Seven months after TIME Magazine unveiled its 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential People – a constellation of global shapers from Elon Musk to Serena Williams – one name continues to spark joyous chaos online: Alfonso Ribeiro. The 53-year-old entertainer, etched eternally in pop culture as Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince of Will Smith, earned his spot in the Artists category, penned by a fellow Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) alum. Fans are calling the tribute “stunning” for its laser focus on Ribeiro’s alchemy of humor and heart, a rare ode to a man who’s turned family-room dances into a blueprint for authentic joy. As Ribeiro posted on Instagram last night, recreating his iconic Carlton shimmy to the TIME100 theme: “From the Banks living room to the world’s biggest stages – who knew the twist could topple timelines?”

Ribeiro’s odyssey is a masterclass in reinvention, a threadbare script spun into sequined gold. Born in Brooklyn in 1971 to a Trinidadian jazz musician father and a mother who nurtured his tap-dancing dreams, he was a pint-sized prodigy by age eight, starring in Pepsi commercials and the off-Broadway hit The Tap Dance Kid opposite Hinton Battle. Hollywood beckoned early: a teen role in Silver Spoons (1982-1987) as Ricky Schroder’s wisecracking sidekick honed his comedic chops, but it was 1990’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that immortalized him. As the preppy, uncool Carlton – forever flailing to Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual” – Ribeiro became the show’s secret weapon, a foil to Will’s street swagger that humanized class divides with every awkward twirl. “Carlton wasn’t a punchline; he was a portrait,” Ribeiro reflected in a 2023 Esquire profile. “He taught kids it’s okay to be square if your heart’s square-dancing.”

Decades later, that heart has propelled him into a polymath empire. After guest spots on In Living Color and voice work in Phineas and Ferb, Ribeiro dove into dance, competing on DWTS Season 19 in 2014 (finishing second with partner Witney Carson) before ascending to co-host in 2022 alongside Tyra Banks, then solo in 2023. His tenure has revitalized the show, blending high-kicks with heartfelt mentorship – think guiding 2025 champ Xochitl Gomez through a paso doble that went viral for its vulnerability. Beyond the ballroom, he’s a family man extraordinaire: father of four (including a 1-year-old with wife Baile Arabesque, married in 2012 after a whirlwind romance), he champions Black fatherhood via his Equalibrium podcast, dissecting co-parenting with guests like Kevin Hart. And let’s not forget the side hustles: directing episodes of The Goldbergs, voicing Mort in The Boss Baby, and launching a line of Carlton-inspired apparel that sold out in hours last Black Friday.

TIME’s tribute, ghostwritten by Derek Hough – Ribeiro’s DWTS protégé and recent 2025 honoree – doesn’t just chronicle the resume; it excavates the radiance. “Alfonso Ribeiro is a transformative entertainer whose influence stretches far beyond the screen and into the hearts of people around the world,” Hough writes, his prose pulsing with the rhythm of a well-timed dip. “In an industry that demands perfection but devours sincerity, Alfonso redefines family entertainment by infusing every laugh with authenticity and every step with warmth. He’s the uncle we all need: mentoring rookies with kindness that cuts through competition, opening up about his battles with anxiety and reinvention to make growth feel like a group hug. Watch him host, and you see humor, heart, and humanity collide effortlessly – a connection that reminds us TV isn’t escapism; it’s embrace.” The piece zooms in on Ribeiro’s “extraordinary gift for transforming emotion into connection,” spotlighting his 2024 Emmy-nominated DWTS special episode honoring Fresh Prince co-star James Avery, where a tearful freestyle fused Carlton’s goofiness with Avery’s gravitas, racking up 25 million streams on Disney+.

That line – “transforming emotion into connection” – has fans in a fervor. #AlfonsoTIME100 exploded to 6.5 million TikToks overnight, with stitches of Ribeiro’s routines overlaid by the quote: a Gen Z creator syncing it to his “It’s Not Unusual” dance, captioning “Uncle Phil vibes for the algorithm era.” Will Smith, Ribeiro’s onetime on-screen nephew, reposted with fireworks emojis: “You were always the soul of the Banks, Alf. Proud ain’t the word.” Carson, his former partner and the dubious “breaking” link’s namesake, gushed on Stories: “From foxtrots to forever influential – you lifted me then, legend.” Even critics, who once pigeonholed him as “meme fodder,” are rethinking: Variety dubbed the nod “a corrective lens,” praising how Ribeiro’s influence mirrors 2025’s craving for “relatable royalty” amid streamer fatigue. As Hough concludes: “Alfonso doesn’t chase spotlights; he shares them. In a world wired for isolation, he’s the plug for pure connection – grounded, kind, and gloriously genuine.”

The accolade lands amid Ribeiro’s hottest streak yet. Fresh off hosting the 2025 BET Awards (where his monologue roasted AI deepfakes of Carlton with surgical wit), he’s prepping a Fresh Prince reunion special for Peacock, directing a biopic on his tap roots, and expanding his podcast to include mental health segments with therapists. Philanthropy flows naturally: proceeds from his “Carlton Challenge” charity drives have raised $2 million for urban youth dance programs since 2020, partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs. “Influence isn’t about being seen; it’s about being felt,” he told People post-list, grinning that megawatt smile. “If my silly dance makes one family laugh through tough nights, that’s the real Emmy.”

Yet this honor stirs deeper waters. In a TIME100 roster heavy on tech disruptors and political firebrands, Ribeiro’s inclusion – alongside Snoop Dogg as gala host – spotlights entertainment’s soft power: the ability to heal divides one viral video at a time. As the April gala aired on ABC (Ribeiro emceeing a surprise Carlton medley with Ed Sheeran), it underscored his bridge-building: from ’90s sitcoms that desegregated laughs to DWTS seasons amplifying diverse stories, like 2024’s all-POC finale. “He’s the anti-cynic,” Hough notes, “proving kindness isn’t corny; it’s contagious.”

As 2025’s list fades into lore, Ribeiro’s moment endures – a testament to the enduring sway of sincerity. From breakout kid to beloved beacon, he’s scripted a legacy where every jig juggles joy and justice. Fans will replay this tribute for years, shimmying into the future with his rhythm. In Alfonso Ribeiro’s universe, the screen isn’t a barrier; it’s a bridge. And the world? It’s dancing across, one heartfelt step at a time.