Nationwide — Will Smith is dealing with a sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit from violinist Brian King Joseph, a former America’s Acquired Expertise finalist. Joseph claims Smith’s tour workforce fired him after he reported a troubling lodge incident through the live performance tour.
Joseph, 32, rose to fame as a top-three finalist on America’s Acquired Expertise in 2018. He carried out on Smith’s Primarily based on a True Story: 2025 tour after beforehand enjoying for the actor at his dwelling. Joseph says they grew shut throughout their work collectively, with Smith telling him, “You and I’ve such a particular connection that I don’t share with anybody else.”
In keeping with the Every day Mail, the lawsuit says issues started in Las Vegas final March when Joseph returned to his lodge room and found it had been entered by somebody unknown. Left behind was a handwritten observe signed “Stone F” with a coronary heart, together with a beer bottle, wipes, a pink backpack, HIV treatment with one other particular person’s title, and hospital paperwork.
Fearing somebody would return to interact in sexual acts, Joseph reported the incident to lodge safety, a non-emergency police line, and Smith’s administration. He alleges tour administration shamed him and finally fired him, which he says prompted emotional misery, PTSD, and monetary loss.
Joseph’s lawsuit additionally claims Smith groomed him for sexual exploitation, pointing to non-public time collectively and statements about their “particular connection.” Smith’s lawyer denied all allegations and known as the claims “false, baseless, and reckless.”
Joseph filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom and is searching for a jury trial. It brings Smith again into the highlight over allegations of harassment, retaliation, {and professional} misconduct.
