By Tolulope Oke
A sexual harassment lawsuit filed against actor Will Smith by violinist Brian King Joseph has been dismissed in a Los Angeles court after the judge ruled that Joseph had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his claims.
Joseph, 32, accused Smith of sexual harassment and wrongful termination during his time working on Smith’s 2025 “Based on a True Story” tour, but LA Superior Court Judge Michael Shultz ruled that the allegations did not meet the legal standards for harassment, stating there was no proof of a “severe and pervasive” pattern of misconduct.
Joseph claimed that during a tour stop in Las Vegas in March 2025, his hotel room was “unlawfully entered” by an unknown individual who left behind a suggestive note. The note reportedly read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30 juts us,” followed by the signature “Stone F.” Joseph also said the room contained items including a beer bottle, an earring, a bottle of HIV medication, and hospital discharge papers, none of which he could explain.
Joseph’s lawsuit suggested that this incident caused him severe emotional distress and led to retaliatory firing from the tour. He alleged that after reporting the incident to hotel security and Smith’s management team, he was shamed by a member of the tour staff and subsequently let go from the tour. The plaintiff claimed the emotional fallout led to PTSD and other mental health issues.
However, Judge Shultz dismissed the lawsuit, stating that Joseph’s claims did not indicate an abusive working environment. The judge pointed out that Joseph had requested a room change after the incident, and was able to return safely to Los Angeles the next day. The ruling also noted that Joseph’s complaint lacked evidence to support a pattern of harassment by Smith or his management team.
Joseph’s lawsuit further alleged that after the hotel incident, he was wrongfully fired as retaliation for reporting the situation. He claimed that a member of the tour management accused him of lying about the events and shamed him for his actions.
Despite the dismissal, Joseph insists the termination and the emotional distress caused by the incident led to severe health consequences. According to court documents, Joseph suffers from ongoing physiological damage and mental health issues as a result of the events surrounding his firing.
Will Smith’s legal team, led by Allen B. Grodsky, categorically denied the allegations from the beginning, calling them “false, baseless, and reckless.” Grodsky further emphasized that Smith would use all legal means to address the claims and seek justice.
TMZ first reported on the lawsuit, which has now been fully dismissed. The judge has given Joseph’s legal team a 30-day window to amend their filing before the case is fully closed.
Joseph rose to fame as a top-three finalist on America’s Got Talent in 2018. He was later hired to perform on Smith’s 2024 tour after a performance at Smith’s home. Joseph had been working with Smith on multiple projects, including the Based on a True Story album, and had formed a close working relationship with the actor, which Joseph now claims was disrupted by the alleged events.
