Hollywood heavyweight Will Smith is back in the headlines as he faces serious allegations.
The Oscar-winning actor and entertainer is facing a shocking lawsuit that alleges serious misconduct during his 2025 music tour.
The case, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, names Smith and his management company, Treyball Studios Management, Inc.
Smith’s lawyer has denied the allegations.
From Fresh Prince to Hollywood superstar
Willard Carroll Smith Jr., better known as Will Smith, has been a household name for over three decades.
He first gained fame in the late 1980s as a rapper, ‘The Fresh Prince,’ before starring in the hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which became a cultural phenomenon.
Smith’s leap from music to television quickly led to Hollywood’s biggest stages.
He went on to star in blockbuster hits including Independence Day (1996), Men in Black (1997), Bad Boys (1995), and the biopic Ali (2001), which earned him an Academy Award nomination.
He later won the 2022 Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard.
Over the years, Smith has proven himself a versatile actor, tackling action, sci-fi, drama, and biographical roles.
From I Am Legend to The Pursuit of Happyness, he has consistently delivered box-office hits while maintaining a global fan base.
Oscars controversy
Despite his success, Smith’s career has not been free from public controversy.
The world watched in shock when he slapped comedian Chris Rock onstage during the 2022 Oscars, after Rock joked about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The incident triggered global headlines, widespread debate, and a 10-year ban from Academy events.
The 2025 tour: where allegations emerge
In 2025, Smith embarked on a global music tour, Based on a True Story, supporting his latest album.
The tour ran across the US and Europe, featuring a full live band and supporting performers, marking a major expansion of Smith’s career beyond the silver screen.
But according to the lawsuit, the tour is also the backdrop for the troubling allegations.
Who is making the claims?
The lawsuit was filed by Brian King Joseph, a professional violinist and former America’s Got Talent finalist.
Joseph performed on the 2025 tour and claims he was subjected to a series of disturbing events that ultimately led to his termination.
Joseph has named both Smith and Treyball Studios Management as defendants, alleging s**ual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination during his time on the tour.
Allegations in the lawsuit
According to the complaint, the alleged incidents occurred during a March 2025 stop in Las Vegas.
Joseph claims he returned to his hotel room to find that someone had entered, leaving behind a handwritten note, wipes, a beer bottle, HIV medication in someone else’s name, and other personal items.
The note allegedly contained language he interpreted as a ‘s**ual threat of violence.’
He alleges he ‘feared that an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in s**ual acts’ with him.
Joseph claims that after reporting the incident to hotel security, local police, and Smith’s management, he was ‘shamed’ by tour staff, and ultimately fired from the tour.
The lawsuit says this termination caused him emotional distress, financial loss, and reputational harm, including ‘PTSD and other mental illness.’
He is seeking damages for s**ual harassment, alleging wrongful termination and retaliation.
The outcome of the case will be decided by a jury in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles.
Will Smith responds to allegations
At the time of publication, Smith has not commented directly on the lawsuit’s claims.
His representatives have, however, described the allegations as ‘false, baseless, and reckless,’ and indicated that Smith intends to vigorously defend himself in court.
Smith’s attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, told People magazine in a statement on January 1: “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.”
