Jada Pinkett Smith Faces $3M Lawsuit for Allegedly Threatening Will Smith’s Friend That He Will ‘Catch a Bullet’ or ‘Go Missing’ Over Secrets

Jada Pinkett Smith is facing a $3 million lawsuit from a former associate who claims she threatened him over personal matters.

The lawsuit was filed by Bilaal Salaam, also known as Brother Bilaal, who says he was a close friend of Will Smith for nearly 40 years and worked with him on several professional and personal projects. Salaam’s name even appears in Smith’s memoir, Will.

According to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Salaam alleges that on September 25, 2021, Pinkett Smith confronted him in the lobby of the Regency Calabasas Commons during a private birthday celebration for Will Smith.

The suit claims Pinkett Smith arrived with around seven people from her entourage. Salaam says she became verbally aggressive and told him that if he continued “telling her personal business,” he would “‘end up missing or catch a bullet.’” The complaint also states that she demanded he sign a nondisclosure agreement, warning him of unspecified consequences if he refused. Salaam claims that after the confrontation, Pinkett Smith and her team followed him to his car while continuing to issue threats.

Six months later, Salaam says he was approached to help with “crisis management” after the Academy Awards incident in which Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock over a joke about Jada’s alopecia. Salaam claims he refused, saying it would have been illegal, unethical, or morally wrong.

According to the lawsuit, after he declined, he began receiving threats from the Smiths’ circle and became the target of a “retaliatory campaign.” The campaign reportedly escalated when Salaam revealed he was writing a “whistleblower memoir” and after a viral interview he gave.

The lawsuit also mentions a 2023 interview with Unwine With Tasha K, in which Salaam claimed he witnessed Will Smith engaging in a s**** act with actor Duane Martin. Salaam alleges that Pinkett Smith and her team responded to these allegations with a “smear campaign” through nationally broadcast interviews instead of addressing any legal concerns directly.

When asked about the claims, Pinkett Smith dismissed them on The Breakfast Club, saying, “Let me just say this. It’s ridiculous, right? And it’s nonsense.”

In his complaint, Salaam accuses Pinkett Smith of intentionally harming his reputation and public image. He also disputes her statement to TMZ that the couple would pursue legal action, writing, “Defendant never filed a lawsuit. The statement was false, reckless, and made with malicious intent to manipulate public opinion and damage Plaintiff’s character.”

Salaam says Pinkett Smith’s alleged actions, including attempts to intimidate and suppress him, have caused financial loss, emotional distress, reputational damage, physical health issues, and a disruption of his personal and professional life. He is seeking $3 million in damages.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!