Will Smith is embroiled in a new legal dispute as his former violinist, Brian King Joseph, has filed a lawsuit accusing the actor of sexual harassment and retaliation. Smith’s attorneys have already responded, denying the allegations.
The lawsuit was filed on December 30 in the Superior Court of California, naming both Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management Inc., as defendants.
Joseph claims that Smith “deliberately groomed and primed” him for sexual exploitation after inviting him to join the 2025 global tour, Based on a True Story, in November 2024. The violinist alleges that a “traumatic series of events” occurred in March 2025, around the time of the album release, while the tour ran from June to September.
One incident cited involves an unknown individual allegedly entering Joseph’s Las Vegas hotel room without signs of forced entry. He says he found a handwritten note signed “Stone F” stating, “Brian, I’ll be back…just us,” along with a heart drawing. Joseph also claims to have discovered items including wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication under another name, an earring, and hospital discharge papers, which he says made him fear someone might return to engage in sexual acts.
According to the complaint, Joseph reported the incident to hotel staff, a local non-emergency line, and Smith’s management. He alleges that a member of the tour team “shamed” him and subsequently terminated his employment. Another violinist was reportedly hired to replace him.
While it is unclear if Joseph is seeking financial compensation, he claims the March 2025 incident caused “severe emotional distress,” along with “economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages,” and continues to affect his mental health, including PTSD.
Smith’s lawyer, Allen B. Grodsky, denied the allegations in a statement to PEOPLE, calling them “false, baseless, and reckless” and promising to take all legal measures to “ensure that the truth is brought to light.”
The lawsuit follows another legal challenge against the Smith family. Less than a month earlier, Jada Pinkett Smith was sued by her former associate, Bilaal Salaam, who is seeking $3 million over an alleged verbal threat. A source told PEOPLE that the Smiths were “really mad” over that case, describing it as “a lot of crap.”