"Goofy was the word that was used most often by my sisters because I've been this tall ever since I was 12 years old"
About this Quote
The intent here is disarming self-mythology. Smith, a star built on likability, uses family teasing to explain the origin of a public persona: the big, kinetic, slightly clownish energy that can look like confidence but often starts as cover. “Goofy” is a soft word for what it feels like to be too much - too tall, too visible, too early. Sisters naming that awkwardness turns it into a manageable identity. If you can own the joke at home, you can survive the joke everywhere else.
Culturally, it’s a neat illustration of how Black male celebrity often walks a tightrope between threat and charm. Being tall at 12 can make you read older, tougher, more imposing than you are; “goofy” re-routes that perception into harmlessness, humor, and approachability. Smith’s career has always been a masterclass in that rerouting: turning potential intimidation into invitation, and turning adolescence’s discomfort into a marketable kind of ease.
Quote Details
| Topic | Sister |
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| Source | Help us find the source |
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Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Smith, Will. (2026, January 15). Goofy was the word that was used most often by my sisters because I've been this tall ever since I was 12 years old. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/goofy-was-the-word-that-was-used-most-often-by-my-172586/
Chicago Style
Smith, Will. "Goofy was the word that was used most often by my sisters because I've been this tall ever since I was 12 years old." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/goofy-was-the-word-that-was-used-most-often-by-my-172586/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Goofy was the word that was used most often by my sisters because I've been this tall ever since I was 12 years old." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/goofy-was-the-word-that-was-used-most-often-by-my-172586/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.








