Janet Hubert, ‘Fresh Prince’ Actress, Posts Video Response To Jada Pinkett Smith Boycott Of Oscars

Last Thursday, the Oscar nominations were announced, and the major categories had only white nominees.

Jada Pinkett Smith and director Spike Lee took to social media Monday to announce that they were boycotting the prestigious award show with the blame set on The Academy. This led actress Janet Hubert to upload a response rant video to Pinkett.

Hubert, known for her role as the first Aunt Viv from the hit TV sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, addressed both Jada Pinkett and former co-star Will Smith in her rant:

“First of all, Miss Thing. Does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak? And, the second thing is — girlfriend, there are a lot of shit going in the world that you all don’t seem to recognize. People are dying, our boys are being shot left and right, people are hungry, people are starving, people are trying to pay bills, and you’re talking about some muthaf— actors and Oscars. It ain’t that deep.”

The three-minute video called out the actor and actress for putting too much emphasis on an award show and how asking “other actors and other blacktresses and black actors to jeopardize their career” when “they don’t care.”

Hubert also recalled a situation from Fresh Prince that occurred almost 30 years ago. Hubert says she asked Smith to band together with the other cast members in hopes of getting a raise. “Maybe the network will think that since the show is such a hit and you being the star of the show, your influence will help us greatly. Like they did on Friends. Like white shows do! Remember that? Do you remember that? Because I do. Hmm. And your response to me was “my deal is my deal. And your deal is your deal,” recalled Hubert.