Jessica Biel made headlines recently when she was spotted courtside at the US Open, accompanied by her 9-year-old son, Silas, whom she shares with husband Justin Timberlake. While many fans celebrated the rare public appearance of the notoriously private family, Biel later offered a thoughtful explanation for why she brought her son to the major tennis event—and why, ultimately, the decision wasn’t entirely hers to make.
In a candid interview following the event, Biel emphasized the importance of allowing her son to be part of certain choices that affect him directly, especially as he grows older and begins to develop a sense of his own interests and boundaries. “He can’t make these decisions on his own,” Biel said. “But I also don’t want to make them completely for him. It has to be a conversation now.”
Biel explained that as a parent, especially one in the public eye, she’s always been conscious of how much exposure her children receive. Since Silas’s birth in 2015, she and Timberlake have maintained a careful balance between their celebrity status and their desire to give their children a normal upbringing away from cameras and headlines. But now that Silas is older, Biel said, he’s starting to express curiosity about public events, sports, and even aspects of fame that had previously been shielded from him.
“The US Open is something he’s been curious about,” Biel said. “He’s taken an interest in tennis, and he asked if he could go. So instead of just saying yes or no, we talked about what it would mean—being in a very public place, possibly getting photographed, and whether he felt comfortable with that.”
Biel stressed that it wasn’t about giving a child too much control, but rather about teaching him how to navigate decisions thoughtfully. “It was a chance to help him understand consent, comfort, and the impact of public exposure,” she explained. “That’s a lesson I wish more kids could learn early on, especially when their parents are in the spotlight.”
The day at the US Open was, according to Biel, a positive experience. Silas got to see some of his favorite players in action, and Biel said she was proud of how he handled the attention. “He wasn’t overwhelmed. He had fun. And I think it was empowering for him to know that he had a voice in the decision to be there.”
This nuanced approach to parenting is something Biel has spoken about before. In previous interviews, she’s discussed the challenges of raising children while balancing a career in Hollywood and her family’s privacy. She and Timberlake welcomed a second son, Phineas, in 2020, during the pandemic, and have kept both children largely out of the public eye.
“We’re not perfect,” Biel admitted. “But we’re trying to raise thoughtful, self-aware kids who understand that they have choices and that their feelings matter. Even if they can’t make every decision on their own, we want them to feel heard.”
In a media landscape where celebrity children often find themselves involuntarily in the spotlight, Biel’s approach stands out for its intentionality and respect. By inviting her son into the conversation around his own public visibility, she’s setting a tone that many see as both progressive and responsible.
For Biel, the US Open outing wasn’t just a fun day at a sporting event—it was a meaningful step in guiding her son through the complexities of growing up in a famous family. And for many parents watching from the sidelines, it was also a powerful reminder that even the smallest decisions can be opportunities for growth, communication, and mutual respect.
