• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Will Smith sued for sexual harassment and accused of 'deliberately grooming' by America's Got Talent star

Home> Celebrity> News

Updated 07:54 2 Jan 2026 GMTPublished 07:24 2 Jan 2026 GMT

Will Smith sued for sexual harassment and accused of 'deliberately grooming' by America's Got Talent star

Violinist Brian King Joseph filed the suit on December 31

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

Will Smith is being sued for alleged sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation.

On December 31, America's Got Talent finalist Brian King Joseph, 32, filed the suit against the actor and accused him of 'predatory behavior'.

Both Smith and Treyball Studios Management are named as the defendants.

The alleged behavior unfolded on Smith's 'Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour', which Joseph, a professional violinist, was part of.

Advert

Per the suit, over the course of the tour, Smith is accused of 'deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation', Variety reports.

In the run-up to Smith's 2025 tour, he's said to have invited Joseph in November 2024 to play for him, says Mail Online. Following this meeting, he was invited to play on Smith's tour.

Will Smith seen on his 'Based On A True Story' tour last summer (Gerald Matzka/Redferns)
Will Smith seen on his 'Based On A True Story' tour last summer (Gerald Matzka/Redferns)

Joseph joined the first leg of the tour in March 2025 for a show in Las Vegas. The same night, the musician alleges that he went to his hotel room, which was booked for him, had been 'unlawfully' entered and whoever went into the room left behind items like wipes and a bottle of HIV medication.

There was also a beer bottle, a red backpack, an earring, and 'a hospital discharge paperwork belonging to a person unbeknownst to Plaintiff', says the lawsuit.

There was also a note that read: "Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F."

Joseph then feared that 'an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts', per the suit.

He claims he then reported the incident to hotel security, a non-emergency police line and Smith's management team, but Smith's team allegedly 'shamed' Joseph and fired him.

He believes he was fired in retaliation for reporting the hotel incident.

Brian King Joseph was an America's Got Talent finalist in 2018 (Robin L Marshall/Getty Images)
Brian King Joseph was an America's Got Talent finalist in 2018 (Robin L Marshall/Getty Images)

As a result of this, Joseph suffered 'severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages', as well as 'PTSD and other mental illness as a result of the termination'.

The 32-year-old has requested that damages be determined by a jury.

Smith's lawyer, Allen B. Grodsky, has now addressed the filing. He told PEOPLE in a statement on January 1: "Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless.

"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."

LADbible Group have approached Smith's reps for additional comment.

Featured Image Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Topics: Will Smith, America's Got Talent, News, Celebrity, Music

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Getty Images/XNY/Star Max
    4 hours ago

    Key takeaways from Blake Lively's 'embarrassing' email to Ben Affleck

    Blake Lively's private email to Hollywood friend Ben Affleck about the situation with Justin Baldoni has been released

    Celebrity
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live via YouTube/ selenagomez/Instagram
    5 hours ago

    Martin Short reveals huge blunder he made at Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's wedding and how she reacted

    Martin Short recently recalled the incident to Jimmy Kimmel on his show

    Celebrity
  • Michael Buckner/WWD via Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Kaia Gerber reveals why she's thankful she grew up seeing mom Cindy Crawford's nude modeling pictures

    Kaia Gerber has spoken out about how her childhood was perfectly normal

    Celebrity
  • Dimitrios Kambouris/MG18/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
    8 hours ago

    Grimes makes unexpected comments on what it's really like co-parenting with Elon Musk

    Grimes previously admitted to 'begging' Musk to keeping their kids out of the public eye

    Celebrity
  • Will Smith shares his biggest regret in new music video
  • Will Smith considers changing his name after making surprising family discovery
  • Kanye West sued by former employee over alleged antisemitism and misogyny as talent agency drops him
  • Will Smith and Jada Pinkett's daughter Willow sparks major concern after emotional selfie with a very NSFW message