Will Smith, Tatyana Ali, and Doechii have ignited a viral sensation by recreating the iconic “Anxiety” dance from the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.1
The dance, which originated in the show, has recently gained immense popularity on TikTok, prompting Smith, Ali, and Doechii to join the trend.2 Smith, 56, shared a TikTok video on March 14th showcasing Ali, 46, listening to music and performing the dance. He then appears behind her, mirroring her moves, a nostalgic nod to the original Fresh Prince scenes. Doechii joins them, adding her own flair to the recreation.3
“Waited 35 years for this dance to trend,” Smith captioned the video.
The “Anxiety” dance trend, fueled by Doechii’s song, had previously caught Smith’s attention. On March 5th, he acknowledged the trend, stating, “I’ve been watching y’all and every video has been better than the last!! Love that track @Doechii. @Tatyana Ali remember this?” alongside a repost of the original 1990 Fresh Prince scene. Notably, the song playing in Ali’s character’s headphones in the original episode was never disclosed.
@willsmith Waited 35 years for this dance to trend. Ib: @Mimii ♬ Anxiety – Doechii
Doechii and Ali have also independently shared their own recreations of the dance. Doechii posted a clip with the caption, “Who else is forcing everyone to do this dance with them?” while Ali shared a solo recreation from an airport.4
Smith’s career began with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996), which paved the way for his successful film career with blockbusters like Independence Day and Bad Boys.5
In his 2021 memoir, Will, Smith discussed his decision to leave the show after six seasons. He explained that the show’s storylines were becoming “increasingly hokey” and that he wanted to avoid a “cycle of deterioration.” He cited the season 5 episode “Bullets Over Bel-Air,” where his character is shot and Carlton carries a gun, as a turning point. “Anyone who has ever been on a sitcom can tell you the episode in which their show jumped the shark,” he wrote. He felt a movie career was a “viable option” and that it was time to move on.
