A touring violinist is suing Will Smith and his management, alleging retaliation after he raised safety concerns following a hotel room intrusion during the Las Vegas stop of the actor’s 2025 tour. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, claims musician Brian King Joseph was removed from the tour days after reporting the incident. Joseph is seeking damages for emotional distress, lost income, and other harms, with the filing stating the episode caused him PTSD and reputational damage.
What the complaint says happened in Las Vegas
According to PEOPLE, Joseph claims that during the Las Vegas leg of the tour in March, he returned to his hotel room to find someone had entered without his permission. The lawsuit states he discovered a handwritten note from “Stone F” indicating they would return by 5:30, along with wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, an earring, and prescription HIV medication in another person’s name.
The complaint describes the items as evidence of a sexual threat of violence and states that Joseph feared the unknown person would return to the room to engage in sexual acts. He says he reported the incident to hotel security, a local non-emergency police line, and members of Smith’s tour team.
Allegations of grooming and a 'special connection'
The lawsuit also alleges that Smith was grooming and preparing Joseph for further sexual exploitation after hiring him in November 2024, and cites a statement Smith allegedly made suggesting a close personal connection.
As reported by Variety, the filing states that the two spent time alone in the months before the 2025 tour, and that Smith made several comments Joseph found intimate and concerning. The lawsuit does not claim that Smith personally entered Joseph’s Las Vegas hotel room but asserts that the described behavior caused Joseph to reasonably fear for his safety.
How tour management allegedly reacted
Joseph alleges that after he reported the Las Vegas incident, a member of the tour management team shamed him, accused him of fabricating the event, and told him he would be removed from the tour. The complaint states that another violinist was quickly brought in to replace him.
NBC News reports that the filing cites management questioning Joseph about the incident and suggesting it was fabricated. The lawsuit alleges that no meaningful steps were taken to address his safety concerns before he was removed from the tour.
Legal claims and what Joseph is seeking
The complaint names Will Smith and Treyball Studios Management, Inc. as defendants, alleging sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation under California employment and civil-rights laws. Reporting on the filing notes that the lawsuit cites the Fair Employment and Housing Act and state whistleblower protections, and requests a jury trial for compensatory and punitive damages.
Joseph claims that his removal from the tour caused emotional distress, economic loss, PTSD, and reputational harm. The lawsuit does not specify a monetary amount, leaving any potential award to be determined by a jury.
Where the case goes next
It is not yet known when Smith and the other defendants will formally respond in court or whether the parties will pursue a settlement. The complaint was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court at the end of December, and future hearings or filings will be recorded in the public docket.
Representatives for Smith declined to comment, as noted by NBC News. The case adds to a series of legal complaints involving members of the Smith household and related professionals that emerged in late 2025.
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