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Professional violinist Brian King Joseph appeared to allude to the alleged harassment he claimed he suffered at the hands of Will Smith days before filing a lawsuit against the famed actor.
“Earlier this year, I was hired to be a performer on a major, major tour with somebody who was huge in the industry,” Joseph, 35, claimed in a video shared via Instagram in December 2025. “So I was excited, you know, proud of myself for getting the opportunity. Unfortunately, some things happened.”
He continued, “I can’t get too into the details of exactly what that was because it’s already a legal issue right now, but the reason why I’m speaking out about this is because getting fired or getting blamed or shamed or threatened or anything like that simply for reporting sexual misconduct or safety threats at work is not okay.”
Joseph also spoke to others who he claimed might be “afraid to speak out” about their own alleged experiences.
“I understand, and if that’s you, I see you,” he said at the time. ”And that’s pretty much it. More updates to come soon. Thanks for listening.”
Joseph filed his lawsuit against Smith, 57, in Los Angeles on December 30, 2025. In documents obtained by Us Weekly, Joseph accuses Smith of “predatory behavior” and “deliberately grooming and priming Mr. Joseph for further sexual exploitation.” The alleged acts took place during Smith’s Based on a True Story: 2025 tour.
Joseph also claimed that he was asked to join the tour in November 2024. The tour began in Las Vegas in March 2025, and Joseph further alleged the harassment began in Sin City.
In the complaint, Joseph claimed he returned to his Las Vegas hotel room, which was booked by Smith’s company, to find someone had “unlawfully” entered the room.
Brian King Joseph Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Media Access Awards
In the room, he allegedly discovered wipes, a beer bottle, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual’s name and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to another person.
The musician also alleged there was a note in the room that read, “Brian, I’ll be back no later [sic] 5:30, just us (drawn heart), Stone F,” which he believed was a message that indicated “an unknown individual would soon return to his room to engage in sexual acts.”
Joseph claims he reported what happened to hotel security as well as tour management, further allegedly that management accused him of lying. His employment on tour was later terminated, he said, and management told him they were “moving in a different direction.”
Via the documents, Joseph also claimed Smith was “grooming and priming” him “for further sexual exploitation.” Us Weekly reached out to representatives for Smith and Joseph at the time for comment.
Based on a True Story was revealed as Smith’s first album in more than 20 years and featured previously released singles including “You Can Make It,” “Work of Art” and “Tantrum.”
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