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Why did Will Smith cancel RuPaul's cameo on 'Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air?' Actor said it would be a 'really bad idea'

In a new book, a former producer of the hit sitcom revealed what Will Smith said when the idea of RuPaul's cameo was pitched

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' undoubtedly made Will Smith a star and a household name. The sitcom was known for its honest portrayal of being Black in America, showing themes that are relevant to this day. While Smith's feud with his co-star, Janet Hubert, who played the original Aunt Viv, is ancient history, it has now come to light that he canceled RuPaul's cameo on the show. 

According to Yahoo!, a new book, titled 'Freaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek: How 7 Teen Shows Transformed Television' by veteran entertainment journalist Thea Glassman, revealed that Smith canceled RuPaul's cameo on the show as he was worried about his image. At that time, the 'Men in Black' star was involved in taking big decisions about the show and that each episode "needed Smith's approval" before being aired.

 

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Why did Will Smith cancel RuPaul's cameo on 'Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air?'

Smith was dead set against having RuPaul's cameo on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'. Executive producer David Steven Simon said that Smith believed it would be a bad idea and repeatedly objected to the whole idea without providing specific details. Glassman wrote, "Smith didn't often reject ideas, but he did when Simon pitched a cameo from RuPaul, a drag queen who was making a name for himself with dance tracks like Supermodel (You Better Work). [Simon recalled], 'I remember him saying that would be a really bad idea. And I said, 'No, listen, hear my story...'"

Glassman further wrote, "Smith, as Simon remembers it, refused. He just kept repeating that it was a bad idea. 'OK, OK. We don't need to do it,' Simon demurred. From Simon's perspective, 'The reason he would say no is because of his image. Period. The End,' he told me."

Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock

After the Rock incident at the Academy Awards, Smith issued a public apology in a YouTube video, expressing remorse for his behavior. He said, "Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk. There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment,"  

Smith continued, "There's no part of me that thinks that's the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults. I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking. But I promise you, I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. And, you know, if you hang on, I promise we'll be able to be friends again."

Will Smith settles feud with Janet Hubert 

On-screen, Will and Aunt Viv were best friends but off-screen, Smith and Hubert were embroiled in a bitter feud. In a 1993 interview, Smith publicly criticized Hubert by saying, "I can say straight up that Janet Hubert wanted the show to be The Aunt Viv of Bel-Air Show because I know she is going to dog me in the press. She has basically gone from a quarter of a million dollars a year to nothing. 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." 

Hubert, on the other hand, openly voiced her dislike for Smith and denounced any possibility of participating in a reunion episode unless an apology was issued, as she said, "There will never be a reunion... as I will never do anything with an a**h*** like Will Smith. He is still an egomaniac and has not grown up. This constant reunion thing will never ever happen in my lifetime unless there is an apology, which he doesn’t know the word."

Years later, however, the two spoke about what happened between them before burying the hatchet. She then participated in the sitcom's reunion with the rest of the cast of the hit '90s sitcom.