Violinist Brian King Joseph Sues Will Smith
Violinist Brian King Joseph has filed a lawsuit against Will Smith and his production company, alleging wrongful termination, retaliation, and sexual harassment linked to his participation in Smith’s 2025 tour titled “Based on a True Story.”
In his claims, Joseph asserts that he uncovered signs of “sexual intimidation with violence” left in his hotel room during the tour. He alleges that Smith personally invited him to join the production and then acted in ways that were meant to “nurture and prepare” him for sexual exploitation, as cited in the legal complaint submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday against Smith and Trayball Studio Management.
The lawsuit details a “traumatic series of events” which reportedly took place in March 2025, while the tour was in Las Vegas.
Joseph described that someone had entered his hotel room without any sign of forced entry, leaving behind a handwritten note that ominously read, “Brian, we’ll be back…just us,” accompanied by a heart doodle and a signature “Stone F.”
Additionally, he claimed to have found various items in his room that didn’t belong to him, such as wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, jewelry, discharge papers from a hospital, and a bottle of HIV medication with a different name on it. Following these unsettling discoveries, Joseph expressed concern about the possibility of an unwanted encounter in his room.
According to Joseph, he reported the incident to hotel staff, non-emergency police, and Smith’s management but felt “humiliated” by how it was handled and was subsequently informed of his termination.
The lawsuit states that this termination has resulted in “severe emotional distress, financial loss, reputational damage, and other harm,” such as post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health struggles.
In response, Smith’s lawyer, Allen B. Grodsky, denied the allegations, labeling them as “false, baseless, and reckless.” He stated that they are categorically denied and that they would pursue all legal avenues to address these claims and uncover the truth.
For context, Joseph gained national attention as a top finalist on ‘America’s Got Talent’ in 2018, and had previously shared updates on his involvement with Smith’s tour.
