*Janet Hubert recently returned to an Atlanta radio station that holds a significant place in her history with Will Smith, calling the experience “healing.” The actress, best known for originating the role of Aunt Vivian on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” revealed it was the very station where their decades-long feud first erupted publicly.
“I am at the scene of the crime right now,” Hubert joked during her appearance, per Revolt. “Back in the day, back 35 years ago, this station was the station that he did that first interview.”
Hubert recalled how Smith “dogged me out” in that early interview, a moment that marked the beginning of a very public rift. This time, however, she reflected with peace and gratitude. “It’s very cathartic for me and very healing for me to be here… We’ve come full circle, everybody,” she said.
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The actress, who left the hit ’90s sitcom after three seasons in 1993 and was later replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid, had been estranged from Smith for nearly three decades. Their reconciliation came during the show’s 30-year reunion special on HBO Max in 2020, where the two addressed their past tensions. When asked during her radio interview if she and Smith are on good terms today, Hubert responded with a smile, saying, “So good.”
Hubert also revealed that Smith played a key role in supporting her independent animated film, “JG and the BC Kids.”
“Imma give my baby his props. He put together the website with his team for me,” she said. “He gave me his entire website team, paid for it, and then gave me his entire social media team to work with and also helped me put the pictures out there to Amazon, to Netflix, to this one, to that one… Gave me his entire team.”
Smith has also publicly acknowledged his past mistakes. In 2024, he told Vice’s “Black Comedy in America,” “I made a horrible error” in how he treated Hubert during their time working together. “I horribly underestimated what she was for me at that point in my life,” he admitted.
In a 2021 interview with PopViewers, Hubert opened up about her original audition process for “The Fresh Prince” and the challenges she faced during her tenure on the show. She admitted that landing the role was not initially a dream come true. “I didn’t want it! I didn’t want it because I knew I was not what they were looking for,” she said.
Reflecting on that time, she added, “Sometimes when you think you know something…you don’t know sh*t!” Hubert even revealed that the struggles surrounding her exit were so intense she “absolutely” contemplated suicide.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Janet Hubert Admits She Contemplated Suicide After ‘Fresh Prince’ Firing
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