Janet Hubert, remembered for portraying Aunt Vivian in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, says her relationship with Will Smith is now “so good,” marking a significant turn after three decades of public tension.
Hubert, 69, made the revelation during an appearance on Atlanta’s V-103 radio station, The Big Tigger Show, where she reflected on their fraught history and long path to reconciliation. “It’s so good,” she replied when asked about her current relationship with Smith.
In a moment of levity, Hubert added she had returned to “the scene of the crime” – the same station where her feud with Smith once reached its peak.
Rebuilding and Recognition
Hubert also credited Smith’s team with helping to build a website to advance her animated feature, JG and the BC Kids. She said, “Imma give my baby his props. He put together the website with his team for me.”
Their relationship has evolved considerably since the HBO Max Fresh Prince 30th anniversary special in 2020. During the special, Smith admitted that he “made a horrible error and misjudgment of her value and power and beauty to the show.”
Hubert has said that they now “text each other back and forth all the time.”
The feud began after Hubert left the sitcom in its third season in 1993, citing “creative differences.” She said she was offered a poor contract and was trapped by restrictive terms.
Smith initially labeled her “difficult” and said she “wanted the show to be The Aunt Viv of Bel-Air Show.” The conflict escalated through years of sharp exchanges.
Hubert recalled painful effects, particularly words she said damaged her life. “Words can kill,” she said. “Calling a Black woman difficult in Hollywood is the kiss of death.”
The 2020 reunion was a healing catalyst. Hubert and Smith confronted their past openly. Smith recognized Hubert’s struggles, saying he didn’t know the full extent of what she endured: “I was so driven by fear and jokes and comedy.”
Hubert described the reunion as “very healing,” saying, “We’ve come full circle, everybody.”