All week long I have been reading about Janet Hubert’s claims that her time on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was not all sweetness and light (mostly because of Will Smith). Words like ‘controlling’ have been bandied about (as well as claims that he labeled her ‘difficult’). Anyway, today I heard her for myself on a radio interview with April Woodard (who was filling in for Wendy Williams) and let’s just say that I was thoroughly perplexed by their entire exchange.

First of all her memoir, “Perfection Is Not A Sitcom Mom” doesn’t actually come out until next year—so why is she on a media tour of sorts now? Only a portion of her book is supposedly dedicated to her dismissal from the sitcom but it apparently did irreparable damage to this sister’s life. In talking to Woodard, she kept mentioning the need to ‘clear her name’ (and that she promised her late father she would do so).

Apparently her son was picked on quite often growing up because of what happened to her. Now that he’s going to college she can finally tell her story. Hubert also used the analogy that her situation made her feel like she’s been walking around Hollywood with her skirt (or was it slip?) tucked into her pantyhose. Deep, huh? Also, when asked why she took so long she compared her memoir to Diahann Carroll’s most recent tome The Legs Are The Last Thing To Go and basically said that if Carroll could write about her heyday than its not too late for her story either. Hmmm.

Later in the interview the Julliardl-trained actress expressed the opinion that she was the worst treated black actress in Hollywood. Okay, I am not going to dispute her assertion that she was blackballed (because clearly something happened) but she certainly wasn’t blacklisted like Eartha Kitt (who had to go to Europe to get work). But again I want to acknowledge her pain.

Finally, she made some remarks that centered around the skin tone of her replacement, Daphne Maxwell Reid. In short, she said initially the role was developed with a lighter actress in mind and when she took the role on she imbued the role with a dark elegance. But when they replaced her with Maxwell Reid there was some color struck thinking behind it. All I can say is WOW Aunt Viv, did you have to take it there?

I don’t have anything more to say but I am sure Janet Hubert is just getting started. Stay tuned as this bizarre saga continues.

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