Will Smith is facing explosive new allegations as a former tour musician has filed a lawsuit accusing the actor and his production company of grooming, sexual harassment, and retaliation. The lawsuit, filed December 31, 2025, threatens to cast a dark cloud over Smith’s return to music and live performances.
The plaintiff, violinist Brian King Joseph, claims he was targeted and later fired after reporting what he describes as a disturbing and sexually suggestive incident during Smith’s Based on a True Story tour. According to the lawsuit, Joseph raised safety concerns after returning to his Las Vegas hotel room—booked by Smith’s company—to find evidence suggesting someone had entered without permission.
Court documents allege the room contained unfamiliar personal items, including wipes, a beer bottle, hospital paperwork belonging to an unknown person, and HIV medication labeled with someone else’s name. Joseph also claims he discovered a handwritten note addressed to him that read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later than 5:30, just us,” accompanied by a drawn heart and signed by someone identified only as “Stone F.”
Joseph says he immediately reported the incident to hotel security and tour management, expecting protection and an investigation. Instead, the lawsuit alleges that management dismissed his claims, accused him of fabricating the situation, and ultimately retaliated by terminating his employment just days later.
The filing argues that Joseph was wrongfully fired simply for reporting a potential security breach and what he believed to be a sexually threatening situation. Rather than addressing his concerns, the lawsuit claims tour management ignored his safety and removed him from the tour altogether.
Beyond the hotel incident, Joseph alleges the situation was part of a broader pattern. According to the complaint, Smith began “grooming and priming” him for sexual exploitation after the two first met in November 2024. Joseph claims they spent increasing amounts of time alone in the months leading up to the tour, creating a dynamic he now describes as manipulative and predatory.
As part of the lawsuit, Joseph points to comments Smith allegedly made, including telling him that they shared a “special connection” unlike any other. The complaint argues that these interactions, combined with the Las Vegas incident and his sudden firing, indicate a pattern rather than an isolated event.
The lawsuit includes claims of sexual harassment, intimidation, and retaliation. Joseph is seeking damages for emotional distress and financial losses, stating that he spent significant personal funds preparing for the tour, which ran from July through early September. He also claims the ordeal has left him with lasting psychological trauma, including PTSD.
At the time of filing, neither Smith nor his representatives had publicly responded to the allegations.
