Will Smith has been sued by a tour violinist for alleged sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation.
Brian King Joseph has named each the Males in Black actor and Treyball Studios Administration Inc in his lawsuit, which incorporates an allegation of ‘intentionally grooming’.
It alleges that the musician was employed in November 2024 to carry out at Smith’s present in San Diego and was then invited to affix his Primarily based on a True Story: 2025 Tour, in addition to enjoying on his upcoming album.
Joseph, who was a top-three finalist on the 2018 collection of America’s Received Expertise, is alleged to have joined the primary leg of the actor’s tour in March 2025 for a present in Las Vegas.
Accommodations had been booked for the band and crew and the violinist’s go well with claims his bag (along with his key in) went lacking for a number of hours.
Administration discovered and returned it a number of hours later, because it’s claimed members of administration had been the ‘solely people with entry to [his] room’.
In accordance with the go well with filed on Wednesday (31 December), reviewed by Selection, somebody then later ‘unlawfully’ entered the room and left behind gadgets corresponding to wipes, an earring, a bottle of HIV treatment with one other individual’s identify and a notice studying: “Brian, I’ll be again no later [sic] 5:30, simply us (drawn coronary heart), Stone F.”
Joseph allegedly interpreted this as a warning that ‘an unknown particular person would quickly return to his room to have interaction in sexual acts’ with him.
He then notified the resort’s safety and Smith’s representatives and reported it to a non-emergency police line. Joseph claims that then, solely days later, a member of administration ‘shamed’ him over it and instructed him he was being terminated.
The musician claims it was steered that he made the entire thing up.
The go well with accuses Smith of ‘predatory behaviour’ and ‘intentionally grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for additional sexual exploitation’ on the tour final yr.
It additionally claims that as a result of termination, the musician suffered from PTSD and financial loss.
Filed on the Superior Courtroom of California, the go well with seeks damages be decided by a jury.
An lawyer for Smith told PEOPLE: “Mr. Joseph’s allegations regarding my shopper are false, baseless, and reckless.
“They’re categorically denied, and we are going to use all authorized means out there to deal with these claims and to make sure that the reality is dropped at gentle.”
LADbible Group has contacted Will Smith’s representatives for remark.
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