Hollywood actor Will Smith has won a court ruling that dismissed a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by electric violinist Brian King Joseph.
The case, which stemmed from allegations related to Smith’s Based on a True Story tour, was officially thrown out on May 5 after the court granted Smith’s request to dismiss the claims. Joseph, a former contestant on America’s Got Talent where he finished third in 2018, had accused Smith of wrongfully terminating him from an international tour.
He claimed the dismissal came after he reported a disturbing incident in which someone allegedly broke into his Las Vegas hotel room and left sexually suggestive material along with a note that read, “Brian, I’ll be back.”
In his ruling, Judge Michael Shultz stated that while the note had a sexual tone, it was not sufficient to prove workplace sexual misconduct.
The court also found no reasonable basis to assume that Smith or his team were responsible for the alleged break-in. It further concluded that the claims did not demonstrate a “severe and pervasive” pattern of harassment required to establish an abusive work environment.
The dismissal also covered related allegations of retaliation and wrongful termination. Joseph had additionally accused Smith of “predatory behaviour” and attempting to “groom” him for sexual exploitation, though no specific incident involving Smith was detailed in the complaint.
Smith’s legal team strongly denied all allegations from the outset, calling them “false, baseless and reckless.” His lawyer, Allen Grodsky, stated that the claims were categorically denied and that all legal options would be used to defend Smith and establish the truth.
With the court ruling in Smith’s favour, the lawsuit has been fully dismissed, ending the legal dispute arising from the tour-related accusations. (ANI)
