Nearly four years after the March 2022 Chris Rock slap incident that shocked Hollywood, Will Smith is again in hot water over a sexual harassment lawsuit.
The complaint was filed by professional violinist Brian King Joseph at the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, on Tuesday (local time) against both Smith and his team, Treyball Studios Management, Inc.
The 32-year-old's complaint alleged that a "traumatic series of events" had taken place in March 2025, when he had been a part of Smith's tour for the 2025 album, Based on a True Story. The tour ran from June to September 2025.
The prolific violinist from Washington, D.C. is famed for competing on season 13 of America’s Got Talent in 2018, rising up the ranks to become one of the show's three finalists.
In November 2024, he was approached by Smith's team with an offer to join the world tour for the latter's first studio album in 20 years. In December that year, Joseph posted an Instagram video in which he could be seen playing violin onstage, indicating in his caption that it was the first night of his touring with Smith.
Joseph claimed that the issue began when he found that someone had entered his Las Vegas hotel room with no signs of forced entry, and had even left behind evidence “of a sexual threat of violence”, as per a People report.
He also alleged that the evidence included a handwritten note signed by a "Stone F", who drew a heart in the letter.
It also reportedly included “wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual’s name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork" belonging to someone he claims he did not know.
Fearing that an "unknown individual" might enter his room later like the letter said, Joseph allegedly reported the incident to the hotel management, Smith's staff, and a non-emergency police line.
After this, the complaint alleged, he claimed that a member of the tour management team “shamed” him and told him he was being terminated. Another violinist was also reportedly hired to replace him.
The violinist claimed that this had caused him “severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages,” including “PTSD and other mental illness as a result of the termination”.
“Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless," Allen B. Grodsky, an attorney for Smith, told People on Thursday.
"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," he added.
