American actor and singer Will Smith faces a civil lawsuit filed in the state of California by violinist Brian King Josephwho was part of his artistic team during the international tour 'Based on a True Story: 2025'. The musician maintains that he was a victim of sexual harassment, abusive treatment and a dismissal without just cause, in addition to subsequent retaliation after reporting a situation that, according to him, generated a deep emotional and professional impact on him.
The legal action was registered on December 30 before the Superior Court of California, in Los Angeles, and also names the company Treyball Studios Management, Inc., linked to Smith's professional management, as a defendant. The legal document, to which specialized media in the United States have had access, describes a working relationship that began promisingly and ended, according to the complainant, in a traumatic episode.
According to Brian King Joseph's version, his professional relationship with Will Smith began at the end of 2024, when he was hired to participate in a concert in San Diego. After that performance, the artist would have proposed joining the rest of the world tour and collaborating on future musical projects. The violinist claims that, during that period, Smith repeatedly conveyed to him that there was a special connection between them that he did not maintain with other members of the team, something that he eventually interpreted as inappropriate behavior within a work context.
WECB
WECB
The turning point, always according to the complaint, took place in March 2025 during a tour stop in Las Vegas. Joseph claims that upon returning to his hotel room, he found signs that someone had gained access without his consent. Among the items found, he mentions other people's personal objects, medical documentation and a handwritten note that he interpreted as an intimate message, suggesting a later private meeting. This discovery would have caused a strong state of anxiety and fear.
Given the seriousness of the situation, the musician states that he immediately informed the hotel security, the team responsible for the tour and a non-urgent police line. However, far from receiving support, he maintains that days later he was questioned by a member of the artist's entourage, who accused him of having invented the facts. Shortly after, They informed him that he would not continue on the tour and was replaced by another violinist..
The lawsuit details the consequences that this episode would have had for Joseph, including a significant deterioration in his mental health, economic losses resulting from the interruption of his work, damage to his professional reputation and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, among other psychological problems.
Will Smith's response
For their part, Will Smith's representatives have reacted forcefully. In a statement released to American media, the actor's team categorically denies all accusationsdescribing them as false and baseless. Likewise, they assure that they will resort to all the necessary legal tools to defend their position and demonstrate their version of the events.
The case, which is in an initial phase, opens a new judicial front for one of the best-known figures in the entertainment industry and the Californian justice system will now be in charge of determining the path and veracity of the accusations presented.
