The legal battle between Jada Pinkett Smith and her former longtime friend and assistant, Bilaal Salaam, has taken another dramatic turn after Salaam requested to question Will Smith under oath as part of his ongoing $3 million lawsuit against the actress.
According to recently filed court documents, Salaam, who is representing himself, emailed Jada’s legal team seeking Will Smith’s sworn testimony. Her attorneys quickly rejected the request, stating there was “nothing to meet and confer about” because Will is not a defendant in the lawsuit and has not been formally served with a subpoena.
Although Will is central to many of Salaam’s allegations, he is not named as a party in the case. That distinction is at the heart of Jada’s legal team’s argument that there is currently no legal basis requiring the Oscar winner to testify.
Why does Bilaal Salaam want Will Smith to testify?
Salaam filed his lawsuit against Jada in December 2025, alleging she threatened him during a confrontation at a California hotel in September 2021. According to the complaint, he claims Jada warned he would “end up missing or catch a bullet” if he continued discussing her personal life publicly. Jada has denied those allegations.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupSalaam also alleges the relationship deteriorated further after he declined to assist with what he described as “crisis management” efforts following Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars altercation with Chris Rock. He claims tensions escalated again after the Smith family learned he was writing a memoir about his decades-long relationship with them.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have denied Salaam’s allegations, previously describing his claims as false and characterizing them as an attempt to profit from sensational accusations.
© Unwine with Tasha K/YouTubeJada’s legal team is pushing back:
Beyond opposing Salaam’s attempt to depose Will Smith, Jada’s attorneys are also asking the court to require him to produce evidence supporting his remaining claims.
© GettyAccording to the latest filings, her legal team is seeking any recordings Salaam says document alleged threats made on Jada’s behalf, as well as medical records supporting his emotional distress claims. They argue he has not produced sufficient evidence to justify the millions of dollars in damages he is seeking.
The actress’s lawyers are also resisting Salaam’s request for another deposition, arguing she has already answered extensive questions in related proceedings. If the court orders another deposition, they contend it should be limited to one hour.
A friendship that ended in multiple lawsuits:
Before their public fallout, Salaam says he spent roughly 40 years as one of Will Smith’s closest friends, confidants, and assistants.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupThe friendship became public news in late 2023 after Salaam appeared on Tasha K’s Unwine podcast and made a series of controversial allegations about Will Smith while promoting a planned memoir. Will Smith publicly denied those claims, and both he and Jada dismissed the allegations as false.
The legal dispute has since expanded beyond Jada’s lawsuit. Will Smith’s ex-wife, Sheree Zampino, has also filed a separate $1 million defamation lawsuit against Salaam over comments he allegedly made about her during media appearances.
© Getty ImagesWhat happens next?
Earlier this year, a California judge dismissed much of Salaam’s lawsuit under the state’s anti-SLAPP law, finding that several of the challenged statements constituted protected speech. The ruling also required Salaam to pay Jada Pinkett Smith $32,836 in attorney fees, though he has since asked the court to reduce or restructure the payment, saying he cannot afford the judgment.
Another court hearing is expected later in August, when the judge is scheduled to consider several outstanding discovery disputes, including Jada’s motions to compel evidence and the ongoing disagreements over depositions as the narrowed lawsuit moves forward.
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