It has been 33 years since the second-most bankable star in Hollywood stepped into the movie business. Despite achieving modest fame before his first show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air became the turning point in Will Smith’s career trajectory. The show instantly became a hit and a watershed moment for hip-hop and black television. The NBC sitcom hit the small screens in September 1990 and recently celebrated its 33-year anniversary. 

Smith celebrated the memorable day by posting on his Instagram account in front of the iconic mansion in the show. Following the anniversary celebrations, a special co-star from the American sitcom also shared a heartfelt post on Twitter. 

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air gets a special mention from this co-star

Many publications referred to the Andy and Susan Borowitz show to be the greatest sitcom of all time. It was the time when hip-hop was gaining momentum in the industry, and the series strategically capitalized on its growing popularity. Recently, a regular from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air shared a heartfelt post to celebrate thirty-three years of the classic sitcom. Tatyana Ali, who was eleven years old when she entered the franchise, posted a picture of the ensemble on Saturday. 

The actress and singer captioned her post saying how her life changed 33 years ago when she got her big break in the 90s show. However, more than being a part of Fresh Prince, the actress felt grateful for meeting such amazing and nurturing people. The Outstanding Youth Actress winner said, “I met some of the most amazing, nurturing ppl I’ve ever known“. In Ali’s words, she could not “express in words what an impact the cast & entire crew” had on her. 

The ASCAP Film and Television Music Award-winning show not only had a huge impact on the cast but also saved the Men In Black actor from bankruptcy.

How Fresh Prince of Bel-Air helped Will Smith financially

The now 54-year-old was at the peak of his career in the ’90s as he made his transition from being a Grammy-award-winning rapper to an actor. He released several hit numbers in those years and also amassed a net worth of $6 million. Despite having a lucrative career, the actor found himself in a deep financial crisis. The IRS accused him of not paying his taxes. This crisis was mainly because the actor lacked a good financial management team and spent most of his earnings on luxury.

Even in his autobiography, Smith admitted how he carelessly spent his money on extravagant purchases like cars, jewelry, and homes. Additionally, he did not even plan on investing his money properly, which caused him a debt of $2.8 million in back taxes. Owing to the crisis, Smith gave away almost seventy percent of his earnings from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air to pay taxes. It was not until the third season that the After Earth actor finally recovered from the debt. 

What do you think about Tatyana Ali’s Twitter post? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.