Will Smith accused of ‘predatory behavior’ and ‘grooming’ by touring violinist | Will Smith

A violinist from his 2025 tour has filed a lawsuit against Will Smith, who claims the rapper and actor exhibited “predatory behavior” and was “intentionally grooming and grooming him for further sexual exploitation.” Brian King Joseph is also pursuing the performer and his company Treyball Studios Management for wrongful termination and retaliation in a lawsuit filed in California Superior Court.

Joseph claims he was hired to tour in support of Smith’s new album, Based on a True Story, after he first appeared on stage with Smith in December 2024. The suit alleges Smith once told Joseph: “You and I have a special relationship that I don’t have with anyone else.”

In March 2025, Joseph claimed that his bag and hotel room key went missing on a tour date in Las Vegas, and were returned several hours later. That night, Joseph claims he went to his hotel room to find it had been accessed “illegally,” with wipes and HIV medication left in someone else’s name, along with a note that read: “Brian, I’ll be back no later than 5.30, it’s just us <3, Stone F.” Joseph said he concluded that "an unknown person would soon return to his room to perform sexual acts" with him.

Members of the tour management were “the only individuals with access” to his room, the lawsuit states. Joseph says he notified hotel security and Smith’s representatives and reported the incident to police. Joseph claims he was later “shamed” by a member of Smith’s management team over the incident, and his contract was terminated, with the implication being that he fabricated the event.

Joseph’s lawsuit alleges that the termination resulted in him suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and economic loss.

Smith’s attorney, Allen P. Grodsky, denied the allegations in a statement to the Daily Mail that said: “Mr. Joseph’s allegations about my client are false, baseless and reckless.

He added: “It is categorically rejected, and we will use all available legal means to address these allegations and ensure that the truth is brought to light.” The Guardian has contacted Smith’s representatives.

Based on a True Story, it was Smith’s first album in 20 years. It partly addressed his assault on Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. The album was a flop, failing to chart in any major territory and spending one week at number 79 on the UK Album Downloads Chart (not the main album chart).

In a Pitchfork album review that rated 2.4/10, critic Stephen Kearse wrote: “Based on a true story lacks the easy comfort of an artist in his comfort zone, or the playfulness of an artist in his sanctuary. It’s a campaign platformer, devoid of perspective or style, uninterested in narrative or even spin, but always focused on the message: Please take me back“.