Hollywood actor Will Smith has been dragged to court by a violinist who performed on his 2025 Based on a True Story tour, following allegations of deliberate grooming and preparation for sexual exploitation.
The claimant, 33-year-old Brian King Joseph, filed the lawsuit at the Superior Court of California on December 30, 2025.
In the court filing, Joseph said he first encountered Smith in November 2024 after being engaged to perform at a concert in San Diego. He accused the actor of exhibiting “predatory behaviour” toward him during the course of the 2025 tour.
Joseph alleged that Smith once told him, “You and I have such a special connection that I don’t have with anyone else”.
The violinist also accused Treyball Studios Management, Smith’s company, of wrongful termination and retaliation.
According to the suit, Joseph claimed that during a stop in Las Vegas in March 2025, his bag and hotel room key went missing and were returned several hours later.
He further alleged that when he returned to his hotel room that night, he discovered it had been “unlawfully” entered, with wipes and HIV medication bearing another person’s name allegedly left behind, along with a note that read: “Brian, I’ll be back no later 5.30, just us <3, Stone F”.
Joseph said he believed an unidentified person was expected to return to the room to engage in sexual activity with him.
He claimed that Smith’s management team were the only individuals with access to his hotel room and that they had possession of his bag and room key for several hours before returning them.
Joseph alleged that he reported the incident to hotel security and Smith’s management, but was instead blamed and shamed over the situation.
He further claimed that he was later removed from the tour, with management reportedly saying the production was “moving in a different direction”, even though another violinist eventually replaced him.
The lawsuit also stated that Joseph has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and loss of income following his removal from the tour.
However, Smith’s lawyer, Allen B. Grodsky, rejected the allegations, describing them as “false, baseless and reckless”.
“Mr Joseph’s allegations concerning my client 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,” Brodsky said.