Jada Pinkett Smith Takes Legal Action To Block $3 Million Lawsuit From Will Smith’s Former Friend

Jada Pinkett Smith is taking decisive legal action to end a multi-million dollar dispute that has shadowed her family for months. On Monday, February 16, the actress and entrepreneur filed a formal motion in a California court to dismiss a $3 million lawsuit brought against her by Bilaal Salaam.

Pinkett Smith’s legal team argues that the complaint is entirely meritless and violates the state’s anti-SLAPP statute, a law designed to prevent strategic lawsuits aimed at silencing public participation or free speech. The legal battle stems from a series of highly publicized allegations made by Salaam, who claims he was a longtime friend of the Smith family.

In his initial filing from late 2025, Salaam alleged that Pinkett Smith confronted him at a hotel in September 2021 and issued a chilling threat, telling him he would end up missing or catch a bullet. Pinkett Smith has consistently denied these claims, recently describing the narrative as nonsense and insisting that the lawsuit is merely an attempt to generate public attention.

In the new court documents, Pinkett Smith’s attorneys contend that Salaam has engaged in a public campaign of harassment directed at her family. They point to Salaam’s previous media appearances where he claimed, without providing evidence, that he had witnessed Will Smith in an intimate encounter with another actor.

The motion asserts that Pinkett Smith’s public denials of these stories were constitutionally protected speech regarding matters of intense public interest. The situation grew even more complex when Salaam alleged that he was pressured by the Smiths’ inner circle to participate in crisis management after the 2022 Academy Awards.

He claimed he was asked to perform duties he found morally compromising and eventually became the target of a retaliatory campaign when he refused to comply. Pinkett Smith’s motion dismisses these claims as uncorroborated fabrications, suggesting that Salaam’s legal action is a reaction to her own threats of litigation following his viral interviews.

Despite the courtroom drama, the Smiths appear to be maintaining a united front as they navigate the early months of the year. Just days before filing the motion, Jada shared a glimpse of her Valentine’s Day surprise from Will, which included a room filled with dozens of life-sized, customized pillows featuring photos of their children and blended family.

This public display of affection follows their joint appearance at Paris Fashion Week in January, where they supported their son Jaden’s debut as a creative director for Christian Louboutin. Professionally, Pinkett Smith is keeping a busy schedule as she prepares for the long-awaited return of the “Flossy Posse.”

She is set to star in Girls Trip 2, which began production recently and will take the original cast—including Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish—to Accra, Ghana, for a new set of international misadventures. Additionally, her production company, Westbrook Inc., is currently developing several new unscripted series following the successful run of her memoir, Worthy.

Will Smith is also slated for a major release, with the high-concept sci-fi thriller Fast & Loose currently in post-production. The film stars Smith as a crime boss who wakes up with amnesia and must piece together his identity while being hunted by rival syndicates.

He is also rumored to be in final negotiations for an I Am Legend sequel alongside Michael B. Jordan. While their personal and legal lives remain a topic of global conversation, the couple seems focused on their individual careers and their shared commitment to their three children, Jaden, Willow, and Trey.

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