(NewsNation) — An attorney for Will Smith denies allegations in a newly filed lawsuit that a violinist was fired after reporting sexual harassment during a tour with the actor and rapper last year.
Brian King Joseph says he suffered PTSD and financial hardship after a Smith representative terminated him for reporting someone had intruded into his hotel room and left a note implying he would be sexually assaulted.
The suit, filed this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, says Smith had invited Joseph to join his “Based on a True Story” tour in 2025 after the two played a show in San Diego the previous year. Smith allegedly told the violinist they had a “special connection” and engaged in what the suit calls “predatory behavior” toward him.
In March, the suit claims, Joseph joined the first leg of Smith’s tour for a performance in Las Vegas, where the band and crew would stay. The musician said his bag, which included his hotel room key, disappeared for hours before management returned it to him.
When Joseph went to his room late in the evening, he discovered someone had been there and left behind wipes, a bottle of HIV medication with someone else’s name and a note suggesting that the person would return to “engage in sexual acts” with him, the suit said.
Joseph reported the intrusion to hotel security, Smith’s team and police, according to the lawsuit. A Smith representative allegedly accused him of lying about the incident and said he was fired.
“Getting fired or getting blamed or shamed or threatened or anything like that simply for reporting sexual misconduct or safety threats at work is not okay,” Joseph said in a recent Instagram post.
The musician seeks damages for retaliation, wrongful termination and sexual harassment through a jury trial.
Smith’s attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, told media outlets the plaintiff’s claims 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,” Grodsky said.