Willow Smith is facing backlash after her latest live performance after footage of the singer taking the stage to perform one of her biggest hits began circulating online. The 25-year-old musician appeared to take a rather unconventional approach to her 2015 hit “Wait a Minute!,” with fans complaining that she seemed to barely sing at all as the audience took over the vocals. However, it wasn’t just her apparent lack of performing that caught people’s attention, as Willow also appeared to be smoking something onstage. Keep reading for more information.
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Willow Smith Smokes During Her Concert
The performance took place during Willow's show at Pacific Electric in Los Angeles last month. In the circulating footage, the singer appears to do very little actual singing, instead casually walking around the stage while the audience takes over much of the song. As the crowd enthusiastically belts out the lyrics to "Wait a Minute!," Willow can be seen holding what appears to be a cigarette or joint, bringing it to her mouth and taking a puff before exhaling a visible cloud of smoke. She then continues moving around the stage, seemingly unfazed, as concertgoers carry on singing her 2015 hit.
The smoking quickly became one of the most noticeable aspects of the performance, particularly as Willow seemed more focused on whatever she was smoking than delivering a traditional rendition of the song. At one point, she appears to gesture through the smoke while holding the item in her hand, before continuing to stroll across the stage. The moment also offered a striking contrast to the energetic pop performances that first made her famous as a child with "Whip My Hair."
Social Media Reactions
Across social media platforms, both concertgoers and those who watched the viral clip expressed their dismay with Smith's laid back approach to performing. "Saw her a few years ago and she was the same," one fan wrote on Reddit. "Steady smoking the whole time, half ass performing her songs. I wasn't impressed and I genuinely love her music, I came excited to see her perform."
"It seems like they're having fun but I will say I get irritated when artists try to make their audience sing more than them," another responded. "This isn't karaoke."
"The audience is performing more than she is," agreed the next.
"Does she even want to be there?" asked another.
"I wasn't there but if I was, I'd be demanding a refund," one comment reads. "If I wanted to listen to the recording of her singing I would've stayed home. Disappointing."
"All these Nepo babies seem bored with their own music," wrote another user.
"Did she even sing, or did her audience just sing while she was puffing on her cigarette?" asked a final user.
