Will Smith Says He Tried Dating “Fresh Prince” Co-Star Karyn Parsons But She Rejected Him

Will Smith Reveals “Fresh Prince” Co-Star Karyn Parsons Said “Hell No” To His Advances

In his new memoir titled, “Will,” Will Smith is sharing secrets from his life, marriage, and career, including the time he tried dating “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” co-star, Karyn Parsons.

Karyn was cast on Fresh Prince as Hilary Banks, Will’s materialistic older cousin. Smith notes in the book, per EW, that Parsons “beat out a slew of Hollywood big hitters” who were also up for the part.

While speaking about the great actress, Will said she “Was smart enough to tell me ‘hell no’ when I tried to explain we were not really cousins so it would be fine if we dated,” he wrote of Parsons in his book. “‘I swear it won’t mess up our working relationship.’ She knew better than that — good call, K.P.”

At the time, she was 24 while Smith was 22 and she had been married, from 1987 to 1990, to soap opera actor Randy Brooks. Despite the little rejection, that didn’t affect their work relationship and it looks like they have stayed good friends over the years.

Meanwhile, Will is still married to his beautiful wife Jada-Pinkett Smith of 23 years. The future couple first met in 1994 when Jada was up for the part of Will’s girlfriend Lisa, eventually played by Nia Long.

It was noted that Jada Pinkett Smith could have been his girlfriend on the show but she didn’t score the Fresh Prince role she was auditioning for because producers reportedly thought she was too short at 5’0″ to pair with a 6’2″ Smith.

Jada and Will still managed to connect outside of work and have been going strong ever since, even despite their rumored “open relationships and entanglements.”