A new $3 million lawsuit has been filed against Jada Pinkett Smith by a man who identifies himself as one of Will Smith’s closest confidants. The complaint includes allegations of threats, intimidation and a series of retaliatory actions connected to events spanning several years.
The filing, submitted on November 7, has come from Bilaal Salaam. He refers to himself as Will Smith’s “best friend for nearly 40 years.”
According to the lawsuit, one of the central incidents happened on September 25, 2021. The document states that the confrontation occurred during Will’s birthday celebration at the Regency Calabasas Common.
It argues that an encounter unfolded after Salaam entered the lobby of the venue. The filing claims that Jada approached him with a group of about seven people and says that her demeanor was hostile. It was also claimed that she confronted him about discussing private matters.
Before the alleged threat, the lawsuit says Jada first demanded that he stop sharing information about her life. The filing then claims that she issued a warning, stating he would “end up missing or catch a bullet” if he continued “telling her personal business.” It further said that she demanded he sign a non-disclosure agreement “or else.”
Another encounter described in the lawsuit involves an associate reportedly connected to Jada. The filing alleges that the individual followed Salaam to his vehicle shortly after the confrontation in the lobby. According to the complaint, verbal threats continued in the parking area.
Additional claims that the lawsuit made are based on events following the 2022 Oscars. The filing describes pressure placed on Salaam after Will slapped Chris Rock during the ceremony, alleging that Jada and others expected him to participate in crisis management.
The lawsuit states that Salaam declined to take part in activities he believed were “illegal, unethical, or morally compromising” and that his refusal contributed to an alleged “retaliatory campaign.”
One portion of the complaint focuses on comments made during an interview with TMZ. The lawsuit references a moment when Jada denied ever seeing Will engage in intimate conduct with men.
The filing states that this denial was not accurate. To support this claim, the complaint references a viral video previously circulated by Salaam. Salaam claims that the footage shows Will Smith groping Alfonso Ribeiro “including his penis, nipple, and buttocks” in front of Jada and the couple’s children. The filing notes that Ribeiro has not commented on the allegations.
The lawsuit argues that her public denial caused significant harm and that the denial portrayed Salaam’s statements as “inaccurate, delusional, or fabricated.” In the complaint, Salaam further claims this contributed to ridicule and a damaged public reputation.
Another allegation in the filing describes an interaction with a manager who allegedly acted on Jada’s behalf. According to the lawsuit, the manager urged Salaam to “work something out” and to “end this feud before you get physically hurt,” referring to a memoir Salaam planned to release.
According to the complaint, Salaam also went through a series of personal and financial consequences. It claims that these alleged threats and actions damaged his professional relationships, contributed to health challenges and caused emotional distress.
The lawsuit concludes by accusing Jada of “malicious, intentional, and reckless conduct.” Salaam is seeking damages for what he describes as reputational harm, emotional trauma and financial loss.