In May 2022, Jo Marie Payton, known for her role as Harriette Winslow on Family Matters, alleged that her co-star Jaleel White, who portrayed Steve Urkel, once attempted to initiate a physical altercation with her on set. She recounted an incident during the filming of the season 9 episode “Original Gangsta Dawg,” where a disagreement over a scene escalated, leading White to become “so mad, he started kicking and screaming and stuff.”
In response to these claims, White addressed the topic during a November 2024 interview on Andy Cohen Live. When asked about his relationships with Payton and Reginald VelJohnson, who have previously described him as challenging to work with, White remarked, “They’re also over 70, and I’ve been told not to argue with my elders from the time I was 12 years old.” He elaborated, “With Jo Marie, it’s always like, what day did I catch her on or what day did the interviewer catch her?”
Despite past tensions, Payton expressed a forgiving attitude toward White during a 2023 panel at ’90s Con. She stated, “Yes, sometimes you bump heads and things — but I’ll always love him. He was always a child to me… And I forgive everything because I have that kind of heart to get past stuff.”
These exchanges highlight the complexities of on-set relationships and the challenges that can arise when working closely over extended periods. While past conflicts have been acknowledged, there appears to be a mutual respect and a willingness to move forward among the cast members.