Will Smith may soon find himself drawn into a contentious legal battle between his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and a former friend who claims she orchestrated threats against him.
Bilaal Salaam, who is suing Jada Pinkett Smith for $3 million, is now seeking to depose Will Smith as part of the ongoing litigation, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.com. The move represents an escalation in a case that has already resulted in partial dismissal of claims and significant legal fees.
On July 7, Bilaal Salaam sent an email to Jada Pinkett Smith's legal team requesting permission to depose Will Smith. The response from her attorneys was swift and unequivocal, stating there was nothing to discuss regarding the proposed deposition, TMZ.com reported. Her legal team emphasized that Will Smith is not a party to the litigation and has not been served with a subpoena compelling his testimony.
The email exchange was included as an attachment to a motion filed by Jada Pinkett Smith seeking to compel Bilaal Salaam to produce additional evidence. In that filing, she argued that he has failed to provide medical records despite claiming emotional distress as part of his lawsuit.
The underlying lawsuit centers on allegations that Jada Pinkett Smith had associates threaten Bilaal Salaam after he declined to assist with managing public relations fallout from Will Smith's infamous Oscars slap. Bilaal Salaam also claims the threats intensified after Jada Pinkett Smith learned he was writing a memoir that included references to the Smith family.
Jada Pinkett Smith has categorically denied all allegations of wrongdoing and has disputed claims that she threatened Bilaal Salaam. The case has already seen significant judicial action, with a judge dismissing several of Bilaal Salaam's claims and ordering him to pay Jada Pinkett Smith more than $30,000 in legal fees. However, the remaining portions of the lawsuit continue to proceed through the court system.
The attempt to depose Will Smith suggests Bilaal Salaam believes the actor possesses relevant information about the alleged threats or the circumstances surrounding the dispute. Whether a judge will ultimately compel Will Smith to provide testimony remains uncertain, particularly given his status as a non-party to the litigation.
The legal maneuvering underscores the continuing reverberations from the Oscars incident, which has now spawned litigation extending beyond the immediate participants. As the case progresses, the question of whether Will Smith will be forced to testify about his knowledge of events may become a pivotal issue in determining the outcome of the dispute.