A Different World is back, and the Netflix sequel has quickly become the No. 1 television show on the platform in the United States.
The new series brings viewers back to Hillman College and reunites fans with several familiar faces, including Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne Wayne and Jasmine Guy as the unforgettable Whitley Gilbert.
But along with all the excitement surrounding the show, Jasmine has also faced some cruel comments online about how she looks nearly four decades after first playing Whitley.
The 64-year-old actress responded with a thoughtful message about aging and the unrealistic expectations placed on women.
“The internet can be brutal to women as we grow older,” Jasmine wrote, adding that society asks women to celebrate life while criticizing the physical signs that prove they have lived it.
She acknowledged that getting older comes with changes and that not every change is easy. Still, Jasmine encouraged people to spend less time judging themselves and others and more time actually enjoying their lives.
Her response has resonated with fans who say women in Hollywood often face a level of scrutiny about aging that their male counterparts do not.
Jasmine Guy first stepped into the role of Whitley Gilbert when she was in her 20s. She is now returning to the character at 64, giving audiences the opportunity to see Whitley at another stage of life.