Alfonso Ribeiro, better known as Carlton Banks, Will Smith‘s corny, geeky cousin in the television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, decided to talk about being ostracized by the Black community for having a white wife, except Black Twitter reminded him that he was not on top of anybody’s mind.
Ribeiro, the current host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, spoke exclusively with Atlanta Black Star about the stigma that came with playing such a popular character on an iconic show.
But, he also said he feels that being married to a white woman places
him in an uncomfortable position when he is out in public, and he sees the looks he receives combined with being typecast as Carlton Banks and being in a mixed marriage, he said, makes him feel like Black people will never accept him.“Being Black isn’t something that I try to be. It’s who I am,” he said.
Ribeiro was asked about a particular scene on an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when he tried to pledge to a Black fraternity where he was met with skepticism. The writer,
“It still happens almost every day, unfortunately. I am in a mixed relationship,” Ribeiro responds. “And I get things and looks and comments constantly. And I find it very interesting because you see a lot of things on social media where people say things and people have positions and perspectives. And it’s not easy to make that choice, because you’re not at home in any home. I’m never going to be white and I’m never going to be fully supported in the Black house.
“So I’m in my own little world with support from almost no one, to be in love with someone I’ve fallen in love with. How does that make sense? It doesn’t. We all want to live in a world where everyone is accepted for being and loving and living the way they choose to live. I will support any person that wants to live in a world that they want to live in. I’ll support a racist person to live in a world that they want to live in. They don’t have to be around me.”
Say what?
Anyway, of course, Black Twitter let loose on his reasoning, pointing out that he loves white women, and the first Tweet below shows a video clip where he admittedly states it!
The Black community clearly didn’t come for you, “Carlton,” so don’t send for them.