Will Smith's testimony requested by ex friend suing Jada Pinkett Smith

Key Points:

• Bilaal Salaam, who is suing Jada Pinkett Smith for $3 million alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, has requested that Will Smith testify in a deposition, according to a July 7 email revealed in recent court filings.
• Pinkett Smith's attorney responded that Will Smith is not a party to the litigation and that Salaam must follow proper procedures, such as issuing a subpoena, to obtain testimony from a nonparty; no subpoena has been served on Will Smith so far.
• Salaam's lawsuit accuses Pinkett Smith of threatening him at a 2021 private birthday party and alleges a retaliatory campaign against him after he refused to assist with crisis management following the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock.
• Pinkett Smith countersued under California's anti-SLAPP statute, resulting in the removal of allegations related to public media statements from Salaam's complaint and an order for him to reimburse her $32,836 in legal fees.
• Salaam continues to seek $3 million in damages, interest, legal costs, and a public retraction of statements he claims Pinkett Smith made about him; the judge denied his request for a trial and scheduled the next court date for August 19.