At a Glance
- Violinist Brian King Joseph sues Will Smith over alleged retaliation
- Lawsuit stems from a Las Vegas hotel intrusion in March
- Smith’s representative fired Joseph after accusing him of lying
- Why it matters: The case raises concerns about artist conduct and workplace safety on tour
A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuses Will Smith of firing violinist Brian King Joseph after Joseph reported a hotel intrusion in Las Vegas. The suit claims Smith’s representative blamed Joseph for the incident and terminated him. The case brings attention to alleged retaliation and safety concerns on Smith’s tour.
The Lawsuit and Allegations
The complaint names Will Smith, 57, and a management company linked to him as defendants. Joseph began performing with Smith in December 2024 and joined the tour for the album “Based on a True Story.” The suit alleges that after reporting the intrusion, Smith’s representative accused Joseph of lying and fired him, then hired another violinist.
Smith’s representative stated:
> “Everyone is telling me that what happened to you is a lie, nothing happened, and you made the whole thing up. So, tell me, why did you lie and make this up?”
Details of the Hotel Intrusion
Joseph returned to his hotel room around 11 p.m. on March 20, finding several items that were not his. Hotel security said there was no forced entry and only Smith’s management team had access to the room while he was away. The items found included:
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Wipes | Cleaning wipes |
| Beer bottle | Alcohol bottle |
| Earring | Jewelry |
| Red backpack | Personal bag |
| HIV medication | Medication with another person’s name |
| Hospital discharge paperwork | Documents for an unknown person |
| Note | “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F” |
Joseph feared an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts. After reporting the incident, the lawsuit claims no effort was made to verify Joseph’s safety concerns and that the tour was “moving in a different direction.”
Key Takeaways
- The lawsuit accuses Smith of retaliatory firing after a reported hotel intrusion.
- Smith’s representative publicly denied the incident and blamed Joseph.
- The case highlights potential safety and conduct issues on a major artist’s tour.
The lawsuit underscores the serious allegations of retaliation and raises questions about how artists and their teams handle safety concerns on tour.
