Actor Will Smith’s recent altercation with comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars 2022 might have surprised viewers, but it’s not the first time Smith has found himself embroiled in a serious feud with a fellow celebrity. The actor has a history of discord with Janet Hubert, stemming from creative differences during their time working together on the popular TV show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll remember that the character Aunt Vivian was portrayed by Janet Hubert until 1993, when she was replaced by Daphne Reid for the remainder of the series. The abrupt change in actors for the role has puzzled many fans over the years, but the root cause lies in a long-standing feud between Hubert and Smith.
The feud became public when Smith openly criticized Hubert in a 1993 interview with an Atlanta radio station. He alleged that Hubert wanted the show to revolve around her character, essentially turning it into “The Aunt Viv of Bel-Air Show,” where she could criticize him in the media. Smith further suggested that Hubert’s desire for prominence was a factor in her departure from the show. He even mentioned that they would replace her and proceed as if nothing had happened.
In response, Hubert publicly expressed her disdain for Smith and criticized him in various interviews. She shared her perspective on her exit from the show, highlighting how she felt demonized and unfairly treated after her departure. Hubert pointed out that she received a great deal of support from fans who loved her portrayal of Aunt Vivian.
“Well honey, that is not what happened, is it? The world has let me know that my place on that show was very, very, very loved … I felt demonized and beaten up and crucified for many many years, no one came forward in my defense.”
According to Hubert, Will Smith and his other younger co-stars were unnecessarily brutal to her on the set. Hubert admitted that Smith did “some heinous, horrible things to me.” Here she was referring ‘they’ to Will Smith and Alfonso Ribiero.
According to Hubert, Smith, along with his younger co-stars, exhibited less than favorable behavior towards her during their time on set. She asserted that Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro, another cast member, were involved in some unpleasant incidents. Hubert used strong language, mentioning that Smith had done “heinous, horrible things” to her.
