Jada Pinkett Smith is facing a $3 million lawsuit from Bilaal Salaam — also known as Brother Bilaal — who claims the actress threatened, intimidated, and attempted to silence him after he shared private details about the Smith family.
According to court filings obtained by People, Salaam alleges that a heated confrontation unfolded on 25 September 2021 inside the lobby of the Regency Calabasas Commons. He claims Pinkett Smith approached him with members of her entourage, becoming verbally aggressive and warning him to stop “telling her personal business.” The complaint states she allegedly threatened that he would “end up missing or catch a bullet” if he continued speaking publicly.
Salaam further alleges that Pinkett Smith demanded he sign a nondisclosure agreement “or else.”
The suit also ties into the fallout from the 2022 Oscars, when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage, triggering a global media storm. Salaam claims that in the aftermath, he was asked through a mutual contact to assist the Smith family with crisis management. When he refused, citing moral objections, he says he became the target of threats and intimidation from individuals aligned with the family.
“Plaintiff refused to perform tasks he believed were illegal, unethical, or morally compromising,” the lawsuit states, adding that he would not participate in what he describes as a “deceptive PR campaign.”
As tensions escalated, Salaam alleges a “retaliatory campaign” was launched against him. He also claims that the harassment intensified after the Smiths learned he was writing a tell-all memoir about his years working with and befriending the family.
In 2023, Salaam appeared on the YouTube show “Unwine Tasha K,” where he claimed he once walked in on the Smiths engaging in sexual acts with a well-known celebrity. Pinkett Smith publicly dismissed the allegation during an interview on “The Breakfast Club,” calling it “ridiculous” and “nonsense.”
Salaam argues the alleged threats and backlash caused him emotional distress and damaged his professional reputation, resulting in lost business opportunities. He is seeking $3 million in damages.
Representatives for the Smith family have not issued any public comment on the lawsuit.
