Before The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air became a cultural phenomenon, NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff compared the then-unknown Will Smith to Eddie Murphy, labelling him "the next Eddie Murphy." This premature comparison unsettled Smith, who felt unprepared for such expectations and lacked the credentials to justify them. The article explores how Smith managed the pressure of these early comparisons as he transitioned from rapper to television actor and eventually became one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

At the time of the comparison, Smith was primarily a rapper with just two albums and no significant acting experience. He deliberately avoided reading press coverage about himself to prevent the mounting pressure from affecting his performance. Even after the Fresh Prince pilot aired to positive reception, Smith initially regarded it as a fluke rather than validation of his acting abilities. However, as he continued to succeed on the show and later in films such as Independence Day, Men in Black, and I Am Legend, his anxieties diminished, and he ultimately achieved his goal of becoming the world's biggest movie star.