Jasmine Guy Addresses Ageism After "A Different World" Revival Appearance
The actress, reprising her iconic role, pushed back against criticism of her appearance on social media.
Jasmine Guy, 64, has responded to critical comments regarding her appearance after returning to her role as Whitley Gilbert in a new revival of "A Different World." The actress, who first gained fame in the 1987 sitcom, addressed the online commentary on Instagram, noting the harshness women face as they age.
"The internet can be brutal to women as we grow older," Guy wrote. "It asks us to celebrate life while criticizing every sign that we’ve lived it. Growing older brings change, and I won’t pretend every change is easy. But beauty, style and joy don’t have an expiration date. Let’s spend less time judging ourselves and each other, and more time loving each other, making memories and living the life we’re here to live."
The original "A Different World," a spin-off of "The Cosby Show," ran for six seasons until 1993. The new revival premiered on Netflix last week and explores the lives of a new generation at Hillman College. Guy is joined by original cast members Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, and Cree Summer, with newcomers Maleah Joi Moon, Alijah Kai, Cornell Young IV, Jordan Aaron Hall, and Kennedi Reece.
Guy's career extends beyond "A Different World" to include roles in "Dead Like Me," "The Vampire Diaries," and "Grey's Anatomy." This is not the first time Guy has spoken out about her experiences on "A Different World." She previously revealed in 2022 that she had briefly considered leaving the show due to perceived disrespect towards the cast by producers, including Lisa Bonet and Sinbad.
At the time, Guy stated on "Red Table Talk" that she felt producers were disrespectful and that if Bonet was being mistreated, it affected her as well. She recounted an incident where producers allegedly got in Bonet's face. Bonet eventually left the series before its second season, leading to a shift in focus toward Guy's character, Whitley, and Kadeem Hardison's character, Dwayne.
Later, during the summer of 1988, Bonet announced her pregnancy. While a producer reportedly favored incorporating this into the show, series creator Bill Cosby reportedly rejected the idea, fearing viewers would not accept Denise Huxtable as an unwed mother given her established persona on "The Cosby Show." This led to Denise's character leaving Hillman College for the season.