A violinist who carried out on tour with Will Smith has filed a lawsuit towards the actor-musician and a administration firm, accusing them of retaliation, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
According to a criticism filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County courtroom, violinist Brian King Joseph was fired shortly after reporting to police an alleged intrusion into his lodge room, wherein supplies and a notice addressed to him have been left in his room whereas he was away.
NCS has reached out to Smith’s representatives and to a contact affiliated with Treyball Studios Management for remark.
Smith’s lawyer has denied the allegations, in line with an announcement given to PEOPLE on Thursday.
“Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless,” lawyer Allen B. Grodsky mentioned, in line with PEOPLE. “They are categorically denied, and we will use all legal means available to address these claims and to ensure that the truth is brought to light.”
According to the go well with, Joseph was employed in late 2024 for Smith’s “Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour” and different performances.
Joseph and Smith developed a detailed relationship main as much as and throughout the tour, the go well with claims, with Smith telling Joseph at one level, “You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else.”
The lawsuit facilities on an incident in March 2025 in Las Vegas. The go well with alleges somebody had “unlawfully” entered Joseph’s lodge room and left wipes, a beer bottle, a backpack, a bottle of HIV medicine and hospital discharge paperwork with one other individual’s identify unknown to him, and a notice that learn: “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F.”
Fearing the unknown particular person would return to “engage in sexual acts,” Joseph says he notified lodge safety and Smith’s representatives, took pictures of the gadgets and requested a room change, in line with the criticism. He additionally known as a neighborhood police nonemergency line to report the incident.
Hotel safety discovered no indicators of compelled entry into the room, in line with the go well with, and mentioned the one people with entry to his room would have been with the administration workforce who booked the room.
According to the go well with, as an alternative of investigating, tour administration later accused Joseph of fabricating the claims and terminated his employment. The lawsuit states he was advised the tour was “moving in a different direction,” however one other violinist was quickly employed to fill his function.
Joseph believes Smith was concerned within the determination to fireside him, in line with the go well with, and claims Joseph was being “deliberately” groomed and primed “for further sexual exploitation.”
At the time of his termination, the go well with claims the incident resulted in extreme emotional misery, PTSD and financial loss.