Will Smith shares emotional tribute to eldest son Trey on Instagram: ‘We struggled for years’

‘He felt betrayed and abandoned’

Will Smith has posted a moving tribute to his eldest son Trey on Instagram, admitting that the pair haven’t always had a smooth relationship.

In 1992, prior to his second marriage to Jada Pinkett-Smith in 1997, Smith married Sheree Zampino.

Their son, Willard Carroll “Trey” Smith III, was born in the same year, with the couple then divorcing three years later.

26-year-old Trey, who appeared in the music video for Smith’s 1998 single “Just The Two of Us”, followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the music industry.

With the media often focusing on the enterprises of Smith’s younger children Jaden and Willow Smith, fans have praised the actor for opening up about his relationship with his elder son.

In a video posted on Instagram, Smith explained that he and Trey had been spending quality time together in Abu Dhabi when his son made a sweet revelation.

“So I’m in Abu Dhabi at the F1. I brought my son Trey,” Smith says.

“We been hanging and usually I take my kids separately on stuff just so they have their individual daddy time.

“So we been doing this, me and him, we hanging at the F1, and he just hit me with, ‘You know what dad? I just realised you’re not just my dad.’ He paused and he said, ‘I’m pretty sure you’re my best friend.’”

In the caption for the video, Smith explains how the breakdown of his relationship with Zampino had a detrimental effect on Trey as a child.

“It has not always been like this between Trey and I,” the actor writes.

“We STRUGGLED FOR YEARS after my divorce from his mother. He felt betrayed and abandoned.

“It is a wild blessing to recover and restore a loving relationship with my beautiful son!”

Trey also shared the video on Instagram, writing: “Awwwww shucks, you too big guy.”

Many people on social media have been expressing their admiration of the strength of Smith and Trey's relationship.

"Beautiful. A lot of young men can't say that. Love... that's it," one person tweeted.

"When you hear your son say his father is his best friend that lets you know he's thankful for his dad," another person wrote on Instagram.