Will Smith & Janet Hubert, The Original Aunt Viv, End Infamous Feud As Smith Gives 1st Look At ‘Fresh Prince’ Reunion

Will Smith & Janet Hubert, The Original Aunt Viv, End Infamous Feud As Smith Gives 1st Look At ‘Fresh Prince’ Reunion

2020 has definitely brought us multiple things we thought we’d never see and a reunion between Will Smith and actress Janet Hubert has just been added to that list. Many people were shocked when Will Smith shared a photo of himself sitting next to his former TV aunt Janet Hubert (aka the original Aunt Viv on “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”).  He also uploaded another image with the rest of his former cast and confirmed reports that a 30-year reunion special of the hit show is coming to HBO Max soon. He captioned the photo, 

“Today is exactly 30 YEARS since The @FreshPrince of Bel-Air debuted! So we’re doin’ something for y’all… a for real Banks Family Reunion is comin’ soon to @HBOmax! RIP James. #FreshPrince30th” 

Rumors of a “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reunion initially surfaced late this summer, however, due to Janet Hubert and Will’s previous history, many weren’t sure if she’d appear on the special. Janet Hubert played Aunt Viv on ‘The Fresh Prince’ from 1990 until 1993 when she was replaced by actress Daphne Reid due to alleged drama between her and Will Smith. 

As previously reported, Janet Hubert has been pretty vocal over the years regarding her ill feelings towards Will Smith and Alphonso Ribero who played Carlton Banks on the series. In 2017 a photo of Alphonso Ribero and his former ‘Fresh Prince’ castmembers together in Malibu was shared online. 

Janet Hubert seemingly responded to the group’s Malibu reunion and said,

“I know the media h*e Alphonso Ribero has posted his so called reunion photo. Folks keep telling me about it. He was always the ass wipe for Will. There will never be a true reunion of the Fresh Prince. I have no interest in seeing any of these people on that kind of level. I am not offended in the least, by this photo… it was an event for Karen’s charity. It does however prompt me to take some meetings in Hollywood to pitch my memoir PERFECTION IS NOT A SITCOM MOM, and tell of the behind the scenes story before I leave this earth.”

Actor Joseph Marcell, who played Geoffrey on the series, has previously spoken on the tension between Will Smith and Janet Hubert. In an interview he did last month, the actor shared a moment when he had to act as a mediator between Will and Janet. 

“I was in London and I got a call. I got a call from Will, and I got a call from James Avery and I got a call from Janet. Will was asking me what do I think. Should Janet leave? Should he get rid of her? Should he support her? I said you have to do what you have to do and if you must speak to Janet, you must sit her down and the two of you iron out your differences and come to a point of reconciliation.”

What are your thoughts on Will Smith and Janet Hubert reuniting? Let us know below.