Will Smith’s Ex-Friend Seeks Actor’s Testimony in Lawsuit Against Jada Pinkett Smith

Bilaal Salaam has been embroiled in a legal back-and-forth with the Smith family since he filed a $3 million complaint against Jada

Will Smith‘s former friend Bilaal Salaam seeks to depose the actor-musician amid his lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith.

The legal saga between Jada and Salaam (also known as Brother Bilaal) initially began in December 2025 when he filed a $3 million complaint, alleging that the Girls Trip star confronted him in the lobby of the Regency Calabasas Commons in September 2021 and threatened him. 

Jada, 54, later denied all wrongdoing and filed an anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) Act motion seeking dismissal of portions of Salaam’s lawsuit. In May she scored a win in securing a court order requiring Salaam, 56, to pay almost $33,000 in attorney fees and legal costs. 

Now, Will, 57, could be drawn into the legal back-and-forth. An email sent on July 7 included in new court documents shows Salaam — who is representing himself in the case — requesting Will provide testimony in a deposition. 

Jada’s team responded via email by claiming that “there is nothing to meet and confer about,” as the King Richard Oscar winner “is not a party to this litigation.” They also stated that Will has not been served a subpoena demanding his testimony.

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In other recently filed court documents, Jada’s lawyers called out Salaam’s “untimely responses” and alleged that he has not provided sufficient evidence, prompting a motion to compel. 

The actress’ team demanded, within 10 days, both Salaam’s recorded communications with those he claimed were involved in threatening him and medical records pertaining to the emotional distress he claimed to have suffered. “The recordings concern the very telephone calls on which [Salaam] bases his claims, and the medical records concern the injuries for which [Salaam] seeks at least $3 million in damages,” they wrote. 

Salaam’s case against Jada became further complicated in May when Sheree Zampino, the television personality and Will’s ex-wife, sued Salaam for $1 million in damages, alleging slander and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In her lawsuit, Zampino, 58, cited one of Salaam’s appearances on the YouTube series Unwine with Tasha K, during which he allegedly called her “promiscuous and sexually indiscriminate.”

The next hearing for Jada and Salaam’s case will take place on Aug. 19. The court denied Salaam’s request for a trial.

Via: People