A prominent violinist who worked on Will Smith’s 2025 “Based on a True Story” tour has now reportedly filed a lawsuit accusing the actor and his production company of wrongful termination, retaliation and sexual harassment, allegations that Smith’s legal team strongly denies.
Brian King Joseph, a professional violinist, filed the complaint Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Will Smith and Treyball Studios Management Inc., according to court filings cited by People. The lawsuit centers on what Joseph describes as a disturbing and traumatic series of events that allegedly unfolded while the tour was in Las Vegas in March 2025.
Joseph claims he discovered what he characterized as a “sexual threat of violence” left inside his hotel room during the tour. According to the lawsuit, Joseph returned to his room to find a handwritten note that read, “Brian, I’ll be back… just us,” accompanied by a drawn heart and signed “Stone F.” He alleges there were no signs of forced entry, leading him to believe someone had accessed his room without his knowledge.
The complaint further alleges Joseph found several items in the room that he said did not belong to him. Those items reportedly included wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, an earring, hospital discharge paperwork and a bottle of HIV medication bearing another person’s name. Joseph said the discovery left him fearful that an unknown individual intended to return to his room to engage in sexual acts with him.
According to the lawsuit, Joseph reported the incident to hotel staff, contacted a non-emergency police line and informed Smith’s management team. Rather than receiving support, Joseph claims he was subsequently “shamed” by members of the production and then informed that his services on the tour were being terminated.
The lawsuit also alleges that Smith engaged in conduct intended to “groom and prime” Joseph for sexual exploitation after personally inviting him to join the tour’s production. Joseph argues that his firing was not only unjustified but retaliatory, coming after he raised concerns about the incident.
As a result of his termination, Joseph claims he suffered severe emotional distress, economic losses and reputational harm. The filing also alleges he developed post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions stemming from the experience.
Smith’s legal team has forcefully rejected the accusations. Allen B. Grodsky, an attorney for Smith, said in a statement to People that the claims are entirely without merit. “Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are false, baseless, and reckless,” Grodsky said. He added that the accusations are categorically denied and that Smith intends to use all available legal means to contest the lawsuit and bring the truth to light.
Joseph is not a newcomer to national attention. He rose to prominence after competing on America’s Got Talent in 2018, where he finished as a top-three finalist during season 13. In recent years, he has built a career performing and touring, and he previously shared Instagram posts highlighting his involvement with Smith’s 2025 tour.
The lawsuit places a serious cloud over the tour and adds to broader debates over workplace conduct and accountability in the entertainment industry. The case is now set to move forward in California courts, where the competing claims will be tested through the legal process.
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