Will Smith has been hit with a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination by violinist Brian King Joseph, who performed during the actor’s Based on a True Story: 2025 tour.
Smith has firmly denied all allegations through his legal team.
Brian King Joseph, age 32, gained national recognition after finishing in the top three on America’s Got Talent in 2018.
He was brought on board for Smith’s 2024 concerts following a private performance at the actor’s residence, according to legal documents.
The lawsuit centers on an incident that allegedly occurred during a Las Vegas tour stop in March.
Joseph claims he returned to his hotel room around 11pm to discover it had been entered without authorization by someone he did not know.
According to the court filing, Joseph found a handwritten message that stated: “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30 juts us,” followed by a heart symbol and signed “Stone F.”
The plaintiff describes finding additional items in his room, including wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, an earring and hospital discharge documents belonging to an unidentified individual.
Most concerning to Joseph was a bottle of HIV medication bearing someone else’s name.
Fearing that an unknown person intended to return to his room for sexual purposes, Joseph immediately took action.
He contacted hotel security, reached out to a non-emergency police line, and notified Smith’s management team about the situation.
Joseph documented the scene by taking photographs and requested an immediate room change.
He emphasized in his complaint that his sole concern was personal safety and that he sought no special accommodations or financial compensation at that time.
The situation allegedly deteriorated days after the Las Vegas incident.
Joseph claims a tour management member confronted him and accused him of fabricating the entire episode.
According to the lawsuit, this management representative told Joseph: “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?”
Joseph maintains he was terminated from the tour in direct retaliation for reporting the hotel room incident.
He was subsequently replaced by another musician for the remaining concert dates, reported the New York Post.
The plaintiff asserts the ordeal resulted in significant harm across multiple areas of his life, including severe emotional distress, financial losses, damage to his professional reputation and various other injuries.
Joseph’s health allegedly suffered dramatically following his termination.
The lawsuit indicates he experienced major physiological damage and developed PTSD along with other mental health conditions stemming from these events.
The working relationship between Joseph and Smith had begun months earlier in November 2024.
Joseph was invited to Smith’s home for a private performance, which led to his engagement for a December concert in San Diego and the subsequent tour.
During their professional collaboration, which included Joseph’s contributions to Smith’s latest album Based on a True Story, the two allegedly developed a close rapport and spent considerable one-on-one time together.
The lawsuit claims Smith once told Joseph: “You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t share with anyone else.”
Joseph’s legal filing suggests the circumstances indicate Smith was “deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation.”
