Will Smith once rejected a RuPaul cameo on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' producer says

• Will Smith rejected a cameo by RuPaul on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," according to a new book.
• In "Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek," producer David Steven Simon said he suggested the idea.

Will Smith once rejected an opportunity for RuPaul to cameo on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," a producer has claimed.

In the new book, "Freaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television," executive producer David Steven Simon spoke to author Thea Glassman about the making of the hit 1990s sitcom.

In one section, according to Entertainment Weekly and People, Simon said that Smith shut down the producer when he suggested that RuPaul should make an appearance.

At the time, RuPaul was a rising drag star following the release of her dance track "Supermodel (You Better Work)" in 1993.

"I remember him saying that would be a really bad idea," Simon said in the book. "And I said, 'No, listen, hear my story—'"

Smith had the ability to approve ideas for the series, however, he rarely rejected ideas, Glassman wrote.

Simon told Glassman that Smith "refused" the idea despite the producer's explanation and the Oscar-winning actor "kept repeating that it was a bad idea."

"OK, OK. We don't need to do it,'" Simon said eventually told Smith.

Simon also told Glassman: "The reason he would say no is because of his image. Period. The End."

Representatives for Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" had several celebrity guests across its six seasons, particularly Black celebrities such as B.B. King, Naomi Campbell, Quincy Jones, and Oprah Winfrey.

The series marked Smith's acting breakout, and he later produced a reboot of the hit series as a modern-day drama. The series premiered on Peacock last year and has been renewed for a third season.

"Freaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television," written by Thea Glassman, is available to buy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores.