Will Smith Admits He “Horribly Underestimated” Janet Hubert’s Value

Will Smith is reflecting on his time spent filming The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and his complicated relationship with a former castmate.

Speaking on Vice’s Black Comedy in America series with host Chris Spencer, the 56-year-old explained the mistake he made with actress Janet Hubert.

Hubert starred on the series for the first three seasons as Smith’s Aunt Viv before being replaced with Daphne Maxwell Reid.

“I made a horrible error and misjudgment of her value and power and beauty to the show,” Smith admits via PEOPLE Magazine. “I horribly underestimated what she was for me at that point in my life.”

In 2020, the cast of the hit series reunited for a special on Max in honor of the 30th anniversary of the hit sitcom’s premiere, and the two put aside their differences to resolve their beef. According to USA Today, in their intimate conversation, Smith admitted he “made the set very difficult” for Hubert, who left the series due to rejecting an unfair contract offer.

“During that time of her pregnancy, I wasn’t sensitive,” The Bad Boys franchise star shares. “I wasn’t perceptive, and now that I’ve had three kids, I’ve learned some things that I did not know at the time, and I would do things very differently. But I can see where I made the set very difficult for Janet.”

Hubert responded, “But you took all that away from me … with your words,” detailing how the entire ordeal hindered her career.

“Words can kill. I lost everything – reputation, everything. Everything. And I understand you were able to move forward, but those words, calling a Black woman difficult in Hollywood is the kiss of death. It’s the kiss of death, and it’s hard enough being a dark-skinned Black woman in this business. But I have felt it was necessary for us to finally move forward. And I’m sorry that I have blasted you to pieces.”

According to PEOPLE, Hubert and Smith remain on good terms, with him publicly supporting her endeavors as recently as March.