Will Smith is being sued by a violinist who performed on his 2025 tour, alleging that the actor and rapper engaged in “predatory behaviour” and was “deliberately grooming and priming” him for “further sexual exploitation”.
Brian King Joseph has filed proceedings in the Superior Court of California against Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management, alleging wrongful termination and retaliation.
According to the claim, Joseph was hired to perform on the tour supporting Smith’s comeback album, Based on a True Story, after first appearing on stage with him in December 2024.
The suit alleges that Smith told him: “You and I have such a special connection that I don’t have with anyone else.”
Joseph further claims that during a Las Vegas tour stop in March 2025, his bag and hotel room key went missing and were returned several hours later.
That evening, he says he entered his room to find it had been “unlawfully” accessed, with wipes and HIV medication bearing another person’s name left behind, along with a note that read: “Brian, I’ll be back no later 5.30, just us <3, Stone F.”
The claim states that Joseph believed “an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts” with him, and alleges that members of the tour’s management were “the only individuals with access” to the room.
Joseph says he alerted hotel security, representatives for Smith and a non-emergency police line.
He alleges that he was later “shamed” by a member of Smith’s management team over the incident and that his contract was terminated, with the implication that he had fabricated the events.
The lawsuit claims the termination resulted in PTSD and significant economic loss.
Smith’s lawyer, Allen B Grodsky, has denied the allegations.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, he said: “Mr Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless and reckless.“They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light.”
The Standard has contacted Smith’s representatives for comment.
Based on a True Story marked Smith’s first album release in 20 years and referenced, in part, his assault on Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
The album failed to chart in major territories and spent one week at No 79 on the UK album downloads chart.
Reviewing the record for Pitchfork, Stephen Kearse gave it a 2.4/10, writing: “Based on a True Story lacks the easy repose of an artist in their comfort zone… always on message: Please take me back.”
