Will Smith could become part of Jada Pinkett Smith’s ongoing legal fight with his former friend, but only if the court process moves in that direction.
TMZ reported that Bilaal Salaam is trying to depose Smith as part of his lawsuit against Pinkett Smith. The outlet said Salaam sent a July 7 email to Pinkett Smith’s lawyer asking to question Smith under oath, but her legal team responded that Smith is not a party to the case and had not been subpoenaed.
According to TMZ, Salaam’s request was included in a filing tied to Pinkett Smith’s effort to compel him to turn over more evidence. Pinkett Smith’s team says Salaam has not produced medical records despite making emotional-distress claims in the lawsuit.
The Lawsuit Centers on Claims Jada Denies
Salaam sued Pinkett Smith for $3 million, claiming she threatened him after he allegedly refused to help manage public-relations fallout tied to Smith’s 2022 Oscars incident. He has also claimed the dispute involved a memoir he planned to write about the Smith family.
Pinkett Smith has denied wrongdoing. TMZ reported that she denied all allegations and that the judge dismissed some of Salaam’s claims while awarding her more than $30,000 in legal fees.
The remaining claims are still pending, and the case has moved into fights over discovery, deposition limits and what each side must turn over before trial.
People Previously Reported on Jada’s Push to Dismiss the Case
People reported earlier this year that Pinkett Smith asked a California court to dismiss Salaam’s lawsuit under the state’s anti-SLAPP statute. Her filing denied that she was verbally abusive and described Salaam’s claims as false and uncorroborated.
People also reported that Salaam’s lawsuit alleged threats and reputational harm, while Pinkett Smith’s side argued that the case was part of an effort to generate attention and harass her family.
Those claims remain legal allegations unless and until they are proven in court.
The Deposition Fight Is Also About Control
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A separate MyNewsLA report said Salaam has argued that he does not intend to make Pinkett Smith’s deposition testimony public. Pinkett Smith’s attorneys, meanwhile, have sought protective-order language around confidential discovery material.
MyNewsLA reported that Salaam agreed there should be a protective order, but wanted narrower language so he could discuss information he said was already public or outside the current case’s confidential discovery.