2.1.2026
Popular American rapper and actor Will Smith has been accused of sexual harassment by a male violinist who participated in his 2025 world tour.
According to reports by People the violinist Brian King Joseph, filed a lawsuit on December 30 in the Los Angeles County Court, California, against Smith and his agency ‘Treyball Studios Management,’ alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
In the complaint, Joseph detailed a “traumatizing incident” that occurred in March of last year during Smith’s global tour.
Joseph claimed he discovered signs of unauthorized entry into his hotel room in Las Vegas. Inside, he found a note signed “Stone F” with the message, “Brian, I’ll be back…. just us,” accompanied by a heart drawing. Additionally, there were beer bottles, a red backpack, HIV medication labeled with someone else’s name, earrings, and hospital discharge documents belonging to an unknown person. Joseph stated, “I felt terrified that an unidentified individual would return to the room for a sexual act.”
Joseph reported the incident to hotel staff, police, and Smith’s management team but was allegedly ridiculed and subsequently fired from the tour. Another violinist later replaced his position, according to the lawsuit.
Joseph’s side claimed the incident caused “severe emotional distress, financial loss, defamation, and other damages,” adding that he has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues as a result of the termination.
Joseph asserted the incident was part of “grooming”—a psychological manipulation tactic Smith allegedly used to sexually exploit him. He cited past comments from Smith, such as, “You and I have a special bond that no one else has.”
Meanwhile, Bilaal Salaam, a former colleague of Smith, recently filed a $3 million (approximately 4.3 billion Korean won) lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife, alleging verbal abuse. At the time, the Smith couple’s side responded, “We are extremely angry as the lawsuit’s claims are absurd,” and criticized Salaam as an “opportunist trying to profit from exploiting the couple.”