We Got an Exclusive with Janet Hubert, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s Original Aunt Viv, And She Is A Legend!

Jenae Thompson |

Feb 25, 2021

Janet Hubert is a talented eloquent graceful QUEEN of the stage and screen who we have adored for a long time. It was truly such a treat to hear about her career, her journey as a dark-skinned black woman in Hollywood, her time on Fresh Prince, and how she managed to triumph over adversity throughout her career.

Fresh Tea from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion on HBO Max was the light joyful moment we needed to close out 2020. Our PopViewers LOVED the special, and we loved watching Janet Hubert watch their reactions even more!

Die-hard Fresh Prince fans will know that Aunt Viv seemed to exit the show all too soon. Her interview with Will Smith—the first time they have spoken since the show—provided a healing moment for the two of them, and for all of us watching. It was great to catch up with Janet on how she felt about it all.

Then, something crazy happened! A surprise guest popped in, and we truly could not handle all of the #blackgirlmagic!!!

“What I loved about you was that there were so few chocolate brown skinned women on TV that we could admire, that we could see reflecting ourselves. There’s such a Hollywood insistence on casting black women as being only one complexion. And we know that black women come in all flavors, all backgrounds, and we never saw that on TV.” -Joy Reid, host of MSNBC’s “The ReidOut” to Janet Hubert.

This is the power of media and representation.

What an honor to sit down with such a Living Legend during Black History Month.

Check out our full interview with Janet below!