There’s a reason Janet Hubert (the original Aunt Vivian) wasn’t part of the recent Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion: she can’t stand Will Smith.
“There will never be a reunion as I will never do anything with an a**hole like Will Smith,” Hubert, 55, says to TMZ. “He is still an egomaniac and has not grown up.”
Smith was recently photographed with former costars Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Alfonso Riberio and James Avery at a charity event. Hubert and several other cast members, including Joseph Marcell (butler Jeffrey), were not present.
Hubert blames Smith, 44, for her 1993 mid-series departure from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; she was replaced by actress Daphne Reid. According to Hubert, NBC tried to reduce her episode count and slash her salary in half, and then let her go when she refused the terms — a move she believes Smith was behind.
Smith has denied Hubert’s claims and told an Atlanta radio station at the time that Hubert’s bad attitude led to her dismissal. Hubert was pregnant during the third season and admitted to being “moody” at work, but said she was not part of the tension on set. Smith has also said, “She’s mad now but she’s been mad all along. She said once, ‘I’ve been in the business for 10 years and this snotty-nosed punk comes along and gets a show.’ No matter what, to her I’m just the AntiChrist.”
“This constant reunion will never ever happen in my lifetime unless there is an apology,” Hubert says. “He doesn’t know the word.”
