Will Smith is facing serious legal troubles as 2026 begins. Professional violinist Brian King Joseph has filed a lawsuit against the Academy Award-winning actor, accusing him of sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. The complaint, filed on December 30, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, names both Smith and his management company, Treyball Studios Management, Inc., as defendants.
Who Is Brian King Joseph?
Brian King Joseph is a celebrated electric violinist from Washington, D.C., who gained national recognition after competing on Season 13 of America's Got Talent in 2018. Known for his electrifying fusion of classical violin with contemporary pop and hip-hop, Joseph finished as a top-three finalist on the show, earning widespread acclaim for his innovative performances.
Joseph began playing violin at age four and later attended Berklee College of Music on a full presidential scholarship in 2012. His journey has been marked by extraordinary resilience—while at Berklee, he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, a degenerative nerve disease causing chronic pain and loss of sensation in his extremities. Despite doctors telling him he might never play again, Joseph has continued to perform and inspire audiences worldwide.
Prior to his work with Smith, Joseph had toured with notable artists including Machine Gun Kelly and George Clinton and P Funkadelics, establishing himself as one of the most recognizable violinists to emerge from competition television.
Details of the Lawsuit: What Does Brian King Joseph Allege?
According to court documents obtained by multiple news outlets, the lawsuit centers on events that allegedly occurred during Smith's "Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour," which promoted the actor's first studio album in 20 years.
The Beginning of the Professional Relationship
Joseph was first hired by Smith in November 2024 to perform at a show in San Diego. Following that performance, he was invited to join Smith's global tour and was offered the opportunity to play on several tracks of the rapper's upcoming album. The complaint alleges that during this period, Smith and Joseph grew increasingly close, with Smith allegedly telling the violinist, "You and I have such a special connection, that I don't have with anyone else."
The Las Vegas Hotel Incident
The core of the lawsuit centers on what Joseph describes as a "traumatic series of events" that occurred in March 2025 during the first leg of Smith's tour in Las Vegas. According to the complaint, Joseph returned to his hotel room—which had been booked directly by Treyball Studios Management—to find evidence that someone had entered without forced entry.
The lawsuit details disturbing items allegedly discovered in the room, including a handwritten note addressed to Joseph by name that read: "Brian, I'll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us," accompanied by a drawn heart and signed "Stone F." Additional items allegedly found included wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, an earring, hospital discharge paperwork belonging to an unknown individual, and a bottle of HIV medication with another person's name.
Joseph claims he "feared that an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts" with him, describing the evidence as constituting "a sexual threat of violence."
Reporting the Incident and Alleged Retaliation
Following the discovery, Joseph immediately reported the incident to hotel security, a local non-emergency police line, and Smith's management team. However, instead of receiving support or protection, the lawsuit alleges that Smith's management team accused him of fabricating the event and blamed him for the incident.
According to the complaint, a representative for Smith confronted Joseph, allegedly stating:
"Everyone is telling me that what happened to you is a lie, nothing happened, and you made the whole thing up. So, tell me, why did you lie and make this up?"
Days after reporting the incident, Joseph was terminated from the tour. The lawsuit points out that despite management claiming the tour was "moving in a different direction," another violinist was subsequently hired to assume the same position—suggesting the stated reason for termination was pretextual.
Allegations of Grooming and Predatory Behavior
The lawsuit makes serious accusations against Smith, alleging that he "was deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation." According to the complaint, the actor spent months cultivating a close relationship with Joseph after their first meeting in November 2024, with the two reportedly spending "additional time alone" in the lead-up to the tour.
Joseph's attorney, Jonathan J. Delshad, stated in the complaint: "The facts strongly suggest that Defendant Willard Carroll Smith II was deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation. The sequence of events, Smith's prior statements to Plaintiff, and the circumstances of the hotel intrusion all point to a pattern of predatory behavior rather than an isolated incident."
Legal Claims and Damages Sought
Joseph's complaint includes multiple allegations under California law, including retaliation in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, retaliation pursuant to California Labor Code, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, violations of the Bane Act, violations of the Ralph Act, and sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief. Joseph claims the incident caused him "severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages," including "PTSD and other mental illness as a result of the termination." The complaint states that Joseph "suffered humiliation, mental and physical distress, and anxiety" and that his health deteriorated due to the stress of losing his job.
Will Smith's Response to the Allegations
Will Smith's legal team has categorically denied the allegations. Attorney Allen B. Grodsky, representing Smith, told PEOPLE magazine: "Mr. Joseph's allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless. 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."
Context: Recent Legal Troubles for the Smith Family
This lawsuit comes amid other legal scrutiny involving the Smith family. Earlier in December 2025, a former associate named Bilaal Salaam (also known as Brother Bilaal) filed a separate $3 million lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith, claiming she verbally threatened him. According to an entertainment source who spoke with PEOPLE, the husband-and-wife duo "are really mad and say it's a lot of crap," calling Salaam "an opportunistic person out to exploit them."
The lawsuit also comes nearly four years after the infamous March 2022 Oscars incident, when Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on live television—an event that continues to define public perception of the actor despite his subsequent apology and the success of his music comeback.
About Will Smith's "Based on a True Story" Tour
Smith's "Based on a True Story" tour ran from June to September 2025, following the March release of his titular album—his first studio album in two decades. The tour represented a significant milestone in Smith's music career comeback, featuring performances across major international cities.
In December 2024, Joseph posted an Instagram video of himself performing onstage with Smith, indicating it was his first night touring with the actor-musician. That collaboration has now become the subject of this explosive legal battle.
What Happens Next?
The outcome of the lawsuit and whether the allegations will be substantiated in court remain to be seen. Joseph has requested that damages be determined by a jury. The defendants' formal response to the claims and any potential settlement discussions have not yet been disclosed.
Joseph's attorney, Jonathan J. Delshad, told Newsweek: "My client Brian King Joseph is a former America's Got Talent star violinist who was hired by Will Smith to go on tour with Smith for his new album. There is a lot of information that will come out as part of the litigation process that we are not able to share at this time. Brian was very close with Smith prior to the termination and was headlined in one of the concerts."
Final Thoughts
This lawsuit represents a significant legal challenge for Will Smith as he enters 2026. The allegations of grooming, sexual harassment, and retaliatory termination paint a troubling picture that stands in stark contrast to the actor's recent career revival. As the case proceeds through the California court system, more details are expected to emerge that could further illuminate what transpired during Smith's 2025 tour.
This story is developing, and we will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on this post
Disclaimer: The allegations described in this article are claims made in a civil lawsuit. Will Smith has denied all allegations through his attorney. All parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
