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Jada Pinkett Smith is pushing back hard against what she calls “baseless” and “attention-seeking” accusations lodged by one of Will Smith’s former close friends.
The actress and “Red Table Talk” host recently filed legal papers asking a judge to toss out a $3 million lawsuit brought by musician Bilaal Salaam.
In court documents, Jada argues that Salaam’s claims are “false and unsubstantiated,” alleging they are part of a broader effort to harass her and her family publicly. She further maintains that her prior comments about family matters are protected speech involving issues already in the public spotlight.
Salaam sued in November 2025, alleging that Jada confronted him during Will’s birthday celebration at the Regency Calabasas Common on Sept. 25, 2021. He claims she threatened him over discussions about her personal life, warning he could “end up missing” if he continued speaking out.
Jada, however, denies ever threatening Salaam and insists she never mentioned him by name during the time in question. Her legal team also characterizes his actions as stemming from an alleged “fixation” on the Smith family.
The lawsuit accuses the “Girls Trip” star of launching a retaliatory effort after Salaam allegedly declined to assist with crisis management following Will’s headline-making altercation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Salaam further claims he suffered reputational damage, emotional distress and financial setbacks as a result of her supposed conduct.
He additionally alleges that representatives acting on Jada’s behalf pressured him to abandon a planned memoir and “work something out” before matters escalated.
This isn’t the first time Salaam has made explosive allegations involving the Oscar winner. In 2023, he claimed he witnessed Will in a sexual encounter with actor Duane Martin, an assertion firmly denied by
he star’s representative as “completely fabricated.”
Now, with both sides digging in, the dispute appears headed for a courtroom showdown unless a judge agrees to dismiss the case.