'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Cabby Still Traumatized Over Remarks from Will Smith

"It was 1990. I had only been on my route for three weeks. His comment was unfair and uncalled for," opens the discussion between me and the unfortunate cab-driver targeted by the cruel remarks made by star Will Smith, in his introduction to his new hit television show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." After more than two decades of pain, he's now found the courage to come forward and speak up about his ordeal. We'll call him Hector, for privacy's sake.

"I was really glad to be a part of something so wonderful, at first. There I was, working, making good tips, and then a call to the airport turned out to be the end of everything in my world." At 1:21 in the video for the show's theme song, readers can hear the disparaging hurtful and insensitive remark from Will Smith, which turned out to be more devastating for Hector than anyone would realize. "I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8, and I yelled to the cabby 'Yo Homes! Smell ya later!' Looked at my kingdom I was finally there, to sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel-Air."

"It was the 'Smell you later' part that was so damaging," Hector continues. "Southern California's hot. People sweat. Drunks puke in my cab all the time. I do my best to keep it clean and minty fresh. But his disparaging remark was just too much." Sadly, for Hector, his realization of the effect wouldn't come for much later, and not until after the damage to his reputation was done. Between the time of filming the scene, and when he finally caught an episode of the show, co-workers started calling him "Stinky." Potential fares would see his cab with "Fresh" plates and the dice in the mirror, and by-pass him to flag another cab down. It seemed nobody in Southern California is willing to ride in a smelly cab.

Hector was oblivious to the rumors circulating about his smelly cab and didn't understand why he was treated like a pariah. "When I finally got a day off to watch the show, I understood. A star as big as Will Smith calling your cab smelly is a damning conviction in the public's eye. Did anyone even care that my cab was, in fact, very clean? No. Did anyone consider I had just given a homeless man a free ride to the doctor just before the airport run? No. All they cared about were the words of Will Smith," and with this statement, Hector begins crying silently. "It's all so unfair," he finally manages to say. "If anyone else gets slammed by a star like Will Smith, it's just one shot or maybe one episode. Not me. I'm singled out at the opening of every single episode for all time."

With the decrease in fares, Hector was unable to pay his cab lease for each week to such a point, his employers finally terminated his employment. "I remember the day my boss let me go. He handed me my "Fresh" plate, and my fuzzy dice, and he didn't need to say one word. I knew I was done right there. I never even got to say goodbye to my cab." Eventually, being unemployed, Hector went on to then lose his home, his wife of 14 years, and his beloved seven children. "My life became a shambles. I ended up living alone down at the rescue mission." But even unemployment and homelessness wasn't enough of a price to pay, as people Hector met still called him "Stinky," upon learning his identity.

"I eventually left California altogether. I had to get to some place where folks didn't pay as much attention to television. After traveling the country as a hobo and a hitch-hiker, I chose Texas." Now working as a cab driver in Killeen and starting anew in his chosen profession, Hector has even began negotiations with his ex-wife to try again as a family. His biggest fear is being recognized as "Stinky" by Fresh Prince fans.

When asked about whether he's considered seeking legal damages for defamation of character against the show's star and producers he says, "No, I don't. Eventually, I'll recover. It's already all in the past. I hold no grudge for Will Smith's remarks." Hector the cab-driver's graciousness is paralleled only by his courage to keep on trying, in spite of the odds. And for that courage and graciousness Hector, America tips their hat to you. Neither Mr. Smith's publicist nor manager have responded to inquiries at this time.