Jada Pinkett Smith is facing a new lawsuit.
The 54-year-old Red Table Talk co-host, actress and musician is being sued for $3 million by former associate Bilaal Salaam, also known as Brother Bilaal.
He says that Jada physically threatened him four years ago in 2021, and claims he suffered financial loss, reputational harm, emotional drama, physical health issues and “the complete derailment of his personal life and career” amid a smear campaign allegedly launched by the couple, and is seeking $3 million in damages.
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Bilaal described himself in the complaint as “a best friend” of Will Smith‘s “for nearly 40 years,” via People.
He added that he worked with Will on many projects over the years, and that Will included pictures with him in his memoir Will.
The complaint claims that Jada confronted Bilaal in September 2021 in the lobby of the Regency Calabasas Commons amid a private birthday party for Will, alongside “approximately seven members of her entourage.”
Jada allegedly “became verbally aggressive, and threatened Plaintiff by stating that if he continued ‘telling her personal business,’” he would “‘end up missing or catch a bullet.’”
He also said that Jada demanded that he sign an NDA “or else,” per the complaint.
Her team allegedly then followed Bilaal to his car “while continuing to issue verbal threats.”
Six months later, following the infamous Chris Rock slap incident at the 2022 Oscars, he allegedly refused to help with “crisis management.”
“Plaintiff refused to perform tasks he believed were illegal, unethical, or morally compromising, stating his conscience would not allow him to be involved in any cover-up or deceptive PR campaign,” his legal filing reads.
Bilaal says that afterward, he was threatened by their circle, and faced a “retaliatory campaign” that was “launched against him.”
When it was discovered he was writing a “whistleblower memoir” about his time with the couple, he allegedly faced more threats, as well as after a viral interview the following year on Unwine With Tasha K, in which he claimed he saw Will getting sexual with Duane Martin.
“Rather than pursue legal recourse or report actual crimes, Defendant intentionally and maliciously engaged in a smear campaign through nationally broadcast interviews,” the complaint reads.
He is suing for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jada and Will claimed he was a “person that tried a shakedown, a money shakedown that didn’t work” on The Breakfast Club in 2023.
Jada also claimed to TMZ they would pursue legal action.
“Defendant never filed a lawsuit. The statement was false, reckless, and made with malicious intent to manipulate public opinion and damage Plaintiff’s character,” he wrote in the complaint.
Duane Martin‘s thoughts on the Will Smith sex allegations were revealed as well.
