Actor and musician Will Smith is facing a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. The suit was filed by Brian King Joseph, a professional violinist, and represents the first public legal claim of this nature against Smith.
Joseph, a performer who appeared on America’s Got Talent and went on to tour professionally, has filed a lawsuit in California court against Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management, Inc. He claims he experienced unacceptable behavior during Smith’s 2025 Based on a True Story world tour and was fired after reporting a significant safety concern.
Smith, through his attorney, has categorically denied all allegations.
Who is the Accuser?
Brian King Joseph is a violinist who became well-known after competing on America’s Got Talent in 2018. He was contracted to perform with Smith on their 2025 concert tour promoting their fifth album.
Joseph claims he went through a deeply upsetting experience while on tour, which ultimately led to him being removed from it.
Allegations of Grooming and Sexual Exploitation
Let me tell you, this one came out of left field. Brian King Joseph just filed a lawsuit against Will Smith and his production company, Treyball Studios Management, Inc. It hit the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County on December 30th, and honestly, I was pretty surprised to see it pop up on my radar.
In court documents, Joseph claims Smith intentionally manipulated and prepared him for potential sexual abuse. This alleged grooming followed an incident Joseph says happened while they were both on tour for Based on a True Story in March 2025.
Joseph said Smith told him they share a unique and close bond that he doesn’t have with anyone else.
The complaint suggests Smith’s behavior wasn’t a one-time occurrence, but part of a larger problem. It claims Joseph was removed from the tour because he reported what he believed was sexual misconduct and raised concerns about safety.
Smith has categorically denied the allegations through his attorney.
Alleged Hotel Room Incident
I was really shocked to read about what happened to Joseph. Apparently, back in March 2025, while he was in Las Vegas for his tour, someone managed to get into his hotel room. What’s even more unsettling is that there was no sign of a break-in – it’s like they just walked right in!
Entertainment Weekly reports that court documents detail how the suspect supposedly left behind items suggesting a “sexual threat of violence.” These items included wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, medication belonging to another person, an earring, and someone else’s hospital discharge papers.
There was also allegedly a handwritten note that read: “Brian, I’ll be back… just us.”
The note reportedly included a heart and the signature “Stone F.” The lawsuit also states that other personal belongings, not belonging to the person the note was addressed to, were found in the room.
Joseph says he told hotel employees, the non-emergency police, and Smith’s tour managers about what happened.
Termination and Retaliation Claims
According to the lawsuit, after Joseph reported the incident, a manager on the tour allegedly humiliated him and then told him he was being fired.
Okay, so here’s the deal: this violinist, Joseph, is saying he was fired unfairly, basically as payback for something. And to add insult to injury, they replaced him almost immediately! He’s suing, trying to get money for the emotional toll it took on him – he even says he’s dealing with PTSD – plus the financial hit he’s taken and the damage to his career. It’s a rough situation, and he’s understandably upset.
Pre-Lawsuit Social Media Video
Just a few days before I heard about the lawsuit, Joseph actually put up a video on Instagram – it was Christmas Day, and he talked about what happened, but he was careful not to mention Smith by name. It was clearly about the situation, though, and I definitely picked up on it as a cinephile following everything closely.
Joseph mentioned in the video that he’d been booked to tour with a very famous performer earlier this year, but that the plans fell through due to unforeseen issues.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Brian King (@briankingjoseph)
He couldn’t share specifics due to ongoing legal proceedings, but he wanted to publicly assure employees that they wouldn’t face repercussions for reporting problems with safety or wrongdoing at work.
The video appeared online before the lawsuit became public, and is now being used to help explain why Joseph decided to sue.
Will Smith’s Response
Smith has refuted all claims made against him, according to his lawyer, Allen B. Grodsky, who released this statement:
We strongly deny Mr. Joseph’s accusations against our client. These claims are completely untrue and irresponsible. We will pursue every legal option to defend our client and reveal the facts.
So far, a court hasn’t made any decisions in this case. The accusations made in the lawsuit are just claims and will be reviewed as the legal process moves forward.
What Happens Next?
This case is just beginning and will follow the usual steps for civil lawsuits, which may include gathering evidence and filing legal requests. It’s important to remember that filing a lawsuit doesn’t mean anyone has been proven to have done anything wrong.
This story will continue to develop as more information becomes available.
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2026-01-03 18:58