'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Fans React to Will Smith's Heartfelt Instagram With Janet Hubert

Photo credit: NBC
Photo credit: NBC
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Will Smith is reconnecting with his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air costar Janet Hubert, and fans are really loving it.

In honor of her 66th birthday, the 53-year-old actor recently posted a fun Instagram tribute (which you can see here) to the TV star who played Vivian Banks for three seasons. Alongside two photos, one of which is a fun Fresh Prince throwback, Will wrote: “Happy BDay Janet! Blessings on another trip around the sun. :-).”

Given that the two stars had a decades-long feud after Janet left the popular sitcom in 1993, fans loved to see this sweet post from Will. “I’m so glad this relationship was mended!❤️❤️ Two of our best actors in entertainment! Happy Birthday Aunt Viv!," one fan commented on Instagram. "I love that you two healed and made up. This is love! Happy birthday, 'Aunt Viv!'," another said.

Photo credit: NBC
Photo credit: NBC

When Janet left The Fresh Prince and was replaced by actress Daphne Maxwell Reid, her absence on the show was felt and left many to question what happened to the original Aunt Viv. Then, when The Fresh Prince had its 30th reunion special in 2020, Will decided it was time to address the public feud and meet with Janet. The reconciliation was documented on Jada Pinkett-Smith's Facebook series The Red Table Talk. After almost 30 years without speaking, the two spoke face to face about what really happened during and after Janet's 1993 exit. The duo also discussed the negative press and interviews that followed.

"I had a feud, a war of words that I’d been in with someone that I never thought would get resolved," Will said.

During their Red Table Talk episode, Janet shared that she left the show after being offered a bad deal in the third season, but Will's interviews following her departure from the show resulted in the actress being labeled as "difficult," which she says made it hard for her to find more work. The emotional reconciliation between the former costars resulted in apologies, tears and growth. One fan commented in response to the episode, "To apologize for what you know you have done is the greatest gift that you can give yourself and the person you have affected."

Speaking with People, Janet made it clear that she and Will are on much better terms. "We text each other back and forth all the time," Janet said. "As a matter of fact, we have a very good relationship. I meant it with all my heart when I hugged him, because I saw that little boy, that little 21-year-old boy. Had we had an opportunity to talk back then, I think this would have never happened."

She added, "He was in a place, and I was in a place, we were both in a bad place. When you're both in a bad place and there's no communication, you have to talk. So it's been wonderful, it's been lovely to have him back in my sphere."

Clearly, fans are also over the moon to see Will and Janet happy.

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