Everything You Know About 'Fresh Prince' Is A Lie

We all know the story about how a prince's life got flipped-turned upside down: In West Philadelphia, he was born and raised — he chilled out, maxed, relaxed all cool. Then, one fateful day, while shooting some basketball outside of the school (just the school) a couple of guys who were up to no good started making trouble in his neighborhood! The prince got in one little fight, and, as a result, his mom got scared, prompting her to proclaim, "You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air." It's a tale as old as time! But, fair readers, I beg of thee to sit down, for I have some rather frightful Fresh Prince of Bel Air trivia to tell: This tale is not true! Apparently, this basketball court in which said prince is shooting his basketball is not — and I repeat — is not in West Philadelphia.

That's right: Straight up, that basketball court in the opening sequence of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air is not at all in West Philadelphia. The scene was shot at Roberto Celemente playground at 18th and Wallace Streets in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia. — and Fairmount is situated just on the cusp of North Philadelphia, and a mile or two outside of the downtown area. Not West Philadelphia.

Nowadays, Fairmount is a hub of artist types and "young professionals." It's just outside of Center City and its leafy-green streets are home to some of the city's finest museums, restaurants, and bars. The park has also transformed over the years from being mostly made of pavement to being covered with public gardens, murals, adult co-ed sports leagues, and playground sets... but the nets are still there.

Don't get me wrong, Roberto Clemente is great and all... it's just geographically NOT WEST PHILADELPHIA. In fact, it's a little more than four miles away from where Will Smith actually went to high school, which was in the Overbrook neighborhood of West Philadelphia. Overbrook High School is located at 58th St. and Lancaster Ave.

Here's where Smith Attended High School:

Oh what does that map say? WEST PHILADELPHIA.

And Here's Where that Famous B-Ball Game Took Place:

FAIRMOUNT.

And for good measure

Told ya.

Sure, they were shooting b-ball outside of a school...but it's not the school. LIES. ALL LIES!

I'm not mad, Will, I'm just disappointed.

Image: NBC, anostalgicnerd/Tumblr, Giphy, Google Maps (3)