Violinist Sues Will Smith and Management Company Over Alleged Harassment and Wrongful Termination

A violinist who performed on tour with Will Smith has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County, accusing the actor-musician and a management company of sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.

According to the complaint, violinist Brian King Joseph was hired in late 2024 to perform on Smith’s “Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour” and related appearances. The lawsuit alleges Joseph was fired shortly after reporting a disturbing incident at a Las Vegas hotel during the tour.

Court documents state that while Joseph was away from his hotel room in March 2025, someone allegedly entered the room without permission and left behind several items, including wipes, a beer bottle, a backpack, HIV medication, hospital discharge paperwork bearing another person’s name, and a handwritten note addressed to him. Joseph reported the incident to hotel security, Smith’s representatives, and local police through a non-emergency call, according to the lawsuit.

Hotel security reportedly found no signs of forced entry and told Joseph that access to the room would have been limited to the tour’s management team. The lawsuit claims that instead of investigating the incident, tour management accused Joseph of fabricating the report and terminated his employment, telling him the tour was “moving in a different direction.” Another violinist was later hired to replace him.

Joseph alleges that Smith was involved in the decision to fire him and claims he was being deliberately groomed for sexual exploitation. The lawsuit further states that the incident and termination caused Joseph severe emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and financial loss.

Smith’s attorney has denied the allegations, calling them false and baseless, and said the legal team intends to vigorously contest the claims. CNN has reached out to Smith’s representatives and the management company named in the lawsuit for comment.

Last week, Joseph posted a video on social media referencing the incident and encouraging others to speak up about workplace safety and misconduct. He said he felt compelled to come forward to highlight that reporting alleged sexual misconduct or safety concerns should not result in retaliation.

The case is ongoing.

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