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Fresh Prince Feud: Aunt Viv & Will Smith's 30-Year Rift
27 Aug
Summary
- Janet Hubert played Aunt Viv before Daphne Maxwell Reid.
- Will Smith publicly criticized Hubert after her 1993 exit.
- Hubert and Smith reconciled in September 2025.
The relationship between Will Smith and Janet Hubert, who portrayed Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, was marked by a significant feud lasting nearly three decades. Hubert departed the series in 1993 after three seasons, citing creative differences, and was subsequently replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid. This departure fueled public tension.
Initially, Will Smith publicly stated that Hubert wanted the show to be focused solely on her character. A dispute ensued, with Hubert later mentioning that while Smith apologized in an Essence magazine article, the lingering issues persisted. The age difference between Smith, 21 at the show's launch, and Hubert, 34, may have also contributed to the friction.
Fortunately, the long-standing conflict has been resolved. In September 2025, during an interview on Atlanta's V-103 radio station, Hubert indicated that she and Smith now have a cordial relationship, describing it as "so good."
