Actor and musician Will Smith is facing a legal battle after a former tour violinist filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, grooming, and wrongful termination, per ew.com.
Brian King Joseph, a former finalist on America’s Got Talent, claims he was dismissed from Smith’s 2025 “Based on a True Story” global tour as retaliation for reporting a disturbing security breach and sexual threats.
In a complaint filed in California Superior Court, Joseph alleges that Smith engaged in “grooming” behaviour early in their professional relationship. According to the filing, Smith told the musician they shared a “special connection” that the star did not have with anyone else.
The situation escalated in March 2025 during a tour stop in Las Vegas. Joseph claims that after Smith’s management lost a bag containing his hotel room key, an intruder gained unauthorised access to his room.
The lawsuit describes a “traumatic series of events,” noting that Joseph returned to find a “sexual threat of violence” left in his room. The items reportedly left behind included a note signed by “Stone F.” reading: “Brian, I’ll be back… just us,” HIV medication prescribed to another individual as well as a beer bottle and hospital discharge paperwork.
Joseph alleges that when he reported the incident to Smith’s management team, he was “shamed” by a staff member and told he would be fired. He was officially terminated days later and replaced by another violinist.
The lawsuit characterises the dismissal as a retaliatory move designed to cover up a “pattern of predatory behaviour.” Joseph is seeking damages for severe emotional distress, including PTSD, and compensation for financial losses incurred while preparing for the tour.
The outlet reports that representatives for Will Smith and Treyball Studios Management, Inc. have been contacted for comment.
