Hollywood is rocked by a shocking legal battle as Jada Pinkett Smith faces explosive accusations from a man claiming to be Will Smith's best friend of nearly four decades. Bilaal Salaam has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging the actress threatened his life and orchestrated a campaign that destroyed his health and career.
The Alleged Confrontation and Threats
According to the court documents, the dramatic incident occurred during Will Smith's 53rd birthday gathering in 2021 at a hotel in Calabasas. Salaam claims Jada Pinkett Smith confronted him with a group of seven people backing her. He alleges she directly warned him that he would "end up missing" or "catch a bullet" if he continued to discuss her personal life.
Salaam says Jada demanded he sign a non-disclosure agreement "or else," forcing him to flee the event. The situation intensified when, as reported by the Daily Mail, one of her associates allegedly followed him and issued more threats. This confrontation, he states, was just the beginning of his ordeal.
Severe Health and Personal Consequences
The lawsuit details devastating personal fallout from the alleged threats. Bilaal Salaam, who appeared in Will Smith's 2000 film The Legend of Bagger Vance, claims the incident shattered his peace and caused severe emotional trauma.
He directly links the stress to the onset of significant health issues, including high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, he alleges the trauma led to a staggering 100-pound weight gain. Fearing for his safety, Salaam says he went into self-exile for almost two years, a period during which he lost a long-term relationship and precious time with his children.
Escalation and a Smear Campaign
Salaam asserts the threats did not stop after the initial confrontation. He claims they continued even after the infamous 2022 Oscars slap incident. According to him, actor Duane Martin contacted him to assist with crisis management, but Salaam refused, not wanting to be part of a "cover-up." He says Martin then warned he would have "serious problems with Jada" for his non-cooperation, followed by three more threats from Will Smith's associates.
The situation reportedly escalated when news surfaced that Salaam was writing a memoir about his years with the Smith family. The lawsuit accuses Jada Pinkett Smith of launching a public smear campaign against him. He says she went on radio to falsely claim he attempted a "money shakedown" and suggested extortion, statements he says destroyed his luxury jewelry brand and its celebrity support.
He is also suing Jada for emotional distress over her public denial of ever seeing Will behave intimately with men—a denial he claims was meant to paint him as a liar. Salaam references a previous video he released showing Will Smith touching actor Alfonso Ribeiro inappropriately in front of Jada and their children.
The core of the long-standing conflict ties back to Salaam's claim that he once walked in on Will Smith and Duane Martin being intimate—an allegation the Smiths have never publicly addressed. Salaam says Jada's denials led to public ridicule and cost him a $500,000 book advance, as he became too emotionally overwhelmed to continue his memoir.
Bilaal Salaam, speaking after filing the suit, stated he is "seeking justice for the atrocities committed against me by Will and Jada," adding that he plans to file a separate case against Will Smith. Representatives for Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have not responded to requests for comment on these allegations.
