According to new court filings, Will Smith is now asking a judge to toss out the sexual harassment lawsuit brought against him by violinist Brian King Joseph, TMZ reports. And if you read between the lines, his legal team is basically saying: enough is enough.
As previously reported, just last month, Joseph filed a lawsuit accusing the actor of sexual assault! He claimed that while on tour he returned to his hotel room in Las Vegas and found a note that read, “Brian, I’ll be back…just us,” allegedly signed “Stone F.” Joseph claims the situation left him shaken, leading to accusations that escalated into a full-blown legal complaint. But Smith’s camp? They are not buying it.
Smith’s Legal Team Fires Back
In a motion to strike the case, Smith’s attorneys argue that Joseph himself admits he doesn’t actually know who “Stone F” is… yet still decided to file suit against Smith and his company, Treyball Studios.
Smith’s side is saying the math simply isn’t mathing. They also dispute Joseph’s claim that he was invited to join the tour long-term. According to Smith, the violinist was hired strictly on a per-show basis, no permanent spot in the band, no extended promises.
And here’s another key point from the filing: the two were never alone together. Smith’s lawyers say that makes it unclear what Joseph meant when he used the term “grooming” in his allegations.
Why He Wasn’t Asked Back
Smith’s team didn’t stop there. They’re prepared to bring in witnesses who will testify that Joseph wasn’t asked to continue because he “behaved erratically, was difficult to work with, and made the other members of Mr. Smith’s band feel uncomfortable.”
The Items Found in the Room
In Joseph’s lawsuit, he also alleged that during the incident he discovered “wipes, a beer bottle, a red backpack, a bottle of HIV medication with another individual’s name, an earring, and hospital discharge paperwork belonging to a person unbeknownst to Plaintiff.”
Smith Calls It a Cash Grab
At the end of the day, Smith’s legal team is labeling the lawsuit a “frivolous lawsuit” and an “attempted money grab.” In other words, they believe this whole situation is less about facts and more about finances.
Now the ball is in the judge’s court. If the motion to strike is granted, this case could be shut down before it ever really gets going. If not, things could get even messier.