Janet Hubert, known to many as Aunt Viv from the popular TV series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” has decided it’s time to make amends. Hubert has made no secrets of her feud and disdain for the Fresh Prince star Will Smith, whom she blamed for her departure in 1993. Count it, 20 years! Here’s what Hubert tells The Grio,
Last week Hubert became a media sensation after penning an open letter to talk show host Wendy Williams over her recent interview she did with Tatyana Ali, who played Hubert’s on-screen daughter Ashley Banks.
Williams probed into the reported feud between Hubert and that the show’s star Will Smith, stirring up further interest on the alleged beef between the two, prompting Hubert to release a letter to Williams via her Blogtalkradio program.
During part 2 of her interview with theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon, Hubert set the record straight on why she left The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
“It was a negotiation that should have come back like most do,” Hubert said. “We were a very successful show and I felt like I was an integral part of that, and felt valuable, but you cannot feel valuable in Hollywood.”
Since leaving the show in 1993, there have been several conflicting reports of a feud between Hubert and her former cast members, including Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro.
“I think what happened, because the audience was so on my side at that time, that Will probably felt like he needed to go out, and he needed to tell a lot of lies,” Hubert revealed. “Alphonso went out to a college and told a lot of lies, but the problem is I have proof that a lot of that didn’t happen.”
Hubert said she has since moved forward in her life and career and wants to leave the past behind. She confessed that she knew then, and knows now, that the on-camera chemistry between the cast members of the original Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was magic.
“When I do a show I want the best people on that stage with me. I thought that we were the best. That cast of Fresh Prince was good. Everybody was exceptional at what they did.”
Hubert also feels it’s time for her and Smith to heal any damage that has been done since she left The Fresh Prince some 21 years ago.
“I would say to him [Smith], we need to heal this. You’ve done some things, you’ve said some things, that were totally untrue and you know that they were untrue. I’ve said some things that I probably should have never said. But you’ve never heard them come from my mouth. Especially the TMZ thing last Christmas; my Mom passed away. So there I was again in the media getting beaten up…and you get tired. I’m tired. Aren’t you tired Will?”
We’re tired too! Now bring on the reunion….
