Actor and music producer Will Smith is facing a new lawsuit in California, as professional violinist Brian King Joseph accuses the Oscar-winning star and his company of sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.
The case, titled Will Smith Sued by Brian King Joseph, was filed Tuesday, Dec. 30, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, naming Smith, 57, and Treyball Studios Management Inc. as defendants.
Allegations Linked to Global Tour Invitation
According to the complaint, Smith invited Joseph to join his global tour, Based on a True Story: 2025, in November 2024. The lawsuit alleges Smith then began “deliberately grooming and priming” the violinist for further sexual exploitation.
Joseph, a classically trained musician known for blending violin with modern performance, says the professional opportunity quickly turned into a deeply unsettling experience.
Hotel Room Incident Described as Traumatic
The filing outlines what it calls a “traumatic series of events” that allegedly unfolded in March 2025 while the tour was underway. Joseph claims he returned to his Las Vegas hotel room to find signs that someone had entered without forced entry.
According to the complaint, items left behind suggested what Joseph perceived as a sexual threat of violence. These allegedly included a handwritten note reading, “Brian, I’ll be back… just us,” adorned with a heart and signed “Stone F.” Other items cited include wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, an earring, hospital discharge paperwork belonging to an unknown individual, and a bottle of HIV medication bearing another person’s name.
Joseph alleges he feared an unknown individual would return to his room to engage in sexual acts with him.
