Will Smith‘s former “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” costar, Janet Hubert, just spoke out on “The Big Tigger Show” to reveal where she stands with the A-lister decades after pair famously butted heads numerous times.
As fans know, Hubert played Aunt Viv for three seasons, before her role was recast and filled by Daphne Maxwell Reid, who remained in the role until the show’s conclusion in 1996.
Things went sour between Smith and Hubert after she departed from the hit series, citing a salary cut and turmoil in her personal life. But now, Hubert has revealed that things between the former costars are finally looking sunnier. Read on for details.
Janet Hubert Reveals Will Smith’s Generous Favor
Hubert revealed her current relationship with Smith is “so good.” She told Bigg Tigg, “As a matter of fact, I’m gonna give my boy his props. He put together the website, with his team, for me. He gave me his entire website team, and paid for it!” Hubert was referencing the website for her project “JG and the BC Kids,” an independent animated feature film which encourages kids to get into STEM.
Hubert said Smith also let her work with his entire social media team.
In a full circle moment, Hubert revealed the first public comments that ignited the feud were made by Smith at the very same radio station, Atlanta’s V-103, where the current interview was taking place. “We are at the scene of the crime right now,” Hubert joked. She explained, “Back 35 years ago, this station was the station where he did that first interview. Yes, at V-103.” She described the incident by saying her costar “dogged me out.”
She went on, “It’s very cathartic for me and very healing for me to be here.”
Will Smith Previously Expressed Regret Over Janet Hubert Rift
People says in a 2024 episode of Vice’s “Black Comedy in America” series, Smith called the trouble with his costar “a horrible error.” He revealed that he undervalued the 68-year-old’s “value and power and beauty to the show.” He went on, “I horribly underestimated what she was to me at that point in my life.”
GettyThe report says prior to the pair making up, Smith complained that Hubert wanted their famous sitcom to be “The Aunt Viv of Bel-Air Show.” For Hubert’s part, the Independent says she once called the actor “an egomaniac” and told TMZ after the star posted a group photo with several castmates in 2011, “This constant reunion thing will never ever happen in my lifetime unless there is an apology, which he doesn’t know the word.”
