Violinist Brian King Joseph has filed a lawsuit against Will Smith and his company Treyball Studios Management, accusing the actor and rapper of sexual harassment, wrongful termination and retaliation.
Smith is accused of "deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation" while the musician was on the Based on a True Story tour, according to the complaint, obtained by Variety.
The suit claims Joseph was hired by Smith in Nov. 2024 to perform at a show in San Diego. He would go on to join Smith's tour the following year.
Joseph alleges his bag, which had his hotel room key, went missing for several hours before it was found by management and returned to him. Joseph claimed he went back to his Las Vegas room later that night, and discovered that someone had "unlawfully" entered his room.
The suit alleges 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 signed, "Stone F," "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 a person unbeknownst to" Joseph.
Joseph claimed these items led him to believe that "an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts" with him. The musician allegedly notified hotel staff, a non-emergency police line and Smith's representatives of his findings.
The suit alleges Joseph was "shamed" by a member of Smith's tour management team days later, and informed he was being terminated.
Joseph claimed the hotel room incident caused him "severe emotional distress, economic loss, reputational harm, and other damages," while his termination resulted in PTSD and economic loss.