What role did Tatyana Ali play in "Jawbreaker"? Actress reveals she dealt with "little bullying" during the shoot

Actress and singer Tatyana Ali looked back on her time in the 1999 comedy movie Jawbreaker. On May 24, 2025, she shared an Instagram post with still photos of her in the film.

She mentioned that she was in high school during the film’s shooting. Tatyana Ali also noted that she faced bullying on the set, but Rose McGowan stood up for her in one instance. In the post, she wrote:

“These are from Jawbreaker (1999). I was the only one actually in high school when we shot this, and I dealt with a little bullying on set from one actress in particular. But one day, she tried it in front of everybody… and @rosemcgowan told her to stfu in front of everybody! I will always love her for that!”

Ali played the role of Brenda in the movie. McGowan commented on her Instagram post, writing:

“I’d do it again.”

Tatyana Ali’s recent Instagram posts appear to be throwbacks to older days. One of the posts included a cover photo of Hype Hair magazine in which she posed with Kellie S. Williams. Another post included a photo of her and her sister.

The story behind that photo goes back to when her actor friends would have birthday parties at clubs, and her mother would take her to the venue. Tatyana Ali wrote:

“Back then, some of my teen actor friends were allowed to have their birthdays at actual clubs. That’s just how we did it! But don’t ask me about any after-parties… I couldn’t go. My mom was parked right outside waiting to take me HOME!”

Tatyana Ali on The Fresh Prince’s reunion

Speaking to Jess Cagle on SiriusXM in 2020, Tatyana Ali recalled the reconciliation of Will Smith and Janet Hubert during The Fresh Prince’s reunion.

When asked about the situation, she said that while she was a child during the original run of the show and didn’t fully understand the situation at the time, she remembered there being tension on set.

She found out the reunion would include Janet, and she felt unsure of how it would go, given everything that had been said over the years, not just between Will Smith and Janet, but by others, too.

During the filming, when Janet stepped out from behind a screen, the cast waited anxiously. Then, Daphne Maxwell Reid welcomed her, calling her "family," and offered her a seat.

Will instead offered his seat to Janet. Ali described it as a powerful, emotional experience that left a lasting impact.

Tatyana Ali has been engaged with her startup, Baby Yams. According to Us Weekly, speaking about the motivation behind the venture, she shared that during both of her pregnancies, she spent time sewing and created most of the nursery items herself.

Talking openly about her first birth experience led her to connect with the Reproductive Justice Community and her midwife.

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While pregnant with her youngest son, she made him a quilt using Ankara fabric. This and the positive feedback inspired her to make more for others. Tatyana Ali said the experience gave her strength and answers, and she wanted to pass that feeling on to other parents.

She also mentioned that money from each quilt sold would go toward supporting birth workers who play a vital role in caring for families.

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