Will Smith faces explosive allegations of sexual harassment and wrongful termination in a bombshell lawsuit filed by Brian King Joseph, the violinist who finished top 3 on America’s Got Talent season 13. The AGT star claims Smith groomed him during the Based on a True Story: 2025 tour, leading to a terrifying hotel room intrusion. Smith’s team calls the claims “false and reckless” as Hollywood reels from this latest scandal
AGT Star Meets Will: From Home Gig to Tour
Brian King Joseph, the electrifying violinist who dazzled AGT audiences in 2018, caught Will Smith’s eye after performing at the actor’s home. Smith invited him to join his 2025 Based on a True Story world tour and collaborate on a new album, forging what Joseph called a “special connection” no one else shared.
The lawsuit, filed December 30, 2025, in Los Angeles Superior Court against Smith and Treyball Studios Management, alleges this bond masked predatory grooming for sexual exploitation during the high-stakes tour.
Las Vegas Horror: Hotel Room Intrusion
March 2025, Las Vegas tour stop: Joseph returns to his hotel room at 11 PM to find it illegally accessed—no forced entry. Inside: intimate wipes, a beer bottle with red lipstick, HIV medication in someone else’s name, an earring, and hospital documents hinting at sexual violence.
A chilling handwritten note read: “Brian I’ll be back [music note] 5: just us (heart), Stone F.” Terrified of assault, Joseph alerted hotel security, non-emergency police, and Smith’s team—sparking what he calls retaliation.
Fired & Shamed: Wrongful Termination Claims
Instead of support, tour management allegedly shamed Joseph, accused him of fabricating the story, and abruptly fired him. A replacement violinist took his spot immediately after his complaint.
Joseph now battles PTSD, financial loss, defamation, and career damage, seeking compensatory/punitive damages under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, Labor Code, Bane Act, and Ralph Act.
Will’s Defense: “False, Baseless, Reckless”
Smith’s attorney Bradford Cohen fired back to media: “Mr. Joseph’s claims against my client are false, baseless, and reckless. We will utilize all legal avenues to counter these claims and ensure the truth emerges.”
No criminal charges filed; the case heads to civil court in 2026. Joseph’s suit paints a pattern of power abuse on tour, demanding accountability from the Oscar winner post-Oscars slap redemption arc.
Hollywood Fallout: Post-Oscars Scrutiny
Coming after Smith’s 2024 Oscar win for King Richard and tour success, this reignites #MeToo conversations about celebrity power dynamics. Fans divided—some defend the Philly icon, others demand answers.
Joseph’s AGT fame amplifies the story; social media explodes with #JusticeForBrian and support for Smith. Watch court filings for updates as 2026 unfolds.
