Why is Will Smith being sued? Allegations explained

by

Brian King Joseph, a finalist on America’s Got Talent, is taking Will Smith to court. Joseph claims he performed as a violinist during Smith’s ‘Based on a True Story’ world tour in 2025, accompanying the actor and singer on stage during performances of his popular songs.

Smith’s fifth album, Based on a True Story, came out twenty years after his previous one, Lost and Found. During those two decades, his acting career soared with hits like multiple Bad Boys films, Men in Black 3, and I Am Legend. He then earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in the 2021 film, King Richard.

Will Smith’s award win was overshadowed by controversy. He slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. As a result, the Academy banned Smith from future events, and he later apologized to Rock in a five-minute video posted on Instagram.

Smith is now dealing with a new legal issue. A lawsuit was filed against him on December 30, 2025, claiming inappropriate behavior during a recent tour.

Why is Brian King Joseph suing Will Smith?

Brian King Joseph has filed a lawsuit against Will Smith and his management company, Treyball Studios, alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination. According to Variety, the lawsuit claims Smith engaged in inappropriate and exploitative behavior, and was intentionally preparing Joseph for further sexual abuse.

Joseph stated that when he returned to his Las Vegas hotel room in March 2025, he found evidence of a break-in and a threatening message. According to his lawsuit, someone left a note saying, “Brian, I’ll be back… just us,” along with several items including cleaning wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication belonging to someone else, an earring, and hospital discharge papers.

Joseph claims that Smith once told him they shared a uniquely close bond. After reporting an incident to the police and hotel staff, Joseph says he also contacted Smith’s management. However, he alleges a member of the tour team then criticized him and terminated his employment, stating the tour was changing its focus.

According to the lawsuit, Joseph experienced significant emotional and financial hardship, along with damage to their reputation, following the incident. The amount of money King is requesting in the case hasn’t been revealed.

Will Smith’s attorney denies the sexual assault allegations

Although Smith hasn’t spoken out about the claims, his lawyer, Allen B. Grotsky, released a statement to People magazine on January 1, 2026, saying the accusations are false.

We strongly deny the claims made by Mr. Joseph regarding our client. These accusations are untrue, unsupported, and made irresponsibly. We will pursue all legal options to defend our client and reveal the facts.

Before news of the lawsuit and accusations against Smith became public, King released a video on December 27th. In it, he explained he was taking legal action due to an experience on a tour he’d worked. While he didn’t name Smith, he discussed his reasons for reporting wrongdoing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brian King (@briankingjoseph)

I’m sharing my story because it’s wrong to lose your job, be blamed, or face threats simply for reporting sexual misconduct or safety concerns at work. I know many others are afraid to speak up, and I want them to know I understand and support them.

On January 2nd, Joseph expressed his gratitude to his fans, writing on his Instagram story, “Thank you all so much for your support—it really means a lot.”

In 2018, Joseph competed on America’s Got Talent, finishing in third place. He was bested by the acrobatic group Zurcaroh and the winning magician, Shin Lim.

Read More

2026-01-02 14:49