Will Smith Dragged Into $3 Million Legal Battle as Ex-Friend Seeks Testimony Against Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith has been pulled into an ongoing legal dispute involving his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, after the actor’s former longtime friend, Bilaal Salaam, asked the court to require Smith to testify in a $3 million lawsuit.

The latest development adds another twist to a case that has continued to attract attention since Salaam first filed the lawsuit in late 2025.

Bilaal Salaam Wants Will Smith to Give a Deposition

According to court documents, Bilaal Salaam submitted an email request on July 7 asking a judge to compel Will Smith to sit for a deposition in connection with the lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith.

Salaam claims that Will’s testimony could be relevant to the case, which centers on allegations that Jada threatened him during an event in September 2021.

However, Jada’s legal team pushed back immediately, arguing that Will Smith is not officially involved in the lawsuit.

The attorneys stated that because Smith is not a party to the litigation and has not been formally served with a subpoena, Salaam must follow the proper legal procedures if he wants to obtain testimony from a non-party witness.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s Lawyers Challenge the Claims

Beyond opposing the deposition request, Jada Pinkett Smith’s attorneys are also challenging the foundation of Salaam’s lawsuit.

They argue that Salaam has failed to provide evidence supporting his allegations and are asking the court to require him to submit:

• Medical records supporting his emotional distress claims.
• Any recorded communications he says exist involving people present during the alleged incident.
• Additional evidence backing the accusations made in his lawsuit.

The legal team maintains that Salaam has not produced sufficient proof to support his claims.

Court Hearing Scheduled After Trial Request Denied

While Salaam reportedly requested that the case proceed directly to trial, that request was denied.

Instead, both parties are expected to appear at a court hearing scheduled for August 19, where the legal dispute will continue.

Representatives for both Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have not publicly commented on the latest court filings.

Lawsuit Centers on Alleged 2021 Birthday Party Confrontation

The lawsuit stems from an incident Salaam claims occurred on September 25, 2021, during Will Smith’s birthday celebration at the Regency Calabasas Commons.

Salaam, who has described himself as Will Smith’s close friend for nearly four decades, alleges that Jada Pinkett Smith approached him with several people accompanying her before becoming verbally aggressive.

According to the lawsuit, Salaam claims Jada accused him of discussing her personal affairs and allegedly threatened him while demanding that he sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

He further alleges that the confrontation continued as he walked toward his vehicle after the party.

Salaam Says He Faced Retaliation After the Oscars Incident

Salaam also claims he later experienced what he describes as a retaliatory campaign after refusing to participate in crisis management efforts following Will Smith’s infamous altercation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.

According to the lawsuit, Salaam believes his relationship with the Smith family deteriorated significantly after that period.

Jada Pinkett Smith Strongly Denies Every Allegation

Earlier this year, Jada Pinkett Smith firmly denied all accusations contained in the lawsuit.

Her legal filings describe Salaam’s allegations as false, unverified, and part of what they characterize as an ongoing campaign intended to harass her and her family.

The actress also argued that Salaam has displayed what her legal team described as an unusual fixation on the Smith family and noted that he did not publicly mention her name when discussing the alleged incident shortly after it supposedly occurred.

In addition to seeking dismissal of the claims, Jada has also requested that Salaam cover approximately $49,000 in legal fees as the case moves forward.

Timeline of the Legal Dispute

The lawsuit remains ongoing, with the court yet to determine whether Will Smith will be required to testify. For now, the dispute continues to center on whether Salaam can substantiate his allegations and whether the court will allow additional testimony as the case progresses.