A new lawsuit is putting Jada Pinkett Smith at the center of serious allegations from a man who says he spent decades within Will Smith’s inner circle. Bilaal Salaam, who describes himself as a longtime associate and friend to Will, recently filed a complaint detailing several incidents he claims took place beginning in 2021. According to the filing obtained by PEOPLE, Salaam says the situation first escalated during a private birthday gathering for Will on September 25th, 2021, at the Regency Calabasas Commons.
In the complaint, Salaam states that Jada confronted him in the lobby while surrounded by members of her team. He alleges that she accused him of sharing private information and that the interaction quickly turned threatening. Salaam claims she told him he could “end up missing or catch a bullet” if he didn’t comply. He says the tension didn’t end there, asserting that the entourage followed him outside and continued issuing verbal threats as he made his way to his vehicle.
The lawsuit goes on to allege that Jada demanded he sign an NDA “or else,” and later publicly framed him as someone trying to extort her and Will. Salaam is suing for intentional infliction of emotional distress and is seeking $3 million in damages.
According to the filing, additional issues developed months later, in March 2022. Salaam says he was approached by a mutual contact asking him to assist with “crisis management” following the incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. Salaam claims he declined the request because he refused to participate in anything “illegal, unethical, or deceptive.” He alleges that this decision led to further pressure, including hostility from people connected to the couple.
The complaint also describes retaliation after Salaam began writing what he calls a “whistleblower memoir,” as well as backlash when a video interview he appeared in went viral. In the suit, he says Jada dismissed his statements as “ridiculous” and “nonsense,” and that instead of pursuing legal action as publicly stated in another outlet, she launched a “smear campaign.” Salaam claims that efforts to “bribe, intimidate, or silence” him caused financial loss, reputational damage, emotional distress, and personal upheaval.
Online reactions erupted once the lawsuit surfaced, and social media users debated his intentions and credibility. Some questioned why he chose to speak on private matters, while others simply reacted to the spectacle unfolding around the new claims.
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