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Will Smith is facing a lawsuit from violist Brian King Joseph, who alleges he was wrongfully fired in retaliation for reporting sexual harassment during Smith’s Based on a True Story tour. The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 31 in Los Angeles, names Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management, and accuses them of retaliation, wrongful termination, intimidation, and sexual harassment.
According to the civil complaint, the incident occurred in March while the tour was in Las Vegas. Joseph claims he returned to his hotel room—booked by Smith’s company—to find evidence that someone had entered without permission. The room allegedly contained a sexually suggestive note reading, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us,” signed “Stone F,” along with wipes, a beer bottle, HIV medication labeled with another person’s name, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to someone else.
Joseph states that he feared “an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts” with him. He reported the situation to hotel security and tour management but claims he was accused of lying and blamed for the incident. Days later, he says he was fired and told the tour was “moving in a different direction,” despite another violinist being quickly hired as his replacement.
The lawsuit further alleges that Smith had been “grooming and priming” Joseph for sexual exploitation since their first meeting in November 2024, citing increased time spent alone together and an alleged comment from Smith: “You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else.” Joseph also claims tour management suspiciously lost his bag containing his room key.
Joseph contends the events point to a pattern of predatory behavior rather than an isolated incident. He says he invested heavily to prepare for the tour and now suffers from PTSD and significant psychological harm, for which he is seeking financial and personal damages.
