In his new memoir, 'Growing Up Urkel', the 'Family Matters' shares his perspective on his former relationship with Will Smith, recounting his interactions with Smith.
- November 20, 2024
AceShowbiz - In his new memoir, "Growing Up Urkel," Jaleel White shares his perspective on his former relationship with Will Smith. White, who starred in "Family Matters" as Steve Urkel, recounts his interactions with Smith while the two were rising stars in the 1990s.
Despite initial admiration for Smith's success, White revealed that their relationship deteriorated after White pitched a show to Smith following his deal with Universal. White alleges that external factors and miscommunications led to the dissolution of their partnership.
Reflecting on the incident, White expressed regret for not reaching out to Smith directly. He also praised Smith's determination, stating, "I saw it coming before the rest of America got a chance to see it coming. I could see it coming in NBA All-Star Stay in School Jam and would think, 'This dude's freaking energy is huge in the room.'"
Years later, White remains hopeful that Smith will understand the respect he held for him. "I just always want Will to know - and I'm not sure he ever did - how much I admired his forging ahead," White said.
White also reveals the extent to which outsiders influenced the breakdown of their relationship. "When I got the opportunity to nearly work with him, [I now] go back and look at the number of people that conspired to make sure that we did not speak directly any further," he said.
Despite the challenges of child stardom, White expressed gratitude for the experiences it brought him. He hopes to use his platform to continue entertaining audiences, balancing acting and writing projects.
