.

Hence, Letterman and Netflix made sure to add a disclaimer before airing the second episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction on Friday.

While speaking to Letterman, the King Richard star elaborated on his pain of not being able to protect his family.

“You can't protect your family, right? That’s not real,” remarked the Men in Black actor.

Smith mentioned that protection and safety are an illusion.

“You have to learn to live with the reality that any moment, anything can be gone in one second,” he noted.

Will Smith

“So, with that reality, how can you be here? And how can you be joyful and be here?”

In the same interview, Smith also shared details from his memoir that speaks about his abusive father.

“When I was nine years old, I saw my father beat up my mother, and I didn't do anything. And that just left a traumatic impression of myself as a coward,” he added.

Smith also reflected on this material world which he described as “completely, utterly, and totally incapable of sustaining our happiness”.

He also opened up on how he uses his pain in a positive way.

“Life is so exciting to me right now, because I can reach people differently than I have ever been able to reach people, largely because of my pain,” he concluded.