Viola Smith

"You know what's clear? What's clear is that before... Before this fancy house, I was the one who helped you find your voice as an artist. When you needed materials, I bought them for you. I helped you move to LA, and I paid your bills. And the second you didn't need me, you just... you erased me. You erased me from your life. And you want my son to do the same thing."

—Vy to Viv^[src]

Viola "Vy" Smith is a recurring character on Peacock's modern-day reinterpretation, Bel-Air. She is portrayed by April Parker Jones.

Vy is Will's mother and Aunt Viv's older sister. Having always put her son first, Vy makes the tough decision to send Will to live with her sister, despite the fact that they haven't spoken in years.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Vy was born and raised in West Philadelphia, alongside her younger sister, Viv, who she helped raise. She's even credited with buying Viv her first art set. However, when Viv met Phil, she married him and moved away to Bel-Air, leaving Vy to take care of their dying mother alone.^[1]

At some point, Vy met Will's father, Lou, who was nothing more than a con-artist at the time, who Viv warned Vy about, though Vy ignored her advice and even paid some of Lou's debt. It wasn't until Vy had Will that she realized how right her sister was and parted ways with Lou, who would later get arrested for assault. With him being sentenced to 10 years, Vy, Viv, and Phil devise a lie and tell Will that his father abandoned him.^[2]

Sending Will to Bel-Air[]

Vy prepares breakfast for Will the morning of his big game, for which the VCU scouts will be in attendance. She cheers Will on from the crowd as he scores a buzzer beater to win the game. Afterward, she expresses just how proud she is of Will and that the people over at VCU want to set up a visit to the campus in Richmond next month. Will is happy to hear this, but he can't help but think about just how far Virginia is from Philly. Vy reminds Will that he's meant to see more than Philly and that his crown is waiting as soon as he finds the courage to wear it. Unfortunately, that night, Will is arrested after getting into a fight on the court and pulling out a gun on Rashad Denton. Thankfully, however, Vy contacted Will's Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil, who were not only able to pull some strings for Will's release, but they also agreed to take care of him in Bel-Air.^[3]

Vy calls Vivian after learning that Will got into a fight with Carlton, though Vivian assures her that she handled it. If Tray hadn't gotten shot, she'd bring Will home now, but the streets are dangerous. Will probably has to stay with them until at least Christmas break, so she'll be sending his stuff out.^[4]

SE1-E05-Screenshot-PA-to-LA-04-Viola — Vy agrees to allow Will to stay in Bel-Air

Vy FaceTimes Vivian and learns that Will has been contemplating heading back to Philly, which has been on Vy's mind, as well. She was thinking he could come home for Thanksgiving, but Viv proposes that he remain in Bel-Air, where a number of opportunities await. However, their arraignment was only ever temporary and Vy's not done raising her son. She's feeling as if Viv is trying to take that away, but Viv insists that is not the case. As his mother, Vy intends to tell Will what is best for him. However, when he calls and tells her that he wants to stay in Bel-Air, she reluctantly agrees.^[5]

Flying to Bel-Air for Will's birthday[]

Vy is flown out to Bel-Air by Viv for Will's 17th birthday, though the tension between her and Viv is evident. This is her first time back since Viv and Phil's wedding 20 years ago. They've come up substantially since then. With Will's birthday tomorrow, Vy has been contemplating telling him the truth about his father, but Viv advises her against doing so. As Vy catches up with the rest of the family, tension flares between her and Viv over the fact that she was left to take care of their dying mother on her own, though Viv did send money. The following morning, as she prepares Will's morning breakfast, he asks to know more about his dad, but she deflects to Viv; how she used to run the streets and how it was Vy who bought Viv her first art set. After breakfast, Vy and Will go out on a tour of LA. They end up at the pier, where Vy becomes a bit defensive after Will credits Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil for saving him, when she raised him on her own for the first 16 years of his life. Will insists that wasn't his intention, and thanks her for always looking out for him.

SE1-E08-Promo-No-One-Wins-When-the-Family-Feuds-06-Vivian-Viola — Vy accuses Viv of trying to erase her

After lunch with Viv, during which she learned that her sister has begun painting again, Vy partially comes clean to Will about the type of man his father was. Lou was a half-assed dreamer, jumping from one get-rich-quick scheme to another. And Vy believed his promises and lies because she was young and gullible. But she changed when she had Will, who became the single most important thing in her life, and that's why he ran off — because he couldn't use her anymore. Shortly after meeting Lisa at Will's party, they decide to start opening gifts, starting with Vy's. It's a framed photo of her holding him when he was firstborn, but when Viv gifts him a pair of limited edition Jordans, Vy feels threatened and undermined, which she accuses her sister of doing intentionally. Vy reminds Viv that she's the one who helped her find her voice as an artist. She bought Viv material, she helped her move to LA, and she paid her bills. But the second Viv no longer needed her, she erased Vy from her life. And now she fears that Viv wants Will to do the same.

Vy storms off, but Will comes chasing after her. She apologizes for ruining Will's party, but he's more concerned with what she said about Viv and tells her that no one could ever make him erase her from out his life. Viv interrupts and asks to speak with Vy, to whom she admits was right about how much Viv relied on her when they were younger. Vy was always the strong one, for looking out for her, and Viv apologizes for looking past that. Vy admits that it's not all her fault. She's made her own mistakes in the past, such as with Lou, who Viv warned her about. However, one good thing did come from her relationship with Lou, that being Will, who is doing well in Bel-Air, which is why Vy has decided not to tell him the truth about Lou, at least not now. She then embraces Viv and tells her that she loves her.^[1]

Will meeting Lou[]

SE1-E10-Screenshot-Where-To-09-Vy — Vy calls Viv

Vy gets a call from Will, who has learned the truth about Lou, that he didn't walk out on them, rather he was incarcerated for assault. He asks her why she lied to him. Vy explains that she thought that was the best decision at the time, given that he was only four years old. Will understands that, but he's not four anymore and they've lied to him for years. Vy explains that they made that choice out of love, but she is sorry he had to find out this way. Later that night, Vy calls Viv to find out how everything went between Will and Lou. Unfortunately, it didn't go well, and Will fled the house with tears in his eyes. Vy blames herself for not telling Will sooner. Had she been there, this all could've been avoided.^[2]

Vy gets a call from Will, whose been having a rough time after learning that Doc used him. Will wishes he could move on and pretend he never existed. To Vy's surprise, he'd talking about Lou, not Doc. Will looked him in his face and said he didn't need him, yet he feels like he does now. Vy explains that Lou is his father, meaning he could need him and hate him at the same time. Will can't help but notice that he keeps putting his faith in people who let him down. Vy tells Will that no one else holds his destiny and that it's time to stop looking for answers from someone else and look for the answer in himself.^[6]