Jaleel White Alleges Bianca Lawson Was Only Interested in His Fame on Their Teen Date

Jaleel White is opening up about his past, and not everything is sunshine and sitcom laughs. The Family Matters star is diving deep into his life and career in his new memoir, Growing Up Urkel. While he touches on fame, career struggles, and love, one of the most surprising revelations is about a date with fellow actor Bianca Lawson—a date that, according to White, didn’t exactly leave him starry-eyed.

White recounts that Lawson was his first-ever date, but things didn’t go as planned. He recalls feeling let down by Lawson’s apparent disinterest during their outing, believing she only perked up when they visited an arcade—and needed money to play games. Despite a second date, White admits their connection fizzled quickly. Reflecting on the experience, he believes his TV fame as Steve Urkel played a significant role in landing the date in the first place.

“I highly doubt my asking for her phone number would have gone the same way had my position in television not signaled a possible opportunity for her,” White writes in his memoir. “I imagine ambition is what won me her phone number in the first place. And probably extended our knowing each other.”

White also reveals that he was unaware of Lawson’s aspirations to become an actress at the time. It wasn’t until a year later, when he spotted her on the set of Saved By the Bell: The New Class, that the realization hit him.

The actor doesn’t stop there. White shares that Lawson and Daphne Duplaix played pivotal roles in shaping his understanding of “female motivations in show business.” He even recounts a tense period at UCLA with Gabrielle Union, who reportedly told him years later that some of her classmates “hated” him for his early TV success.

Jaleel White’s memoir offers a glimpse into the pressures of fame, personal growth, and the ups and downs of his relationships. What do you think about Jaleel White’s reflections? Share your thoughts below!