Will Smith has opened up about his decades-long feud with Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Speaking candidly on Vice TV’s Black Comedy in America, Smith reflected on his mistakes and the eventual reconciliation between the two stars.
“I made a horrible error and misjudgment of her value and power and beauty to the show,” Smith admitted to host Chris Spencer. He further reflected on his mindset at the time, saying, “I horribly underestimated what she was for me at that point in my life.”
Hubert, 68, played Aunt Viv for the first three seasons before departing in 1993, citing creative differences. Tensions escalated in the years that followed, with public comments from both sides fueling rumors of animosity. Smith once claimed Hubert “wanted the show to be The Aunt Viv of Bel-Air Show,” in an interview with an Atlanta radio station. However, their relationship took a turn for the better in 2020.
A Reconciliation Decades in the Making Between Will Smith and Janet Hubert
During an HBO Max reunion special commemorating 30 years of Fresh Prince, Smith and Hubert sat down for their first conversation in nearly three decades. The emotional moment allowed them to address the misunderstandings that had driven them apart.
Speaking to PEOPLE in 2021, Hubert reflected on the encounter: “I meant it with all my heart when I hugged him, because I saw that little boy, that little 21-year-old boy. Had we had an opportunity to talk back then, I think this would have never happened.”
Smith has since been supportive of Hubert’s projects, including her initiative, JG and the BC Kids, which empowers children through education and creativity. “It was a blast and a pleasure to show 200 students a taste of your genius, Janet!” Smith wrote in a March social media post celebrating her work.
Their renewed friendship highlights growth and forgiveness, with Hubert noting that they now share a “very good relationship.” She added, “We text each other back and forth all the time.”
For Smith, the journey underscores a broader lesson about accountability and valuing others—a sentiment he continues to explore in his career and public life.