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Digital Phablet – Will Smith Faces Lawsuit as Former Tour Violinist Accuses Him of Misconduct
A violinist who performed on Will Smith’s 2025 tour has filed a lawsuit against the actor and rapper, claiming that Smith acted in a predatory manner and was intentionally grooming him for potential sexual exploitation. The case, filed in the Superior Court of California, also includes allegations of wrongful termination and retaliation against Smith’s company, Treyball Studios Management.
According to the lawsuit, after performing together in December 2024, Joseph was hired to join the tour to promote Smith’s latest album, Based on a True Story. The legal complaint states that Smith told Joseph, “You and I share a unique connection that I don’t have with anyone else.”
Joseph details an incident at a Las Vegas concert in March 2025, where his bag and hotel room key went missing and were later returned hours afterward. He claims he entered his hotel room that evening and discovered it had been broken into unlawfully. Among the items left behind were HIV medication, wipes with someone else’s name, and a note reading, “Brian, I’ll be back no later than 5:30, just us <3, Stone F.” Joseph believes this was a warning that someone he did not know planned to re-enter his room to engage in sexual activity.
The lawsuit states that only members of Smith’s tour staff had access to Joseph’s hotel room. Joseph reported the break-in to hotel security, the police, and Smith’s representatives. However, he alleges that following the incident, a member of Smith’s management team shamed him and subsequently terminated his employment, claiming he fabricated the event.
Joseph’s attorney asserts that the dismissal has caused him to suffer from PTSD and financial loss. In response, Smith’s legal team, represented by Allen B. Grodsky, dismissed the claims as baseless, lacking evidence, and negligent. “These allegations are categorically denied, and we will pursue all legal avenues to ensure the truth prevails,” Grodsky stated.
The controversy arises after Smith released Based on a True Story, his first album in over twenty years, which addressed his 2022 Oscar incident involving Chris Rock. The project, however, was poorly received, failing to chart prominently in major markets and only briefly reaching number 79 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.
Critics, such as Stephen Kearse from Pitchfork, criticized the album, scoring it a 2.4 out of 10. He remarked, “’Based on a True Story’ lacks the calming confidence of an artist in his element and the playful spirit of someone unbound. It feels like a campaign piece without a clear voice, style, or narrative, constantly pleading for acceptance: ‘Please take me back.’”
This legal dispute has added to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Smith’s recent career and personal conduct, with the allegations attracting significant media attention.
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