AceShowbiz - Bilaal Salaam has formally requested to depose Will Smith under oath as part of his ongoing $3 million lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith. Salaam is representing himself in the case, marking a significant move to involve Will Smith directly in the legal proceedings despite no formal subpoena being issued to him.

The lawsuit, filed in late 2025, alleges that Jada Pinkett Smith threatened Salaam during an incident in September 2021 at the Regency Calabasas Commons lobby. Salaam claims Jada warned him he could be harmed if he continued sharing personal information about her. He further alleges that after refusing to assist with crisis management related to Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars controversy, Jada launched a retaliatory campaign damaging his reputation, health, and finances. Jada's legal team has pushed back strongly, denying the allegations and filing an anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss the suit. They argue the accusations are baseless, intended to harass the Smith family, and point out that Will Smith has not been subpoenaed or named in the lawsuit. Meanwhile, a judge ordered Salaam to pay nearly $33,000 toward Jada’s legal expenses, citing his late and inadequate responses during discovery. Jada’s attorneys are also seeking recordings of alleged threatening calls and medical records supporting Salaam’s emotional distress claims.

In his filings, Salaam has expressed his intent to hold Will Smith accountable by securing his deposition, aiming to clarify the extent of Will’s involvement or knowledge of the alleged threats. This move comes as the parties prepare for a court appearance scheduled for August 19.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, married since 1997, have maintained a complex public relationship in recent years, living separately while remaining legally together. Their last joint public appearance was a lunch outing in Malibu, California, earlier this year.

This legal battle highlights the ongoing fallout from the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith, with Salaam’s lawsuit tying back to the aftermath and alleged efforts to manage the Smith family’s public image. The request to depose Will Smith underscores how the case could potentially expand beyond Jada Pinkett Smith, raising the stakes as courtroom proceedings unfold.