“That would be a really bad idea”: Will Smith Refused to Have 12 Time Emmy Award Winner in Fresh Prince to Save His Own Reputation Only to Become Most Hated Actor Years Later

NBC’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has been celebrated as one of the most popular sitcoms in the history of television. Starring Will Smith in the primary role who was a rising star at the time, the series has produced six seasons.

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Will Smith Denied RuPaul’s Cameo in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has shaped Will Smith’s career and he was quite great in the show but he was too concerned about his reputation, the producer of the show remarked. The executive producer of the show David Steven Simon revealed that the Oscar-winning actor has refused the 12-time Emmy winner, RuPaul’s cameo in the show calling his appearance a “bad idea.”

American drag queen/producer and host RuPaul was also a rising star like Smith and the showrunners were looking to bring him into the show for a brief appearance. However, Smith rejected Simon’s idea of bringing him. 

“I remember him saying that would be a really bad idea,” Simon said. “And I said, ‘No, listen, hear my story,'” Simon told Thea Glassman recently.

Simon further said that Smith “kept repeating that it was a bad idea” when the producer was trying to convince the actor, eventually, Simon gave up on the idea. 

“The reason he would say no is because of his image. Period. The End,” Simon said.

Both celebrities are accomplished in their respective worlds of the showbiz industry but if it wasn’t for Smith, they would have shared the screen in the show.

Also read: Will Smith Revealed His Insecurity Years Before 2022 Oscars Slap: “I’m really loud. There’s an insecure side”

Will Smith Became One of the Most Hated Actors in Hollywood

The shadow of controversy has been lurking above Smith’s head in recent times. The actor joined the league of the most hated actors in Hollywood after his controversial slap at comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022.

The King Richard actor— who also won an Oscar for his role in the film at the same event—  walked onstage and slapped the host of the event, Chris Rock at the live show during his presentation for Best Documentary Feature. Smith lost his cool after his wife Jada Pinkett Smith reacted to Rocks joke directed at her by rolling her eyes.

Later, the 54-year-old actor apologized to Rock in a six-minute-long video uploaded on his official YouTube and Instagram. “I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk and when he is, he will reach out so I will say to you Chris, I apologize to you,” Smith said in the video. “My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk,” he added. The actor also apologized to Rock’s mother.

“I hate when I let people down. So it hurts. It hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know that I didn’t live up to people’s image and impression of me. The work I’m trying to do is that I’m deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. I’m human. I made a mistake and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of shit.”

The Bad Boys actor’s Oscar slap has been marked as one of the tainted chapters in the history of the ceremony. Following the incident, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences banned the actor for ten years. Also, the event dearly affected Smith’s life as he immediately became one of the most hated actors in the industry. 

Smith will appear in the Untitled fourth Bad Boys film, however, the movie does not have a release date yet.

Also read: “You’re not going to tell me no”: Jada Pinkett Smith Did Not Want to be Will Smith’s Wife in $87 Million Worth Muhammad Ali’s Biopic

Source: EW.