Ricky Gervais has sparked controversy after making a brutal joke about Jaden Smith and his mother, Jada Pinkett Smith, at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Jaden, 26, arrived at the event wearing a black Louis Vuitton suit paired with a £3,700 castle-shaped hat inspired by Transylvanian history. While the look gained plenty of attention, it was Gervais’ comment that stole the spotlight.
In response to a social media post about Jaden’s outfit, Gervais joked, “Maybe he’s bald like his mum,” referencing Jada’s alopecia, which was at the center of the infamous 2022 Oscars slap. The remark quickly led fans to speculate that Gervais might be the next target of Will Smith’s temper, with one person commenting, “You’re going to get a slap from big Will.” Gervais, never one to back down, replied, “Can’t wait,” adding a smiley face emoji.
The British comedian wasn’t the only one mocking Jaden’s outfit, as social media users also took shots at the look. Some called it “stupidity” rather than art, while others compared it to Bianca Censori’s nearly nude Grammys ensemble, which also made headlines.
Maybe he’s bald like his mum.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) February 3, 2025
Will Smith, making his first major awards show appearance since the Oscars incident, has not responded to Gervais’ joke. However, given Smith’s history of reacting to jokes about Jada, some are wondering if another viral moment could be on the horizon.
