SerpApi.Org
A $3 million lawsuit involving Jada Pinkett Smith has taken a significant turn after Bilaal Salaam, a former family friend and longtime assistant, formally requested sworn testimony from Will Smith. Salaam, who is representing himself in the case, has asked that the Oscar-winning actor provide a deposition as part of the ongoing litigation. However, Jada Pinkett Smith's legal team argues that Will Smith is not a defendant in the lawsuit and has not been officially subpoenaed, making the request inappropriate under the current circumstances.
The legal dispute began in December 2025 and centers on allegations connected to an incident that Salaam claims occurred at a California hotel in September 2021. According to the complaint, Salaam alleges that Jada Pinkett Smith threatened him after he discussed aspects of her private life. The actress has firmly denied those accusations, maintaining that the claims are false and financially motivated while continuing to seek dismissal of the lawsuit.
Court filings indicate that the relationship between Salaam and the Smith family deteriorated further following the widely publicized incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Salaam alleges that tensions increased after he declined to assist with crisis management efforts and later expressed plans to publish a memoir about his decades-long association with the family. Those events are now part of the broader background surrounding the legal conflict.
Earlier this year, a California judge dismissed several of Salaam's claims under the state's anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to protect individuals from lawsuits that could restrict protected speech. As part of that ruling, Salaam was ordered to pay approximately $33,000 in legal fees to Jada Pinkett Smith. He has since asked the court to reduce or restructure that financial obligation, arguing that he lacks the resources to satisfy the full amount.
The legal challenges facing Salaam extend beyond his dispute with Jada Pinkett Smith. Sheree Zampino, Will Smith's former wife, has also filed a separate $1 million defamation lawsuit after comments Salaam allegedly made about her during a podcast appearance. That additional case has further complicated his legal situation while multiple proceedings continue to move through the courts.
As the litigation progresses, attorneys representing Jada Pinkett Smith are seeking evidence to support Salaam's allegations, including medical documentation related to emotional distress and records of the alleged threatening communications. With another court hearing expected in the coming weeks, the dispute remains active, while Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith continue presenting a united legal position against claims brought by someone who was once considered one of the family's closest confidants.
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