Janet Hubert starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Aunt Viv until her sudden departure in 1993. She was later replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid. But what followed for many years was a bitter rivalry between her and Will Smith that stemmed from personal conflicts, creative differences, and behind-the-scenes tension.
After Hubert left the show, Smith originally commented that she wanted the show to be more about her character and that she’s been “mad all along.” While speaking about each other in interviews, Hubert claimed she disagreed with the show’s direction of her character and clashed with Smith over his personality. She called him an “egomaniac” and someone who “has not grown up.”
Where do they stand now?
“It’s so good,” commented the 69-year-old actor on The Big Tigger Show’s radio station when asked if she and Smith have a cordial relationship.
The two actors seem to have buried the hatchet when, in 2020, HBO hosted a 30-year reunion special for The Fresh Prince. Both actors took the opportunity to sit down and talk about what happened, with Smith admitting that some of his behavior at the time was wrong and hurtful.
It was also largely due to Smith having no idea about what Hubert was going through. She revealed at the time that she was dealing with personal struggles with a new baby, an “abusive” husband, and getting offered a bad contract for the show that cut her salary.
Hubert was hurt by Smith’s comments about her after her departure from the show and called his words the “kiss of death” in Hollywood.
“I didn’t know that. When I look back now it’s obvious that you were having a hard time and I felt like you hated me. I could not do a 30-year celebration of this show and not celebrate you, celebrate your contribution to the show, celebrate your contribution to my life,” he said in the special.
Both actors are now friends, with Hubert having shown her congratulations when Smith won the Best Actor honors for playing Richard Williams.
