Joy, laughter, and pure fun are important, and video games can be a constant provider of both. Will Smith believes that "joy and laughter is such critical medicine," and he put his money where his mouth is recently by giving a 14-year-old cancer patient one of the best pieces of tech from 2020; a PlayStation 5.
Not only is Will Smith one of the biggest blockbuster actors of his generation, but he is also very much a pop-culture icon. In staying more than relevant during an ever-evolving cultural landscape, Will Smith is active on social platforms outside of his movies. He recently started a new Snapchat original series called Will From Home Holidays Special. In it, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star spreads some cheer from his home. In his first entry in the series, Will found an inspirational 14-year-old and his dancing father.
Aiden is a 14-year-old kid from Fort Worth, Texas. He has been battling Leukemia like a champ all during some incredibly difficult times. Although the coronavirus has affected the world of gaming, it has been far more impactful, of course, to those who are at high-risk thanks to health issues. When it comes to Aiden, he went through his chemotherapy alone, as his parents were not allowed to be around him thanks to COVID-19. But that didn't stop his father, Chuck, from supporting Aiden from afar.
To cheer on his son, Chuck would dress in vibrant colors and dance in the parking lot so Aiden could see him from the window. The goofy and over the top Fortnite-like dance moves gave Aiden an extra boost in confidence and support, and this is something that Will Smith noticed.
In his Snapchat series, Will Smith found Aiden and Chuck and talked with them virtually. He even got his buddy Jason Derulo to show the father and son duo some new dance moves. The video ends with Will Smith giving Aiden his brand new PS5, along with a controller and a GameStop gift card. On top of the tech, GameStop is donating $5,000 to the Cook Children's Medical Center (where Aiden has received treatment), and Will Smith is doubling that donation.
The PS5 is extremely difficult to find, but for a mega-celebrity like Will Smith, Sony must have been able to find one that was hiding in a warehouse somewhere. It is very true that some of the biggest celebrities live lives that are beyond what so many can imagine. But it is always special when those who have been in fortunate situations are able to share back, which is exactly what Will Smith did here.