After Going Viral With Will Smith On TikTok, Fresh Prince’s Tatyana Ali Reveals The ‘Greatest’ Advice He’s Ever Given Her

Approximately 29 years have passed since “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” first graced our TV screens, and yet some things remain constant. For instance, the close connection between Tatyana Ali, who portrayed Ashley Banks in the popular sitcom, and Will Smith, her on-screen cousin, is still strong. To underscore this bond, they recently teamed up for a popular TikTok challenge, which brought back memories for Ali of the best wisdom her TV family member has ever shared with her.

The Viral Fresh Prince Trend Is Taking Over TikTok

TikTok seems to adore dance trends more than anything else, especially those that stem from pop culture events. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, one of the most popular Black sitcoms from the ’90s, is brimming with such moments. And no, it’s not Carlton this time, but Alfonso Ribeiro’s iconic moves are bound to make a comeback (once more) eventually.

The setting being re-enacted by numerous users is reminiscent of an early episode in the series, where Will unexpectedly finds Ashley grooving in her room with headphones on. Because she’s engrossed in her music, she doesn’t notice his entrance and he begins to copy her dance moves. Eventually, Ashley spins around to find Will completely caught up in the rhythm, oblivious of the music he can’t hear. Check out this amusing moment here: [Link]

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♬ original sound – Franklin Saint

Lately, “Anxiety” by Doechii has been a hit on TikTok, gaining such popularity that it caught Ali’s attention enough for her to mention it in an interview with For Women First. As a result, the Grammy winner’s team contacted both Doechii and Smith, leading to an impressive collaboration between the three of them which they shared on TikTok.

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♬ Anxiety – Doechii

In another TikTok video uploaded on her account, Ali and the actor from ‘Bad Boys’ clarify where the original scene idea came from, which many people on TikTok were unaware was inspired by their show. However, after watching the video of the ‘Fresh Prince’ stars with Doechii, it’s clear that this trend is now associated with their show, as it has garnered nearly 300 million views.

Indeed, it appears that Smith and the actress from “Christmas Everlasting” resumed their relationship as if no time had passed, and even though he was canceled some years back, she has continued to harbor affection towards her supportive guide, whom she considers more like a brother.

The Best Advice Will Smith Ever Gave Ali

Will Smith, famously known as The Fresh Prince, stepped into Hollywood at a tender age, making him an insightful guide for his children, Willow and Jaden Smith, who similarly grew up immersed in showbiz. However, before becoming a father, he had a screen sibling – Tatyana Ali. At just 11 years old, she embarked on her acting journey as part of Fresh Prince, with a promising career to look forward to. A piece of advice that Will Smith shared with her during their time together in the industry has stayed with her throughout her career and played a significant role in her success, as she shared with the media outlet.

The most valuable piece of wisdom Will imparted to me was always to remain open to independent opportunities, a lesson I’ve carried with me throughout my life as one can never predict the future. For instance, you might think you have a solid support system or security, but circumstances may lead you to find yourself on your own. In essence, Will’s message was to never fear anything because an abundance of possibilities awaits you.

One potential option was going back to where she started. Ali became part of the cast for the second season of Bel Air, Peacock’s reimagined and dramatic revamp of the classic sitcom, playing a recurring role as Ashley Banks’ English teacher. The actress from Love That Girl mentioned that her emotional scenes with her old character represented a complete circle moment for her.

It’s clear that it was an extraordinary event, and I bet it felt the same way for the original Fresh Prince cast who starred in Season 1. With the forthcoming fourth and last season scheduled for 2025 TV lineup, Will Smith might include a Bel Air cameo among his upcoming ventures. I’m eager to witness their reunion on screen once more, following that memorable dance scene between them.

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2025-03-30 20:37