Content Advisory: This article discusses legal allegations and an ongoing civil lawsuit. Reader discretion is advised.
Jada Pinkett Smith is asking a court to make Will Smith’s former friend pay nearly $49,000 in legal fees, and the request comes after a key shift in their court fight.
The actress and talk show host is seeking about $48,975 from Bilaal Salaam, a former friend and associate of Will Smith. Salaam previously sued Pinkett Smith for $3 million, claiming emotional distress.
Now, after a judge dismissed major parts of his lawsuit, Pinkett Smith’s legal team says she should not have to eat the cost of defending herself against claims that did not survive in court. The judge has not yet ruled on the fee request.
Salaam Claimed Pinkett Smith Threatened Him
Salaam’s lawsuit was tied to his alleged connection to the Smith family and the fallout after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
According to the lawsuit, Salaam claimed he was brought in to help manage the aftermath of that incident. He also said tensions grew when he began working on a memoir.
Salaam alleged that Pinkett Smith and others tried to silence him. He claimed she warned that if he kept “telling her personal business,” he would “end up missing” or “catch a bullet.”
The lawsuit also alleged that Pinkett Smith pressured him to sign a nondisclosure agreement and that the demand came with an implied threat.
Pinkett Smith has denied the allegations.
Pinkett Smith Called The Claims False
In court filings, Pinkett Smith described Salaam’s claims as “false, uncorroborated and made to generate attention as part of an ongoing public campaign of harassment.”
Her attorneys also argued that Salaam did not provide enough evidence to support claims that he suffered major consequences, including leaving the country, losing a relationship or experiencing serious distress.
That argument appears to have gained traction. A judge dismissed significant parts of Salaam’s lawsuit, including key emotional distress claims.
That dismissal is the reason Pinkett Smith is now asking for legal fees.
The Legal Fight Is Not Over
Pinkett Smith’s team argues that she spent money fighting claims that lacked enough merit. In civil lawsuits, a defendant who wins dismissal of certain claims may ask the court to shift some legal costs to the other side.
Still, the case is not fully finished.
Some claims remain active, meaning the broader dispute between Pinkett Smith and Salaam is still moving through court. The judge must now decide whether Salaam should cover the nearly $49,000 in attorney fees she is requesting.
The Smith family name, the Oscars slap, the alleged memoir drama, and the threat claims have all made the case especially messy.
For now, Pinkett Smith has won part of the fight. The next question is whether the court will make Will Smith’s ex-friend pay for it.
