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Will Smith has long been a fan favorite, captivating audiences with his music and acting. Recently, the Hollywood star received a prestigious honor in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where a street was renamed in his honor. However, while the event was a celebration of his achievements, fans couldn’t help but notice some unexpected moments during the ceremony.
The I, Robot actor was recognized for his incredible career with the renaming of 59th Street to Will Smith Street. The ceremony, led by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, also saw community leaders in attendance, all of whom praised Smith for his resilience and artistic contributions, proving that economic hardships never stood in the way of his success.
During the event, the I Am Legend star took a moment to express gratitude to one of his former teachers, Ms. Brown, who played a pivotal role in his early life. Smith recounted how she was the one who gave him a nickname that would later shape his career.
“Ms. Brown’s about 5 feet tall, and she used to walk up in my chest. She was the teacher who started calling me Prince Charming. The name ‘The Fresh Prince’ was coined in that building, and Ms. Brown was the teacher that made me,” he shared.
For those unfamiliar, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the show that launched Will Smith to stardom, was loosely based on his own experiences growing up in Philadelphia. It followed a young man navigating life in a tough neighborhood before moving to California to chase his dreams in music and Hollywood.
This latest recognition comes shortly after Smith made headlines for a surprising moment at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards on February 20, where he was seen kissing Spanish singer India Martínez. The actor’s personal life has also remained in the spotlight after he and Jada Pinkett Smith publicly revealed in 2023 that they had been separated since 2016, despite keeping their split under wraps for years.
With this new honor, Will Smith’s legacy in Philadelphia is officially cemented—both in the streets and in the hearts of those who watched him rise to fame.