Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel

Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel

As a lifestyle expert with a rich background in understanding human dynamics and celebrity relationships, I find Jaleel White’s memoir to be both intriguing and heartfelt. The account of his falling out with Will Smith, a fellow icon from the 90s sitcom era, sheds light on the complexities that often lurk behind the glamorous facade of Hollywood friendships.


In his recently published memoir titled “Growing Up Urkel”, Jaleel White has finally spoken about the rift between him and Will Smith.

In a recent chat with Us Weekly, published on Tuesday, I, a former cast member of Family Matters, opened up about the current state of my relationship – or lack thereof – with my previous screen partner.

It’s peculiar when our professional lives intersect, as it’s not always clear how significant an encounter was for both parties. This ambiguity can sometimes leave you pondering and even perplex your thoughts, as White explained.

He mentioned that the situation didn’t unfold as expected based on our discussions regarding my encounters with Will, according to Smith, who is 56 years old.

Additionally, he also conveyed a sentiment directed towards Smith, who openly acknowledged his numerous errors during a discussion on his connection with fame last year, regarding the content he penned about their friendship and its decline.

He confessed that he had always wished for Will to understand, and he wasn’t certain if he ever did, the depth of my admiration for his determination.

Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel

Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel

 ‘I saw it coming before the rest of America got a chance to see it coming,’ he continued.

‘During the NBA All-Star Stay in School Jam, I noticed his boundless enthusiasm stood out. However, as a child, it might not have been recognized or acknowledged.’

In his autobiography, White likewise mentioned proposing a TV show to Smith, following his signing of an all-encompassing production contract with Universal towards the end of the ’90s.

It came after White made a cameo on a crossover episode on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. 

As a die-hard admirer, I couldn’t contain my excitement when the partnership appeared promising. However, the winds of reality hit hard as those closest to me – friends, family, and even my representative – all shared the same disheartening news: this potential union was destined to remain just that – a possibility.

In his book, White stated that he should have contacted Will personally instead, and the fact was, he had a strong desire to collaborate with Will.

After my encounter with Will, it turned out that his TV department head was let go, making our command structure more intricate, as he reflected on it later.

Months passed, and Will had risen to stardom so swiftly that I hesitated to contact him directly, wondering, “Why did you dismiss your head of TV? My representative mentioned no agreement was possible.

Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel
Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel
Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel

They’ve given me a chance on the United Paramount Network with this show, but deep down, I genuinely believe that its concept is less compelling than ours.

Eventually, White decided to join the cast of the brief-running show “Grown Ups,” as he felt it offered a more secure role for him.

‘My decision to go with Grown Ups instead of exploring a show with Will Smith — sticking to my guns and being patient with the process basically ended my and Will’s relationship,’ he explained.

Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel
Family Matters star Jaleel White opens up about falling out with Will Smith in memoir Growing Up Urkel

‘There were no more invites to his house or his movie sets, no more calls to say, “What’s up?”‘ 

White reflected on how he ended up learning there were many outsiders involved in the incident. 

He stated that when he had almost been able to collaborate with him, upon reflection, he realized how many individuals worked together to prevent us from communicating directly anymore.

As a devoted reader, I find myself grappling with some heavy emotions. Yet, there’s a sense of relief when I can pour them out onto the pages, making this an experience where the book serves as a form of therapy yet again.

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2024-11-20 07:51

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