Jada Pinkett Smith Faces $3M Lawsuit Over Alleged Threats to Will Smith’s Best Friend

Bilaal Salaam, a longtime friend of Will Smith, filed a major lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith. The legal action was filed in November 2025. Salaam is seeking three million dollars in damages. The case centers on alleged threats and a campaign to discredit him.

The allegations stem from a series of public statements Salaam made about the Smiths’ private life. According to court documents, the conflict escalated after Salaam refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The lawsuit adds a new legal front to the ongoing public scrutiny of the famous family.

Alleged Confrontation at Will Smith’s Birthday Party

The lawsuit describes a tense incident at Will Smith’s birthday in September 2021. According to Salaam, Jada Pinkett Smith confronted him at the event. He claims she was accompanied by an entourage and became verbally aggressive.

Salaam alleges Jada threatened him with physical harm. The legal filing states she told him he could “end up missing or catch a bullet.” This was reportedly in response to him discussing her personal business publicly. She then demanded he sign an NDA “or else,” the lawsuit claims.

Background: Public Allegations and Swift Denials

This legal fight has its roots in late 2023. Salaam gave an interview where he made explosive claims about Will Smith’s private life. The interview was widely reported by outlets like TMZ and Page Six.

Will Smith’s representatives immediately denied the allegations. They called the claims “completely fabricated” and “unequivocally false.” Jada Pinkett Smith also dismissed Salaam’s statements. During a promotional interview, she labeled them a “money shakedown.”

She promised to pursue legal action against what she called malicious stories. According to People magazine, she described the entire situation as “ridiculous.”

The Lawsuit’s Core Claims and Damages

Salaam’s lawsuit goes beyond the birthday party allegation. It accuses Jada of intentional infliction of emotional distress. He claims her public denials were part of a plan to destroy his reputation.

The suit argues this campaign caused him significant financial loss and health issues. It also mentions an alleged threat from Jada’s manager. According to the Daily Mail, the manager warned Salaam to end the feud “before you get physically hurt.”

Salaam connects the dispute to the fallout from the 2022 Oscars incident. He claims he refused to help manage the controversy after Will Smith struck Chris Rock. He says this refusal triggered the retaliatory actions from the Smith camp.

Info at your fingertips

Who is Bilaal Salaam?

Bilaal Salaam is a music producer and longtime friend of Will Smith. He has known the actor for nearly four decades. He became a public figure after making allegations about Smith’s private life in 2023.

What does the lawsuit specifically allege?

The lawsuit alleges Jada Pinkett Smith threatened Salaam at a 2021 birthday party. It claims she demanded he sign an NDA and then led a campaign to discredit him publicly. This caused him emotional and financial harm, according to the filing.

How has Jada Pinkett Smith responded?

Jada Pinkett Smith has previously called Salaam’s claims nonsense. Her representatives have indicated they view the lawsuit as another attempt at a money grab. A new formal response to this specific filing is anticipated.

What is the connection to the Oscars slap?

Salaam claims the friction increased after he refused to help manage public relations following the 2022 Oscars incident. He states that his unwillingness to participate in certain strategies led to the alleged retaliation.

Are Will Smith’s previous denials related to this?

Yes. Will Smith’s team has already denied the underlying claims Salaam made in 2023. This lawsuit is a separate action against Jada Pinkett Smith, focusing on her alleged conduct following those public denials.

What happens next in this case?

The case will proceed through the California court system. Jada Pinkett Smith’s legal team must file a formal response to the complaint. The process could take months or even years to reach a conclusion or settlement.