Now this is a story all about how… RuPaul got denied the chance to make an appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air by the fresh prince himself, Will Smith.
Entertainment journalist Thea Glassman, author of the new novel, Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson’s Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television, spilled the gossip about Smith’s decision with Fresh Prince executive producer David Steven Simon, per Entertainment Weekly.
Simon revealed that Smith, who had the final say on every story and was usually open to most ideas, rejected Simon’s idea to feature RuPaul on the sitcom.
“I remember him saying that would be a really bad idea,” Simon told Glassman.
While Simon attempted to convince Smith to change his mind, Smith ultimately never did, refusing and “repeating that it was a bad idea.” Simon believes that Smith’s desire to preserve his image influenced his decision.
“The reason he would say no is because of his image. Period. The End,” he shared.
Glassman’s book primarily focuses on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, My So-Called Life, Dawson’s Creek, Freaks and Geeks, The O.C., Friday Night Lights, and Glee.
Smith’s NBC sitcom, which premiered in 1990 and celebrated its 30-year anniversary with a reunion special in 2020, wrapped in May 1996 after six seasons on air. The show led to the current Peacock spinoff Bel-Air, which has been renewed for a third season.
The 90s were a successful era for RuPaul as well, with his hit single “Supermodel (You Better Work),” which made the #45 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, per EW. He has since guest starred in a vast array of programs and films such as The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), Sabrina The Teenage Witch (2001), and Grace and Frankie (2009). That same year, he created RuPaul’s Drag Race, and is the host of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, which has eight seasons.
New episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars premiere live on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+, while Smith’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is streaming on Max.
