Will Smith appeared to recently brush off a question about a lawsuit against him that claims wrongful termination and retaliation.
The 57-year-old actor was spotted in London on Monday (Jan. 12) while reportedly working on his National Geographic series Pole to Pole With Will Smith.
In a video captured by Backgrid and shared by TMZ, Smith was asked about the recent lawsuit filed against him by violinist Brian King Joseph.
The clip showed Smith appearing to laugh before hopping into a waiting vehicle as security blocked the cameraperson.
In the lawsuit, Joseph claims he was fired from Smith's Based on a True Story Tour after reporting an alleged sexual harassment incident that he says occurred during a Las Vegas stop in November 2024.
According to the complaint, as reviewed by Variety, Joseph alleges his bag, which contained his hotel room key, went missing for several hours before hotel management located it and returned it. The man said that he later discovered his Las Vegas room had been "unlawfully" entered.
Joseph says several items were left behind in the room, including a handwritten note that read, "Brian, I'll be back... just us," with a drawn heart and the signature "Stone F," as well as wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual's name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to someone unknown to him.
The violinist claims these discoveries led him to believe "an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts" with him, leading him to notify hotel staff, a non-emergency police line, and Smith's representatives.
The suit further alleges that days later, a member of Smith's tour management team "shamed" him and informed him he was being terminated.
Joseph claims the hotel room incident caused him "severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages," and that his termination resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder and additional economic loss.
In a statement shared with TMZ, Smith's attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, called the claims "false, baseless, and reckless."
He added, “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.”
