Photo credit: Will Smith (Instagram)
Will Smith is facing new allegations in a legal dispute involving his former friend Bilaal Salaam.
Salaam has asked a Los Angeles court to add Smith as a co-defendant in his $3 million emotional distress lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith. The filing accuses the actor of allegedly supporting threats made against Salaam.
The allegations have not been proven in court. Smith and Pinkett Smith have not been found liable for the claims described in the lawsuit.
Will Smith lawsuit brings new allegations
Salaam originally filed the lawsuit against Pinkett Smith in November. He accused her of threatening him over comments about her personal life and his plans to publish a memoir.
According to the latest court filing, Salaam now claims Smith was directly involved in some of the alleged incidents.
One of the accusations involves a phone call that Salaam says happened in October 2021. He claims Pinkett Smith threatened to have him killed if he continued discussing her personal business or publishing his memoir.
Salaam alleges that Smith was present during the conversation and then told him that he had heard what his wife said. The filing claims Salaam interpreted that response as Smith adopting or supporting the alleged threat.
The lawsuit also references an earlier incident at Smith’s birthday celebration.
Salaam claims Pinkett Smith and members of her entourage warned him that he could face serious consequences if he continued talking about private matters involving the couple.
Salaam alleges more intimidation
The latest filing also describes an alleged incident following the 2022 Academy Awards.
After Smith slapped Chris Rock during the ceremony, Salaam says he was contacted about helping with crisis management. He claims he declined and was later contacted by one of Smith’s associates.
According to Salaam’s allegations, the associate threatened him with physical harm.
The filing describes the alleged incidents as part of a broader campaign intended to prevent Salaam from speaking publicly about his experiences with the couple.
Salaam also claims he was offered money in exchange for publicly stating that his previous allegations about Smith and Pinkett Smith were false.
He alleges that when he rejected the offer, another associate warned him against publishing his memoir or giving additional interviews.
Will Smith has not been added to the case yet
Although Salaam is asking to make Smith a defendant, the actor has not yet been formally added to the lawsuit.
A Los Angeles judge ordered Smith and Pinkett Smith to respond to the request within 30 days of being served.
USA TODAY reported that representatives for both celebrities were contacted for comment.
Pinkett Smith has previously rejected Salaam’s accusations. She has accused him of attempting to extort her and her husband and described the dispute as a money-driven effort.
Her attorney also previously argued that Smith was not a party to the lawsuit when Salaam sought his deposition.
What happens next in the Will Smith lawsuit?
Salaam is seeking $3 million in damages, along with legal costs and a jury trial.
The latest filing could bring Smith directly into a legal dispute that has so far centered primarily on Pinkett Smith.
However, the allegations remain claims made in court documents. The case must still move through the legal process before any findings are made.
For now, the court will determine whether Smith should be added as a co-defendant and whether Salaam’s claims can proceed against him.
Source: USA TODAY
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