We all know Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton Banks—the corny, uptight, sweater-wearing cousin on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. But in real life, people say Alfonso isn’t too far off from the character he played, and honestly, a lot of folks are just over him at this point. Let’s talk about why.
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Now, back to Alfonso. One thing about him? He’s a little full of himself. A few years back, he sued the creators of Fortnite and NBA 2K16 for allegedly stealing his “signature” Carlton dance. He claimed he invented it, and he wanted his money—ASAP.
But here’s the twist: Alfonso didn’t actually create the dance. Internet detectives quickly dug up receipts showing that Chubby Checker did those moves way back in the ’60s, and Eddie Murphy even joked about them in his stand-up routines. Alfonso tried to copyright the dance anyway, but the U.S. Copyright Office shut it down, saying it wasn’t creative enough to qualify. He eventually dropped his lawsuit in 2019, and neither he nor his lawyer explained why—probably because they didn’t have much of a case.
Then there was that wild moment in 2009 when Alfonso got on stage at a Steel Panther concert and said, “There are some hot white [women] out here. I have been known to [date] some white girls in my lifetime. Every time you see me in a club, guess who I walk out with? A lovely blonde white chick. Every motherf***ing time.”
He wasn’t lying. Over the years, plenty of photos have surfaced of Alfonso with white women, including a young blonde adult film star back in 2007. Nobody really cares who he dates, but the way he brags about it is what turns people off.
Fast forward to 2024: Alfonso, now a co-host of Dancing with the Stars, defended Erin Andrews—yes, the convicted con artist—after she was fired from the show. While most people were ready to move on from her, Alfonso called her a “trendsetter” and told everyone to give her a break.
Alfonso has also talked about feeling rejected by the Black community. Both his ex-wife and current wife are white, and in a 2021 interview with Atlanta Black Star, he said that people constantly judge him for it. He claimed he feels like he’s stuck in the middle—never fully accepted by Black people but not fitting in with white people either.
He even complained about not being invited to the BET Awards, saying he’s had to create his own little world because he doesn’t feel supported. According to Alfonso, love is love, and people should just accept that.
But here’s the thing: Alfonso seems to think he’s a bigger deal than he actually is. Black Twitter wasted no time calling him out, saying his exclusion from the “cookout” isn’t about his wife’s race—it’s about his attitude. Many feel he’s spent years distancing himself from the culture, so he can’t turn around now and act surprised when people aren’t checking for him.
At the end of the day, it’s not about who Alfonso loves; it’s about how he’s carried himself. People feel like he’s spent too much time trying to separate himself from his roots, only to come back and play the victim.
In the Club, We Ain’t All Fam—And Alfonso Ribeiro Knows It
Alfonso Ribeiro has always seemed like he’s on the outside looking in when it comes to the Black community. But in other circles? He’s got some interesting connections—like his old Silver Spoons co-star, Ricky Schroder. If you don’t know, Ricky’s been out here rocking Blue Lives Matter hats and even helped pay Kyle Rittenhouse’s $2 million bail.
When asked about Ricky, Alfonso told People magazine, “You are a product of your society, and he does represent half the country.” He added that everyone’s entitled to their opinion and that people can just tune Ricky out if they want to.
Still, Alfonso hasn’t called Ricky out for any of his questionable antics. Why? Because that’s his friend, and he’s sticking beside him. Naturally, this has people wondering if Alfonso and Ricky might share more common ground than Alfonso’s letting on.
Jada Pinkett Smith, Lunch Dates, and Drama
Now, let’s talk about the other eyebrow-raising moment. During an episode of Red Table Talk, Jada Pinkett Smith casually mentioned that she and Alfonso went on a date before her relationship with Will Smith. Cue the gasps.
But Alfonso was quick to set the record straight. He jumped on Twitter to write, “Sorry, Jada, your memory is a little off.” He explained that they didn’t go on a date—they had lunch with her family while guest-starring on A Different World. He didn’t stop there, though. He added, “I wouldn’t [date] her Black ass.”
Jada later admitted she was mistaken, brushing it off as no big deal. But social media? Oh, they had time that day. Many thought Alfonso was being petty and unnecessarily rude. Some even accused him of going out of his way to embarrass a Black woman over something small.
“Carlton Ruined My Career”
In a 2022 interview with Atlanta Black Star, Alfonso opened up about how his role as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air hurt his career. He said he got typecast as the preppy guy, and future opportunities dried up because casting directors assumed that’s all he could do.
But not everyone was sympathetic. Critics argued that plenty of actors have successfully broken out of typecasting, so why couldn’t he? They suggested that instead of blaming the industry, Alfonso should’ve taken acting classes, worked with better managers, or simply hustled harder for different roles.
The Tyler Perry Beef Nobody Saw Coming
Fast forward to 2024, and Alfonso stirred up even more drama. A fan suggested he reach out to Tyler Perry for acting opportunities. His response? “I don’t need or ever want that man to do anything for me.”
Wait, what?
This was surprising, especially since Alfonso had previously directed several episodes of Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns. Some speculated that behind-the-scenes drama—possibly tied to a controversial casting decision—might’ve caused tension between the two. But Alfonso hasn’t explained, so we’re all left guessing.
Naturally, the internet wasn’t having it. People called him ungrateful, pointing out that Tyler Perry is known for giving Black actors opportunities.
Misunderstood or Just Messy?
Even though Alfonso will forever be Carlton to many fans, his public comments and questionable alliances have made it hard for some people to root for him. Is the backlash deserved? Or is he just misunderstood?
Let us know—are you Team Alfonso, or nah?