'Fresh Prince' Co-Star Janet Hubert Supports Will Smith: 'Sometimes You Have To Slap Back'

The most talked-about moment at the Oscars this year was Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock. Mixed reactions to the incident poured online, with the latest being Janet Hubert, who supported her "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" co-star.

"So PROUD OF YOU! Yes, there is only so much one can take...sometimes you have to slap back," Hubert wrote on Instagram Monday.

"Celebrate the win...nothing else matters. Both actions were incorrect but Chris didn't need to go there. Met him once... it was enough for me...very mean spirited."

"I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to slap the mess out of so many folks who have disrespected me. Will stood up for his wife, Chris Rock is always disrespecting Black women. Mean-spirited hides behind comedy. BULL," Hubert continued on Twitter.

Smith and Hubert reconciled in HBO Max's "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" reunion special after 27 years. Considering the same, a fan noted that just because their feud got resolved, doesn't mean she should be supporting Smith for assaulting Rock onstage.

"30 years sweetie, I don't excuse it but I do understand it," Hubert replied to this user. "You must forgive but I will NEVER Forget it. What about the rest of them who didn't apologize, there were many and if I could slap them all I would... but I did it in my responses for 30 years. Words can kill."

"While I understand Will’s right to stand up for his wife, he shouldn’t have resorted to violence, especially on live tv," another fan commented. "He could’ve handled this differently and professionally."

"Chris Rock committed an act of violence against Jada, Y'all just used to Black women being the butt of jokes and take issue that Will Smith put everyone on notice that it will no longer be tolerated," a fan supported Hubert.

On the work front, Hubert played Aunt Viv in the sitcom until 1993. She was later replaced by actress Daphne Maxwell Reid. Following the replacement, Hubert and Smith didn’t talk for 27 years until the reunion held in November 2020.