Will Smith’s Comeback Derailed By Sexual ‘Grooming’ Suit: ‘Absolutely Beside Himself’ (Exclusive)

Will Smith is up to his neck in litigation.

As the National Enquirer previously reported, the “Summertime” singer, 57, is being sued for wrongful termination and retaliation for reporting sexual harassment by Brian King Joseph, a violinist who worked on his 20205 tour Based on a True Story. In his complaint, the musician alleges that Smith “was deliberately grooming and priming” him “for further sexual exploitation.”

“Will is absolutely beside himself over this and even though the claims are baseless, it’s still been a nightmare to deal with,” a source tells the Enquirer. “It’s hours and hours with lawyers, endless phone calls, and that horrible feeling of seeing his name dragged through the mud all over again.”

The legal drama “couldn’t have come at a worse time” for Smith, adds the source.

In early September, Deadline reported the Oscar winner and his production company, Westbrook, signed a first-look, multi-picture deal with Paramount Pictures.

Smith, who faced major industry backlash after he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards, “was very hyped up on this being his time for a real comeback and now this happens,” the source tells the Enquirer. “It’s cast a big shadow over everything and he’s convinced it’s going to taint his name all over again.”

Smith’s legal issues are also adding more stress to his marriage to wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

“She is tired of the constant drama and a lot of people in her world are saying this could be the final straw,” the source says of the 54-year-old actress, who’s reportedly still together with Smith but has been living apart from him for years.  “Anything that hits Will hits her too and she’s sick of being collateral damage. There’s a real sense that this has pushed her closer to the edge than ever before.”