Will Smith is going through renewed authorized scrutiny after explosive claims from a former tour musician ignited a critical courtroom battle.
The Oscar-winning actor has been sued by Brian King Joseph, who alleges sexual harassment and wrongful termination throughout Smith’s Based mostly on a True Story: 2025 tour.
Whereas Smith has firmly denied the accusations, the lawsuit outlines a sequence of occasions that Joseph claims left him emotionally, professionally, and bodily broken.
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Will Smith Sued By Tour Violinist Over Alleged Harassment
Will Smith has been named in a lawsuit filed by Brian King Joseph, a violinist who carried out through the actor’s Based mostly on a True Story: 2025 tour.
Joseph, who gained nationwide recognition as a top-three finalist on “America’s Obtained Expertise” in 2018, claims his skilled relationship with the 57-year-old started after he performed for the star at his house in November 2024.
In accordance with courtroom paperwork reviewed by theDaily Mail, Joseph was then employed to carry out at Smith’s December 2024 live performance in San Diego and later joined the complete tour.
Throughout this time, he additionally carried out on the “Recent Prince of Bel Air” star’s album “Based mostly on a True Story.”
Joseph alleges the 2 grew shut over the course of their working relationship, spending what he described as “extra alone time” collectively.
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At one level, the violinist claims Smith advised him, “You and I’ve such a particular connection that I don’t share with anybody else.”
The lawsuit alleges that this closeness later turned the muse for what Joseph describes as inappropriate habits.
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Smith’s Accuser Describes Chilling Resort Room Incident
In accordance with the lawsuit, a serious turning level occurred on March 20, 2025, through the first leg of the tour in Las Vegas.
Joseph alleges he returned to his lodge room round 11 p.m. and found it had been “unlawfully entered” by an “unknown particular person.”
Though lodge safety reportedly discovered no indicators of pressured entry, Joseph says the room had clearly been disturbed.
Inside, he allegedly discovered a handwritten word that learn, “Brian, I’ll be again no later [sic] 5:30, simply us,” accompanied by a coronary heart and signed “Stone F.”
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The lawsuit additional alleges that the word was left alongside a number of private objects, together with “wipes, a beer bottle, a purple backpack, a bottle of HIV remedy with one other particular person’s title, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to an individual unbeknownst to Plaintiff.”
Joseph says the invention terrified him. In accordance with courtroom filings, he feared that somebody would “return to his room to have interaction in sexual acts” with him.
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Will Smith’s Workforce Notified As Joseph Raises Security Considerations
Following the incident, Joseph says he instantly contacted lodge safety, a non-emergency police line, and Smith’s administration workforce.
He additionally took images of the objects left within the room and requested a room change. Joseph maintains that his considerations have been strictly about security.
Within the lawsuit, he states that he “made clear that his solely concern was security and that he didn’t want to obtain any particular remedy or compensation.”
In accordance with him, at no level did he search monetary profit or particular favors because of reporting the incident.
The swimsuit additionally emphasizes that lodge room entry particulars have been shared by way of a spreadsheet given to the band and crew, arguing that solely “crew and lodge employees would have had entry to Plaintiff’s lodge room.”
This element is used to assist Joseph’s declare that the entry was not random or unintentional.
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Smith Accused Of Retaliation After Report Is Made
Days after reporting the alleged incident, Joseph alleges he was confronted by a member of tour administration.
In accordance with his courtroom paperwork, that particular person allegedly “shamed” him and positioned blame instantly on him for what occurred.
The 32-year-old alleges the supervisor advised him, “Everyone seems to be telling me that what occurred to you is a lie, nothing occurred, and also you made the entire thing up. So, inform me, why did you lie and make this up?”
Shortly afterward, Joseph says he was fired from the tour and changed.
Joseph alleges that the state of affairs helps the declare that Smith was “intentionally grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for additional sexual exploitation.”
Will Smith Denies Claims As Lawsuit Heads To Court docket
Smith has denied all allegations via his lawyer, Allen B. Grodsky.
In an announcement to the Every day Mail, Grodsky stated, “Mr. Joseph’s allegations regarding my consumer are false, baseless, and reckless.”
He added, “They’re categorically denied, and we’ll use all authorized means accessible to deal with these claims and to make sure that the reality is delivered to mild.”
In the meantime, Joseph claims the fallout from his firing led to a critical decline in his well being.
Court docket paperwork state that the stress resulted in “main physiological injury” and that he “suffered from PTSD and different psychological sickness because of the termination.”
Joseph formally filed the lawsuit this week within the Superior Court docket of California, County of Los Angeles, and is demanding a jury trial.
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Because the case strikes ahead, the allegations threaten to put Will Smith again beneath intense public and authorized scrutiny.
