Will Smith has secured a legal victory after a Los Angeles court dismissed a sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit filed by violinist Brian King Joseph.
The case, which was reviewed by LA Superior Court Judge Michael Shultz, was thrown out on Tuesday after the court ruled that Joseph failed to demonstrate “conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive” to support his claims against Smith and his company, Treyball Studios Management.
Joseph, who gained public attention as a finalist on America’s Got Talent in 2018, was previously hired to perform on Smith’s “Based on a True Story” tour in 2024. However, the court found that the allegations presented did not meet the legal threshold for creating a hostile or abusive work environment.
According to the ruling, the judge determined that the incident described by Joseph amounted to a single occurrence that did not significantly alter the conditions of his employment. The court also noted that Joseph reported the situation, requested a room change, and was able to continue traveling shortly after.
Joseph’s lawsuit included claims that he discovered disturbing items in his hotel room during a tour stop in Las Vegas in March 2025, which he believed posed a safety concern. He also alleged that after reporting the incident, he was mistreated by tour management and ultimately removed from the tour, resulting in emotional distress and financial loss.
However, Smith’s legal team strongly denied the allegations, calling them “false, baseless, and reckless,” and maintained that they would fight the claims through all available legal channels.
The court has given Joseph a limited window to amend parts of his case, but as it currently stands, the lawsuit has been dismissed.
Neither Smith nor Joseph has issued additional public comments following the ruling.#newsafro_
