A new lawsuit is sending shockwaves through Hollywood. Bilal Salaam, a longtime friend of Will Smith, has filed a $3 million lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith, accusing her of threats, intimidation, and emotional distress.
According to TV Report and Page Six, Salaam alleges that Jada physically threatened him during a heated confrontation four years ago—warning that he would “disappear” or “catch a bullet” if he continued sharing personal information about the Smith family.
In the court filing, Salaam claims that after the alleged altercation, members of Jada’s inner circle followed him to his car, issued further threats, and pressured him to sign a non-disclosure agreement. He says the intimidation campaign continued over time, leaving him fearful and traumatized.
Salaam asserts that he intends to publish a tell-all memoir about his experiences with the Smith family but claims Jada and her associates have repeatedly tried to silence him through “bribery, threats, and coercion.”
The lawsuit accuses Jada of intentional infliction of emotional distress and seeks damages for financial loss, defamation, and the alleged collapse of Salaam’s career and mental health.
Neither Jada Pinkett Smith nor Will Smith has commented publicly on the lawsuit.
The allegations come as the Smiths continue to navigate public scrutiny following Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap in 2022, when he struck comedian Chris Rock live on stage after a joke about Jada’s shaved head, which she has said stems from her battle with alopecia.
The incident remains one of the most shocking moments in Academy Awards history. Smith was later banned from all Academy events for ten years, even after winning Best Actor that night for King Richard.
Married since 1997, Will and Jada have long defied Hollywood’s expectations. The couple has spoken openly about the unconventional nature of their relationship—including periods of separation and emotional entanglements outside their marriage.
In 2020, Jada famously confirmed on Red Table Talk that she had been romantically involved with singer August Alsina during a time when she and Will were apart. Although they remain legally married, reports suggest they’ve lived separately since 2016.
Now, with this new lawsuit, the Smiths once again find their private lives under a public microscope.
