Will Smith is facing a lawsuit from a tour violinist who is accusing the Hollywood star and rapper of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation.
In the lawsuit, musician Brian King Joseph names both Smith and Treyball Studios Management as defendants. He alleges that Smith engaged in “predatory behavior” and “deliberately groomed and primed Joseph for further sexual exploitation” during his “Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour” this past spring.
The suit states that Smith hired Joseph in November 2024 for a performance in San Diego, and later invited him to join his 2025 tour and contribute to his upcoming album. As their relationship progressed, Smith expressed sentiments like, “you and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else,” among other similar remarks.
Joseph, who was a competitor on “America’s Got Talent,” participated in the first leg of Smith’s tour in March 2025, starting with a show in Las Vegas. The tour had accommodations booked for the band and crew.
According to the lawsuit, Joseph’s bag, which held his hotel room key, went missing for several hours before management found and returned it to him. The suit claims that only management had access to his hotel room.
Later that evening, Joseph discovered that someone had “unlawfully” entered his room, leaving behind items such as wipes, a bottle of HIV medication belonging to another individual, and a note addressed to him. The note read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later (sic) 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F,” which Joseph interpreted as a warning that an unknown person would soon return to his room for sexual encounters.
He promptly informed hotel security and contacted Smith’s representatives, also filing a report with a non-emergency police line.
Shortly after the incident, a member of the management team allegedly “shamed” him for what occurred, claiming that he had fabricated the situation and informed him of his termination.
The lawsuit asserts that this termination has led to Joseph suffering from PTSD and economic loss. He is seeking damages for retaliation, wrongful termination, and sexual harassment, asking that the amount be determined by a jury.