Actor Will Smith has been accused of sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation by violinist Bryan King Joseph, as per Variety. The musician filed a suit with the Superior Court of California, in the county of Los Angeles. Joseph alleged in the complaint that he was being “primed” and “groomed” for sexual acts in the future and that he felt threatened.
Joseph had been invited to join Smith’s tour Based On A True Story in 2024. However, the complaint mentions that as Smith and Joseph started working together, the actor would use phrases like, “You and I have such a special connection that I don’t have with anyone else.” The complaint also mentions an incident which occurred in Joseph’s hotel room, where someone entered the room without any signs of forced entry and placed some wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, and a bottle of HIV medication with someone else’s name on it.
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Joseph claimed that he found a handwritten note which said, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] than 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F.” This made Joseph feel sexually threatened, as he worried about the individual coming back to his room and indulging in unwanted sexual practices. These actions were allegedly reported to the hotel staff, a local non-police emergency line, and Smith’s management team. But the complaint claims that Joseph was “shamed” for bringing it up and was soon told he had been terminated.
Joseph, who featured in season 13 of America’s Got Talent, is claiming that the whole incident caused him PTSD and economic loss and that it also hurt his professional reputation. The damages are yet to be determined by the jury, and Smith or his team is yet to make a comment addressing these allegations. The actor’s wife is also currently embroiled in a $3 million lawsuit for allegedly threatening former associate Bilaal Salaam.
