This Disturbing Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Theory Changes Everything About Will Smith
One of the most common fan theories is that a main character has been dead the whole time. For example, in "Moana," a theory states how the titular heroine perishes in a shipwreck. They can become trite after a while, but it's always interesting to see the evidence that supports the speculation. For "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," everything you need to see that Will Smith (Will Smith) was dead the whole time is in the theme song.
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" was one of the best TV shows of the 1990s, and its iconic theme song tells the story of Will getting in trouble in Philadelphia and being sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air to get straightened out. However, many people, such as Redditor u/Anangrytiger69, suggest the tune refers to Will's trip to the Kingdom of Heaven. It mentions how he got into "one little fight," but what if that fight was severe enough to end Will's life? His mother says he's going to live with his auntie and uncle, but she could be speaking to him from a hospital bed where he's on life support. She means he's going to see them in Heaven.
Interestingly, the theme song mentions that the cab Will gets into is "rare." The Redditor posits, "This 'rare' cab was an angel taking [Will] to [H]eaven and that's why it was so unique and nice." It's an intriguing take ... if only there weren't a mountain of evidence to dispute it.
If the Fresh Prince fan theory is true, how does Will's mother visit him?
Will Smith and the rest of the Banks family being dead the whole time on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" adds a darker tone to the light-hearted sitcom. However, while this interpretation of the theme song suggests that Will dies in Philadelphia, it doesn't explain basically everything else about the series.
For example, the theory states that Will pleads and begs his mother to stay, which infers he isn't ready to die. But then why does his mom, Viola Smith (Vernee Watson), visit him periodically as early as Season 1, Episode 12 — "Talking Turkey"? She's a recurring character up to Season 6, so it would be strange for her to enter Heaven periodically, as though the afterlife has a revolving door policy. Additionally, while Will lives in a nice house in Bel-Air, there's still a ton of conflict, which is necessary for engaging plotlines. One would imagine Heaven would be free of strife unless Will found himself in a simulated paradise meant to be torturous a la "The Good Place."
Granted, a supernatural explanation may be necessary for why Aunt Viv (Janet Hubert and Daphne Maxwell Reid) looks completely different halfway through the show's run. Perhaps God wants to mix things up to see if the rest of the family notices. As it stands, Will Smith is probably very much alive throughout "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," as his being dead is too horrid a thought to consider.