Will Smith Sued by Bilaal Salaam Over Threats To Kill Memoir Author Before Oscars Slap Musician Bilaal Salaam alleges violent threats from Jada Pinkett Smith and verbal backing from Will Smith regarding his planned memoir, sparking a legal battle over emotional distress. Musician Bilaal Salaam has initiated legal proceedings against Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, alleging that the couple orchestrated a campaign of intimidation to silence his planned memoir about their family. The lawsuit, which was formally filed in November 2025, accuses the Hollywood stars of making violent threats against Salaam to prevent the publication of his personal history with them. Salaam is seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress based on these alleged actions. The legal complaint details specific confrontations that allegedly occurred between September 2021 and early 2022. One incident took place on or around September 25, 2021, at a private birthday celebration for Will Smith in Calabasas. Jada Pinkett Smith reportedly approached Salaam with several associates and pointed her finger close to his face, with her fingernail touching his skin during the exchange.According to the filing, Jada Pinkett Smith warned Salaam that he would face a bullet or suffer a beatdown if he continued discussing her private business. She allegedly demanded that he sign a non-disclosure agreement under the threat of further consequences before walking away from the confrontation. Salaam claims these actions constituted a genuine threat to his safety.The allegations escalate with a phone call that reportedly occurred on or about October 5, 2021. Salaam alleges that during this conversation with Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and their mutual friend Charlie Mack, Jada explicitly stated she would have him killed if he persisted in publishing a memoir or giving interviews about his time with the Smiths.Salaam claims he questioned Will Smith about whether he had heard his wife's statements. The actor allegedly responded by saying he heard what his wife said. Salaam interprets this response as verbal backing of the violent threat, citing Jada's substantial wealth, resources, and extensive network of associates as evidence that the threats were credible.The legal battle also connects these alleged threats to the public fallout from the March 27, 2022, incident at the Academy Awards. Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Salaam claims that actor Duane Martin, identified as an associate of the Smiths, contacted him the morning after the slap to recruit him for a public relations effort.Salaam alleges that Duane Martin informed him that he would face serious problems if he refused to cooperate with Jada Pinkett Smith's requests to help manage the narrative surrounding the controversial moment. The actor reportedly asked Salaam to participate in what he described as an all hands on deck damage control strategy.The musician stated in the filing that he refused to participate in what he believed was a deceptive campaign. This refusal led to what he describes as a retaliatory effort by the Smith family that intensified as news emerged of his plans to pen a memoir. The lawsuit references the broader context of the Smiths' public life and their enduring marriage since 1997.The filing notes Will Smith's subsequent resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It also mentions the issuance of a ten-year ban from the Oscars following his apology to the Academy. However, the legal complaint focuses primarily on the private interactions with Salaam rather than the public spectacle of the slap itself.Jada Pinkett Smith has denied the allegations made against her in the legal complaint. The musician, who had a one-time association with the Oscar-winning actor, is pursuing his claims based on the cumulative effect of the alleged threats and the pressure to sign nondisclosure agreements. The case will examine the validity of the alleged phone calls and in-person confrontations.