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A violinist accused Will Smith of retaliation after he stated he was fired for reporting sexual harassment whereas on tour with the actor and rapper, in line with a lawsuit filed earlier this week.
The go well with, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket, is linked to what the criticism describes as a “lodge intrusion” in Las Vegas final March that the go well with says Brian King Joseph instantly reported to lodge safety, police and the artist’s representatives.
Days later, in line with the criticism, a consultant for Smith accused Joseph of mendacity and fired him.
A administration firm related to Smith, 57, can be named as a defendant within the go well with. The criticism doesn’t specify damages.
Representatives for Smith declined to remark.
In keeping with the go well with, Joseph started performing with Smith in December 2024 and joined the artist’s tour for his most up-to-date album, “Based mostly on a True Story,” final yr. They started spending time alone collectively, the criticism states, and Smith allegedly instructed Joseph that that they had a “particular connection” that the artist had with nobody else.
On or round March 20, whereas in Las Vegas for a efficiency, Joseph stated he returned to his lodge room round 11 p.m. to search out that somebody appeared to have unlawfully entered whereas he was gone, the criticism states. In keeping with lodge safety, there have been no indicators of pressured entry and solely individuals who have been a part of Smith’s administration staff had entry to the room whereas he was gone, the go well with says.
Among the many gadgets Joseph stated he discovered have been wipes, a beer bottle, an earring, a crimson backpack, HIV medicine with one other particular person’s identify, hospital discharge paperwork for somebody Joseph didn’t know and a notice that stated: “Brian, I’ll be again no later [sic] 5:30, simply us (drawn coronary heart), Stone F,” the criticism states.
“Plaintiff feared that an unknown particular person would quickly return to his room to have interaction in sexual acts with Plaintiff,” the criticism states.
After Joseph reported the obvious intrusion to lodge safety, Smith’s representatives and police, the criticism alleges, a consultant for Smith blamed him for the incident and stated he was being terminated.
The go well with quotes the consultant allegedly saying, partially, “Everyone seems to be telling me that what occurred to you is a lie, nothing occurred, and also you made the entire thing up. So, inform me, why did you lie and make this up?”
There was no effort to confirm Joseph’s security considerations, the go well with alleges, and after he was fired, one other violinist was employed, although the criticism says Joseph was instructed the tour was “transferring in a distinct route.”
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