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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.

Smith’s Legal Team Denies Claims

Smith’s attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, forcefully rejected the accusations.

“Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless,” Grodsky said 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.”

Termination Allegedly Followed Report

After Joseph reported the incident to hotel staff, a local non-emergency police line and Smith’s management team, the lawsuit claims a member of the tour’s management later “shamed” him and informed him he was being terminated.

The complaint further alleges that another violinist was hired to fill the same role on the tour shortly afterward.

Claims of Emotional and Financial Harm

Joseph says the incident and his dismissal caused severe emotional distress, economic losses and reputational damage. The complaint cites ongoing psychological harm, including PTSD and other mental health conditions, allegedly stemming from the termination.

A Washington, D.C., native, Joseph rose to national prominence as a top-three finalist on America’s Got Talent Season 13 in 2018. In December 2024, he shared a video on Instagram showing him performing onstage, noting it was the first night of touring with Smith.

Lawsuit Follows Other Legal Disputes

The filing comes weeks after a separate $3 million lawsuit filed Dec. 1 by former associate Bilaal Salaam, also known as Brother Bilaal, against Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, alleging verbal threats.

An entertainment source previously told PEOPLE that the Smiths dismissed those claims, describing them as unfounded and calling Salaam “an opportunistic person out to exploit them.”

As Will Smith Sued by Brian King Joseph moves through the courts, the case adds another layer of controversy to the public life of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures.