Actor and rapper Will Smith has been named in a lawsuit filed this week by violinist Brian King Joseph, who performed during Smith&rsquo;s Based on a True Story 2025 tour. The legal action alleges sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination linked to events that occurred during the concert run.
The lawsuit has been filed against Will Smith and Treyball Studios Management. Brian King Joseph claims he was initially hired in November 2024 to perform at a San Diego show and was later invited to join Smith&rsquo;s 2025 tour, as well as contribute to an upcoming album.
The suit states that as their professional association continued, Smith allegedly made remarks implying a personal bond beyond work. These comments, the filing claims, made Joseph uncomfortable over time.
A central allegation in the lawsuit relates to an incident during the first leg of the tour in March 2025, when Joseph joined the team in Las Vegas. He claims that his bag containing his hotel room key went missing for several hours and was later returned by management. The filing alleges that only management personnel had access to his room during that period.
Joseph further claims that upon returning to his hotel room that night, he noticed indications of unauthorised entry. He alleges that items were left behind, including wipes, a bottle of HIV medication labelled with another person&rsquo;s name, and a handwritten note suggesting that someone intended to return to the room later. He states that he perceived this as a threatening situation.
According to the lawsuit, Joseph immediately contacted hotel security, informed representatives associated with Smith, and reported the incident to a non-emergency police line. Despite this, he claims that within days, he was accused by a member of the management team of fabricating the incident and was subsequently removed from the tour.
The musician alleges that his dismissal resulted in significant emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress symptoms, as well as financial harm. He is seeking damages for sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, with compensation to be determined by a jury.
As of now, Will Smith has not issued a public statement responding to the allegations outlined in the lawsuit.
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Violinist alleges harassment and wrongful firing during 2025 tour

Will Smith Sued Over Tour Misconduct Claims

Violinist alleges harassment and wrongful firing during 2025 tour

January 2, 2026 | 18:31 IST