Hollywood actress Jada Pinkett Smith is facing a $3 million lawsuit after a former associate and long-time friend of her husband Will Smith alleged she threatened him with violence during a private event. The civil complaint, filed in Los Angeles on 7 November 2025, centres on an incident that allegedly took place in September 2021 at Will Smith's 53rd birthday party.
The plaintiff, Bilaal Salaam — also known as Brother Bilaal — describes himself as a “best friend” of **Will Smith for nearly 40 years.” He claims that Jada Pinkett Smith became verbally aggressive and threatened him when he discussed her personal affairs, allegedly telling him he would “end up missing or catch a bullet” if he didn’t stop “telling her personal business.”
According to the lawsuit, the confrontation occurred in the lobby of a venue while Salaam was attending the private party for Smith’s birthday party in September 2021. He alleges that Pinkett Smith was accompanied by “approximately seven members of her entourage” when she made the threat and pressed him to sign a non-disclosure agreement, “or else.”
Salaam further claims that after he refused to sign the agreement, one of Pinkett Smith’s associates followed him to his car while continuing to make verbal threats. He asserts that the incident led to a pattern of intimidation and retaliation from the actress and her circle, contributing to the emotional distress at the heart of his lawsuit.
The complaint also alleges a broader campaign of retaliation after Salaam declined to assist the Smith family with crisis management following one of the most infamous moments in recent awards-show history: when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Academy Awards. That moment — broadcast live to millions worldwide — dominated headlines and led to Smith being banned from attending the Oscars ceremony for 10 years due to the altercation.
@gbnews Will Smith smacks Chris Rock at Oscars after joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith #oscars #willsmith #chrisrock #jadapinkettsmith #showbiz #gbnews ♬ original sound - GB News
Salaam’s filing alleges that he was asked to help manage the fallout from that Oscars incident but declined, noting that he refused to participate in anything he believed was “illegal, unethical, or morally compromising.” He says this refusal marked the beginning of what he describes as a retaliatory campaign against him, which escalated as he worked on a tell-all memoir about his time with the Smiths.
In addition to the alleged threats at the 2021 party, the lawsuit claims that Pinkett Smith and her representatives tried to “bribe, intimidate and suppress” Salaam, and that he suffered financial loss, reputational harm, emotional distress and health issues as a result. He is seeking $3 million in damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims.
Pinkett Smith has branded aspects of Salaam’s claims as “nonsense,” and has previously responded to some of his public allegations by dismissing them. At the time of those earlier comments, she also indicated that she and her legal team were planning to pursue action, though the latest complaint suggests the dispute has now moved fully into the courtroom phase.
