Will Smith could be compelled to provide sworn testimony in the ongoing $3 million legal battle between his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her former friend Bilaal Salaam. While Salaam has formally requested a deposition from the actor, Pinkett Smith’s legal team is resisting the move, citing that Smith is not a party to the lawsuit.
The Push for Will Smith’s Testimony
The legal conflict surrounding Jada Pinkett Smith and Bilaal Salaam, also known as Brother Bilaal, has expanded to include the potential involvement of Will Smith. According to TMZ, Salaam initiated the move on July 7 by emailing Pinkett Smith’s legal counsel with a request to depose the actor. Salaam, who is representing himself in the litigation, reportedly sought to dedicate a portion of a scheduled call with the actress’s attorneys to address the deposition request.
Pinkett Smith’s legal team, led by attorney Courtney L. Puritsky, rejected the proposal immediately. In correspondence included in a July 15 motion, Puritsky wrote, As for your proposed deposition of Will Smith, there is nothing to meet and confer about.
As USA TODAY reported, the defense maintains that Smith is not a party to the litigation and that no formal subpoena has been served to compel his appearance.
Origins of the $3 Million Lawsuit
The underlying legal battle began in December 2025 when Salaam filed a $3 million complaint against Pinkett Smith. He alleges that in September 2021, the actress confronted him in the lobby of the Regency Calabasas Commons and threatened him. According to AOL, Salaam claims that during a private birthday gathering for Smith that same year, Pinkett Smith and members of her entourage warned him he would end up missing or catch a bullet
if he continued to discuss her personal business.
Pinkett Smith has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. The case has seen several procedural developments over the past year. In April, a judge granted a partial anti-SLAPP motion, striking allegations related to public media statements from the complaint.
Discovery Disputes and Evidence Demands
Beyond the deposition dispute, Pinkett Smith’s legal team is actively seeking to compel Salaam to produce specific evidence. In their July 15 motion, they requested that Salaam provide recorded communications related to the alleged threats and medical records to substantiate his claims of emotional distress.
Salaam has responded by challenging the breadth of a proposed protective order regarding the actress’s own upcoming deposition. He seeks to limit the scope of the protective order to ensure it does not restrict information already in the public record.
The Expanding Conflict Involving Sheree Zampino
The legal landscape surrounding Salaam has grown more complex following a separate lawsuit filed in May by Sheree Zampino, Will Smith’s ex-wife. Zampino is seeking $1 million in damages, accusing Salaam of slander and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Her filing references comments Salaam allegedly made on a YouTube series, where he characterized her in derogatory terms. This secondary suit adds significant pressure to the ongoing proceedings, as all parties involved remain entangled in a web of public and private grievances.
Next Steps: The August 19 Hearing
As the case progresses, the immediate focus remains on the discovery disputes and the question of whether Will Smith will be formally subpoenaed.
