Will Smith’s former pal is seeking the actor’s testimony against his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in a $3 million lawsuit filed in November 2025.
Bilaal Salaam, who alleged Jada confronted and threatened him at Will’s birthday party in September 2021, requested via an email on July 7 that a judge require the actor to participate in a deposition, according to legal documents obtained by Page Six.
Jada’s legal team responded, stating that “there is nothing to meet and confer about” because the “Men in Black” star “is not a party to this litigation” and has not formally been served a subpoena.
“To the extent you seek his deposition, you must comply with the applicable procedures for obtaining discovery from a nonparty,” the email stated.
Jada’s team has also claimed that Salaam, who is representing himself in the legal battle, hasn’t provided evidence to back up his allegations and requested that the latter be required to submit proof of medical records that he suffered emotional distress as a result of the alleged threat.
Additionally, the attorneys are asking for the alleged recorded communications Salaam is claiming to have with those who were involved when Jada allegedly threatened him.
While Salaam’s request to go to trial was denied, he and the “Girls Trip” star have a scheduled hearing for Aug. 19.
Reps for Jada, 54, and Will, 57, weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
Salaam, who labeled himself as Will’s “best friend for nearly 40 years,” alleged that Jada approached him with an entourage while at the Regency Calabasas Common on Sept. 25, 2021.
At the time, they were attending Will’s birthday party when Salaam claimed that Jada “became verbally aggressive, and threatened [him] by stating that if he continued ‘telling her personal business,’ he would ‘end up missing or catch a bullet,’ and demanded he sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) ‘or else,’” per the lawsuit.
According to the filing obtained by Page Six, Salaam alleged that the actress continued to threaten him as he walked to his car.
Salaam also alleged that he dealt with “a retaliatory campaign” after he didn’t help with crisis management after Will notoriously slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars for poking fun at Jada.
Jada addressed the allegations in February, slamming the claims as “false, uncorroborated, and made to generate attention as part of an ongoing public campaign of harassment directed at” herself and family.
The former “Red Table Talk” host also stated that Salaam had a “fixation” on her family and had not mentioned the latter’s name when the alleged incident occurred in 2021.
Additionally, she requested that Salaam cover her $49,000 in legal fees as the litigation continues.
