Will Smith sued for sexual harassment, wrongful termination by tour violinist

Brian King Joseph, a violinist and finalist of season 13 of America's Bought Expertise, is suing Will Smith, claiming he was fired for reporting an incident of sexual harassment.

In a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court docket on Tuesday, Joseph, whom Smith employed to carry out on his Based mostly on a True Story: 2025 international tour, alleges that he was not solely topic to a "traumatic collection of occasions" whereas working with Smith, however that he was terminated for reporting them.

Joseph is suing Smith and his Treyball Studios Administration, Inc. over an alleged incident in March 2025 through which somebody left him a disturbing message after gaining ungranted entry to his Las Vegas resort room through the tour.

In line with the grievance, obtained and reviewed by Leisure Weekly, the person left proof of a "sexual menace of violence," together with "wipes, a beer bottle, a purple backpack, a bottle of HIV remedy with one other particular person's title, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork" belonging to another person.

A notice was additionally left behind that learn, "Brian, I'll be again… simply us," signed with a coronary heart and the title Stone F.

Leisure Weekly has reached out to Joseph's lawyer and representatives for Smith for remark.

Need extra film information? Join Leisure Weekly's free e-newsletter to get the newest trailers, celeb interviews, movie evaluations, and extra.

The grievance additionally claims that earlier than the alleged incident, Smith "was intentionally grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for additional sexual exploitation" after he employed him to accompany Smith on the tour supporting his fifth studio album. "You and I’ve such a particular connection that I don't have with anybody else," Joseph claims Smith instructed him throughout one assembly. The grievance additionally particulars one alleged incident through which Smith's administration misplaced Joseph's bag, which included his resort room key.

Joseph claims that after he found that somebody had entered his resort room, he reported his findings to the resort workers, an area non-emergency police line, and Smith's administration workforce. One member of that workforce "shamed" Joseph, the grievance claims, and instructed him he can be terminated.

The grievance subsequently characterizes Joseph's termination days later as retaliatory and dismisses the hasty hiring of one other violinist in his stead as an try to cowl up Joseph's elimination from the tour.

Will Smith reveals he turned down role in 'Inception' because he 'didn't get it' Tyler Perry accused of sexual assault in second lawsuit, from actor in 'Madea' movie

The "circumstances of the resort intrusion all level to a sample of predatory habits reasonably than an remoted incident," the grievance reads.

Joseph additionally reviews experiencing "extreme emotional misery, financial loss, reputational hurt, and different damages" following the alleged incident and the termination that he claims resulted from it, together with "PTSD and different psychological sickness."

The musician is looking for compensation for private and monetary damages, with the grievance noting that Joseph undertook vital monetary burden so as to put together for the tour.

Shut