Will Smith is being sued by professional violinist Brian King Joseph, who is accusing the actor and his company of sexual harassment and wrongful temination.
In the lawsuit, which was filed in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday, December 30 and obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, January 1, the complaint names Smith and Treyball Studios Management as defendants.
The legal documents accuse Smith, 57, of “predatory behavior” and “deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation” during Smith’s Based on a True Story: 2025 tour.
According to the civil complaint, the America’s Got Talent alum was invited in November 2024 to join the rapper on the tour, which kicked off its first leg in Las Vegas in March 2025.
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Joseph claims he returned to his Las Vegas hotel room, which was booked by Smith’s company, to find some had “unlawfully” entered the room. In the room, he allegedly discovered wipes, a beer bottle, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual’s name, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to another person.
There was also allegedly a note in the room that read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F,” which the musician claims he interpreted as a message that “an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts” with him.
Joseph also claims that members of management were the “only individuals with access to [his] room.” He said tour management had lost his bag, which had his room key, during the trip to Vegas.
Following the incident, Joseph said he reported the situation to hotel security as well as tour management. Joseph claims that management accused him of lying, “shamed” him and blamed him for the incident.
The violinist’s employment was terminated days after the incident, with Joseph alleging that he was told by management that they were “moving in a different direction.” He alleged that he was quickly replaced by another violinist in the same position, disputing this claim.
The suit also claims that due to being fired, Joseph suffered from PTSD and economic loss. He is suing for retaliation, wrongful termination and sexual harassment, and asking that damages be determined by a jury.
Per the legal documents, Joseph further alleges that Smith was “grooming and priming” him “for further sexual exploitation” since their first meeting in November 2024. He claims they “began spending additional time alone” after meeting and prior to the tour kicking off. Joseph alleges that Smith at one point commented, “You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else.”
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Smith and Joseph for comment.
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Based on a True Story marked Smith’s first album in more than 20 years and featured previously released singles including “You Can Make It,” “Work of Art” and “Tantrum.”
The album also contained new tracks such as “Beautiful Scars,” which Smith opened up about during a radio interview in January 2025.
“The idea of ‘Beautiful Scars’ is just one of the things that really popped through for me as such a value to recognize that a difficulty, an adversity, a challenge, an obstacle is hard and painful in the moment but what you’re going through can turn out to be the greatest thing that has ever happened,” Smith told radio host Enrique Santos during an iHeartRadio Live event on January 29, 2025. “What starts out as an adversity can turn into a beautiful stepping stone.”
