Will Smith Sued for Sexual Harassment by Violinist Brian King Joseph

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Hollywood actor Will Smith is back in the public spotlight after professional violinist Brian King Joseph filed a lawsuit against him and his company, Treyball Studios Management, Inc.

The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, on December 30, 2025.

Joseph accuses Smith and his company of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation.

This case adds to a long list of legal challenges facing the Smith family, including another lawsuit filed against his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in early December 2025.

The lawsuit began when Joseph was contracted by Smith in November 2024 to perform at a show in San Diego.

Joseph was subsequently invited to join Smith's global tour, "Based on a True Story: 2025," and contributed to Smith's upcoming album.

Will Smith sued for sexual harassment, accused of ‘deliberately grooming’ tour violinist https://t.co/Qc8Le1NuZY pic.twitter.com/99iRHbFSoa

— New York Post (@nypost) January 2, 2026

Will Smith is being sued by a tour violinist who alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination during his "Based on a True Story: 2025" Tour this past spring.The musician, Brian King Joseph, names Smith and Treyball Studios Management as defendants and… pic.twitter.com/RPhlZxwppS

— Variety (@Variety) January 2, 2026

Brian King Joseph claims that Will Smith "intentionally groomed and groomed" him for further sexual exploitation.

Joseph accuses Smith of making inappropriate comments to him, such as saying, "You and I have a special connection that I don't have with anyone else."

Joseph interprets these comments as part of a pattern of "predatory behavior" by Smith.

The lawsuit specifically alleges sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation.

Joseph, a finalist on season 13 of "America's Got Talent," seeks justice for the suffering he endured, asserting that he felt threatened and betrayed by a supposedly professional work environment.

The lawsuit details a "traumatic series of events" that allegedly occurred in March 2025, during Smith's Las Vegas tour.

Joseph claims that his hotel room key was lost for several hours before being found and returned by management.

Upon returning to his hotel room, Joseph discovered that someone had trespassed. Inside, Joseph found disturbing "evidence of threats of sexual assault."

The items found included wet wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another person's name on it, an earring, and hospital discharge documents belonging to someone unknown to Joseph.

A handwritten note was also left, reading: "Brian, I'll be back... just us," with a heart drawn on it and signed "Stone F." Joseph states in the lawsuit that he "felt extremely afraid that the unknown individual would soon return to the room to engage in sexual acts" with him.

Joseph immediately reported the incident to hotel staff, the local non-emergency police hotline, and Will Smith's management team.

However, Joseph claims that a member of the tour management team "humiliated" him and accused him of fabricating the story.

A few days after reporting the incident, Joseph was informed that he was being dismissed from the tour, citing the tour as "moving in a different direction."

Joseph claims that the incident and his termination caused him "severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other losses."

He also claims he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the incident and his termination. Joseph is seeking damages to be determined by a jury.

Allen B. Grodsky, Will Smith's attorney, called Joseph's allegations "false, baseless, and frivolous."

“Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless," Allen B. Grodsky, an attorney for Smith, told PEOPLE in a statement on Jan. 1.

"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."

Grodsky added that Smith's attorney "categorically denies" the allegations.