Will Smith Is Sued by a Tour Violinist Who Alleges Sexual Harassment, Grooming, Wrongful Termination and Retaliation

1 January 2026

A new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on December 30, 2025, has once again put Oscar-winning actor and musician Will Smith at the center of legal controversy as professional violinist Brian King Joseph accuses him and his management company of sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation tied to his involvement in Smith’s 2025 global concert tour.

The complaint, lodged in California Superior Court, details a series of distressing events that Joseph says unfolded after he was invited to join Smith’s “Based on a True Story: 2025” tour, first as a performer and collaborator and later as the target of what he describes as predatory behaviour and professional retribution when he reported a troubling incident that occurred during the tour. Joseph’s attorney contends that the lawsuit raises serious questions about workplace safety, accountability and power dynamics in the entertainment industry, while Smith’s legal team has issued a vehement denial of the allegations, calling them baseless and reckless.

Brian King Joseph, who became widely known as a top-three finalist on America’s Got Talent in 2018, alleges that his working relationship with Smith began in late 2024 after they performed together and that he was subsequently asked to join the tour and even contributed to several tracks for Smith’s album. According to the lawsuit, Joseph found himself touring with Smith and the entourage in early 2025, a period he describes as productive and hopeful as he sought to expand his professional horizons.

But the trajectory of that relationship reportedly took a dark turn while the tour was in Las Vegas in March 2025, when Joseph says he returned to his hotel room to discover evidence suggesting that someone had entered the space without his permission, including a handwritten note addressed to him, an assortment of personal items such as a beer bottle and wipes, a backpack and a bottle of HIV medication with another individual’s name on it, as well as hospital paperwork belonging to an unknown person. Joseph says the note’s implication that “just us” might return later made him fear for his safety and triggered alarm that he shared with hotel staff and tour management.

Those troubling elements of the complaint are presented in stark terms and form the heart of Joseph’s assertion that he was placed in an unsafe and hostile environment. After reporting the incident to hotel security, police and representatives of Smith’s management team, Joseph claims he was “shamed” by a member of the tour staff and told that his account was considered fabricated. Within days of raising concerns, he says he was removed from the tour and replaced by another musician under the vague explanation that the “direction” of the tour was changing.

Joseph’s lawsuit accuses Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management, Inc., of firing him in retaliation for reporting the incident and of failing to protect him from what he describes as predatory behaviour. He says the experience caused severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm and post-traumatic stress disorder, and he is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the personal and professional toll he says the events have taken on him.

At the core of the complaint is the allegation that Smith engaged in “deliberate grooming and priming” of Joseph “for further sexual exploitation,” a claim that rests on comments Joseph says Smith made early in their relationship suggesting a unique emotional connection and on the troubling hotel incident that followed. Joseph’s attorneys argue that a pattern of behaviour, rather than an isolated event, points to a broader issue of inappropriate conduct and the misuse of professional authority over someone in a subordinate position. The suit also includes claims of wrongful termination and retaliation in violation of California labour and public policy statutes, asserting that Joseph was punished for speaking up about what he saw as a serious breach of safety and professional standards.

Smith’s representatives have strongly rejected the lawsuit’s allegations. In a public statement, his attorney Allen B. Grodsky described the claims as “false, baseless and reckless,” and said Smith and his legal team intend to pursue all available avenues to demonstrate the truth and defend his reputation. The statement emphasizes that the actor is committed to addressing the matter through appropriate legal channels and has confidence that the claims will not withstand scrutiny. The vehement denial underscores the high stakes of the case and foreshadows an intense legal battle that may involve extensive discovery and witness testimony as both sides prepare for litigation.

The controversy comes at a time when Smith’s public image is already under intense scrutiny following other legal and personal disputes involving the actor and his family. Just weeks earlier, another high-profile lawsuit alleging threatening behaviour had been filed against Smith’s wife, adding to the sense that the Smith family is navigating a period of heightened legal challenges. While the outcomes of these cases remain uncertain, they collectively raise broader questions about celebrity accountability, workplace culture in creative industries and the potential vulnerabilities of individuals working under powerful figures.

In the aftermath of the lawsuit’s filing, Joseph has shared additional commentary on social media, encouraging others who may have faced harassment or retaliation in workplace settings to speak out and reminding potential plaintiffs that their voices deserve to be heard even when powerful names are involved. His public statements reflect a broader cultural moment in which individuals are increasingly willing to challenge longstanding norms and demand accountability, even in high-profile environments where the stakes are deeply personal and reputational consequences are significant.

As the legal process moves forward, observers will be watching closely to see how the case unfolds in court, how Smith’s defence responds to these serious allegations and what implications the lawsuit might have for both Smith’s career and the broader entertainment industry. For now, the filing of this lawsuit marks a significant chapter in a story that blends questions of artistry, power, vulnerability and the complex human dynamics that can arise in the shadow of celebrity.