‘Fresh Prince’ star Janet Hubert discusses AFTRA lawsuit and health issues

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This week actress Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Vivian from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, became a hot topic in the news after RadarOnline published a report entitled, “‘Fresh Prince Of Bel Air’ Star’s Sad Life: Janet Hubert Reveals ‘Intense Spasms’ & ‘Strange Chattering’ Are Keeping Her From Working.”

The gossip website reported that Hubert was unable to work because of ongoing issues and that she’s in a legal battle with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) to receive insurance and proper benefits.

Today Hubert sat down with theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon to set the record straight on the status of her health and her lawsuit against AFTRA.

“I just had surgery, cervical fusion, it’s where they fuse the bones of the neck together,” Hubert said. “I had torn disks and all kinds of crazy stuff going on for 10 years straight and I had gone to about 42 different doctors.”

“What AFTRA did is they denied me some very important injections, which are called trigger point injections. This is my union that has denied me benefits based on the fact they’re saying these trigger points should have resolved themselves and they have not.”

“I appealed the decision and I was denied. The next process is to appeal it again and I was denied. I was not allowed to attend that hearing for that appeal. I was not allowed to have representation at that hearing, nor was I examined by any of their [AFTRA] doctors.”

Hubert hopes that through her lawsuit she is able to stand up for those actors who have no name, who are going through the same thing that she’s going through.

In an interview with theGrio nearly a year ago, Hubert opened up about her reason for leaving The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1993. However since then, she’s been the subject of several conflicting reports of feuds between her and her former cast members. Hubert says she will not tolerate being portrayed in the media as a villain, and called out entertainment news programs like CBS’ The Talk and The Insider for misquoting her words.

theGRIO VIDEO: Janet Hubert: ‘Absolutely yes’ to ‘Fresh Prince’ reunion

Hubert also opened up about how black women are currently portrayed on TV.

Part 2 of her interview with theGrio, Hubert discusses her latest project, Janet Hubert’s LIFE IN BETWEEN (a show about transition), and opens up about the death of her The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air TV husband, James Avery.

Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter at @WitherspoonC