Former “America’s Got Talent” violinist Brian King Joseph is suing actor, rapper Will Smith for “grooming” and harassing him during his tour late last year.
In court documents obtained by Newsweek, Joseph, 32, accused Smith, 57, of grooming him, wrongful termination and harassment.
Joseph said his termination caused emotional distress and economic loss.
Joseph was hired as tour violinist during Smith’s “Based on a True Story: 2025” tour from June 25, 2025 to September 2, 2025.
The musician filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
Joseph claims that Smith fired him a few days after he reported a bizarre message and personal belongings left in his hotel room.
During the tour, Joseph said he returned to his hotel room to find someone had left personal belongings and a handwritten note containing a s*xual message in his room.
“The evidence included a handwritten note addressed to Plaintiff by name, which read ‘Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F.”
Among the personal belongings were wet wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with an unknown individual’s name on the label, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork with an unknown name on it.
Joseph said he reported the incident to hotel security and tour management, but he was accused of lying.
Jonathan J. Delshad, an attorney who represents Joseph, said his client “feared that an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in s*xual acts” with him.
Delshad claims Smith was “grooming and priming” Joseph for “further s*xual exploitation” since they met in November 2024.
Delshad alleged that Smith told Joseph, “You and I have such a special connection, that I don’t have with anyone else.” Mr. Delshad alleges Smith also used “other similar expressions indicating his closeness to Plaintiff.”
The lawyer claims Joseph’s firing led to a serious decline in his mental health, including “major physiological damage.”
Additionally, he claimed his client “suffered from PTSD and other mental illness as a result of the termination.”
“My client Brian King Joseph is a former America’s Got Talent star violinist who was hired by Will Smith to go on tour with Smith for his new album.
Joseph is asking the court for undisclosed punitive damages as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.
Smith’s attorney, Allen B. Grodsky, denied the accusations in a statement sent to Newsweek: “Mr. Joseph’s allegations concerning my client are 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.”
Joseph is demanding a jury trial.
