During a performance at Charlamagne Tha God’s The breakfast clubJasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert) and Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Wayne) from the show An other world, which aired from 1987 to 1993, reflected on the first season. Guy said she tried to quit despite signing a six-year contract. Producers wouldn’t have it, though. The former co-stars also shared never-before-told stories about the inner workings, including claims that producers on the show treated the original lead actress, Lisa Bonet (Denise Huxtable), horribly. According to Guy, Bonet was routinely belittled and disrespected, stating:
“That first season, I’m telling you, it was a downer, and I didn’t like the way they treated Lisa Bonet. You respect her in front of an audience, for me, you don’t respect me either.”
Guy claimed that the highly educated would often come “all up in” Bonet’s face and talk to her, saying things like “just do it, just say it.” The actress added: “and the pointing.” After admitting she didn’t interfere with the set, Guy continued:
‘I’m like, that’s a sweet girl, because that’s not how you go up against me. And you know, we’ve been dealing with bitches. Goods [Guy and Hardison] from New York, as far as choreographers and directors and stuff. I was like ‘oh no, you don’t treat her like that.’ She had to hire security.”
Charlamagne asked if the assault caused Bonet to leave the show, Hardison and Guy disagreed, saying Bonet was pregnant at the time, more than likely the cause. hardison said:
“[They] didn’t want a black girl to be pregnant in college. I thought it would be a great tool and something to inspire because it was all inspiring, so why not?”
Jasmine Guy has more to say
The 60-year-old also expressed his dismay at the network setting up the show to “compete” with other popular series. She said:
“Why would you change our timeslot? And why put us against “Martin”? I certainly took that personally. You only have two Black shows on the network, so you pit us against each other at the same time? What have we done to deserve this kind of disservice? You know we don’t compete with ‘Martin’. We start at 8:30 [p.m.]they come at 8 [p.m.]. Why did you move us? That was… disadvantage.”
in celebration of An other world 35th anniversary, on September 24, 2022 there will be a full day marathon on TV One, starting at 6am
Watch the full interview below: