A longtime associate of Will Smith has filed a $3 million lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith, alleging she threatened his life, attempted to silence him and later spearheaded a smear campaign when he refused to help manage the fallout from the infamous Oscars slap.
Bilaal Salaam — also known as Brother Bilaal — describes himself as a close friend of Will Smith “for nearly 40 years,” a relationship he says is reflected in the actor’s own memoir.
But according to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE, that decades-long friendship unraveled after a confrontation with Pinkett Smith in 2021.
A Confrontation That Spiraled Into a Legal Battle
Salaam claims Pinkett Smith confronted him on Sept. 25, 2021, in the lobby of the Regency Calabasas Commons during a private birthday event for Will Smith. According to the suit, she arrived with seven members of her entourage before unleashing a barrage of threats.
The complaint alleges Pinkett Smith demanded Salaam stop sharing her “personal business” and warned that if he didn’t comply, he would “end up missing or catch a bullet.” He also says she insisted he sign an NDA “or else.”
Salaam claims Pinkett Smith’s team followed him to his car while continuing to issue verbal threats.
Refusing to “Clean Up” the Oscars Slap
Six months later — in the days following Will Smith’s slap of comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards — Salaam says he was asked to help with damage control. He refused, insisting that he wouldn’t be part of any “illegal, unethical, or morally compromising” effort to rehabilitate the Smiths’ public image.
That refusal, he alleges, sparked retaliation.
Salaam claims he began receiving threats and became the target of a coordinated campaign intended to discredit him — a campaign he says intensified once it was discovered he was writing a “whistleblower memoir” detailing his years around the couple.
Escalating Claims and Public Pushback
In 2023, Salaam sat for an interview with internet personality Tasha K, where he alleged he once walked in on Will Smith engaging in a sexual act with actor Duane Martin. The claim circulated rapidly across social media — and Pinkett Smith dismissed it outright in an interview with The Breakfast Club.
“It’s ridiculous… It’s nonsense,” she said, laughing off the allegation.
Salaam argues that rather than disputing him through legal channels, Pinkett Smith opted to “maliciously” defame him in national interviews. He also points to a statement she made to TMZ declaring that she and Will Smith would pursue legal action — a lawsuit, he says, was never filed.
He claims the public framing of him as a liar and extortionist was deliberate, reckless and intended to destroy his reputation.
The Damages
According to the complaint, Salaam says he suffered:
- significant financial losses
- emotional distress
- reputational harm
- physical health issues
- “the complete derailment” of his personal and professional life
He is seeking $3 million in damages for emotional distress and reputational harm.
Representatives for Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, and Duane Martin have not yet commented.
