Will Smith’s rise to fame and acclaim may be widely known, but there’s a little known fact about his ascent that just might surprise you.
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That fact was recently revealed by the “Bad Boys” star in the latest episode of the new Vice docuseries “Black Comedy in America,” hosted by comedian Chris Spencer. In it, Smith recalls how after he and DJ Jazzy Jeff made history by winning the first ever rap Grammy in 1989, his career didn’t exactly take off: he owed a lot of money to the government and had to figure out a new way to kickstart his acting career.
After selling some stuff and with only $4,000 in a brown paper bag, Smith set off for Los Angeles with the goal of making it big. But it was the advice he got from his then-girlfriend that would alter the trajectory of his life: Get to the “The Arsenio Hall Show” and hang out backstage.
Describing it as “the greatest greenroom ever,” Smith explained: “Everybody went to ‘Arsenio.’ The show was one thing, but backstage at ‘Arsenio’ was as hot as any club you’ve ever been to. People who weren’t on the show would be backstage.”
While he didn’t detail exactly how much time he spent chilling out, maxing and relaxing all cool backstage, Smith said he was there “all day, everyday.” Thankfully though, his efforts were eventually rewarded when he met then-music exec Benny Medina backstage, who was putting together the concept of a show that would later be known as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
After hitting it off and eventually meeting with Quincy Jones, Smith’s Hollywood career took off and the rest is history.
Smith is now one of the highest paid Black actors in the game, with hit movies like “Bad Boys for Life,” “Independence Day,” “Men in Black” and more making him a household name.
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