Will Smith Sued By Former Violinist Over Sexual Harassment Allegations, Denies Claims
Will Smith is facing a new legal battle as his former violinist, Brian King Joseph, has filed a lawsuit accusing the actor of sexual harassment and retaliation. Smith’s legal team has reportedly already responded, denying the claims. The complaint was filed on December 30 in the Superior Court of California, naming both Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management Inc., as defendants. Joseph alleges that Smith “deliberately groomed and primed” him for sexual exploitation following an invitation to join the 2025 global tour, Based on a True Story, in November 2024. He claims a “traumatic series of events” took place in March 2025, around the time of the album release, while the tour itself ran from June to September. Among the incidents Joseph cites is the alleged unauthorized entry of an unknown person into his Las Vegas hotel room, where he discovered a handwritten note signed “Stone F” that read, “Brian, I’ll be back…just us,” along with a heart drawing. He also claims to have found items including wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication in someone else’s name, an earring, and hospital discharge papers, which led him to fear that someone unknown might return to engage in sexual acts. Joseph states that he reported the incident to hotel staff, a local non-emergency line, and Smith’s management. He alleges that a member of Smith’s tour team “shamed” him and terminated his employment, with another violinist later replacing him. While it is not clear if Joseph is seeking financial compensation, the complaint claims he suffered “severe emotional distress,” along with “economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages,” and continues to experience PTSD and related mental health issues as a result of the alleged incidents. Smith’s lawyer, Allen B. Grodsky, denied the allegations in a statement to PEOPLE, calling them “false, baseless, and reckless” and saying the team will take all legal steps to “ensure that the truth is brought to light.” This lawsuit comes less than a month after Jada Pinkett Smith was also sued by a former associate, Bilaal Salaam, who is seeking $3 million over an alleged verbal threat. A source told PEOPLE that the Smiths were “really mad” about that lawsuit, describing it as “a lot of crap.”
