Jada Pinkett Smith Files to Dismiss $3M Lawsuit Over Alleged Death Threats

Post By DJ Longers
February 17, 2026

Legal Table Talk: Jada Pinkett Smith Files to Dismiss $3M Lawsuit Over Alleged Death Threats

LOS ANGELES — The high-stakes legal battle between Jada Pinkett Smith and a former associate of her husband has reached a critical turning point. Attorneys for the actress and Red Table Talk host filed a motion in Los Angeles Superior Court today seeking the total dismissal of a $3 million lawsuit brought by Bilaal Salaam, a man who claims to have been a close friend of Will Smith for nearly 40 years.

In the filing, Pinkett Smith, 54, characterizes the lawsuit as "false, uncorroborated," and part of a "calculated public campaign of harassment" intended to exploit her family’s fame for financial gain.

The Alleged Birthday Confrontation

The legal saga stems from a civil complaint filed by Salaam in late 2025. In his original suit, Salaam (also known as Brother Bilaal) alleged that Pinkett Smith confronted him with a seven-person entourage during Will Smith’s 53rd birthday celebration at the Regency Calabasas Commons in September 2021.

Salaam claimed that the actress became "verbally aggressive" and issued a chilling ultimatum regarding his public comments about the Smith family’s private business. According to the complaint, Pinkett Smith allegedly warned Salaam that he would “end up missing or catch a bullet” if he continued to share personal information.

The Anti-SLAPP Defense

Pinkett Smith’s legal team is fighting back using California’s anti-SLAPP statute (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation). The motion argues that the lawsuit is a retaliatory attempt to silence Pinkett Smith's constitutionally protected right to free speech.

The defense contends that:

Fabricated Claims: Pinkett Smith denies the 2021 confrontation ever took place in the manner described and asserts she never mentioned Salaam by name.
Protected Speech: Any public statements she made regarding Salaam—specifically dismissing his previous "salacious" claims about Will Smith as "nonsense"—fall under protected commentary on matters of intense public interest.
The "Fixation" Argument: The motion accuses Salaam of having an "intrusive obsession" with the Smith family, noting that the lawsuit was only filed after Salaam’s attempts to "shake down" the couple for money were unsuccessful.

A History of Hostility

The tension between the parties escalated significantly in late 2023 when Salaam gave a controversial interview to YouTuber Tasha K, alleging he had witnessed Will Smith in a compromising situation with another actor years prior. At the time, Will Smith’s representatives called the story “unequivocally false,” and Jada Pinkett Smith hinted at impending legal action during an interview on The Breakfast Club.

Salaam’s $3 million suit alleges that following those events, he was targeted by a "retaliatory campaign" that caused him severe emotional distress, financial loss, and physical health issues, including the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

The Road Ahead

If the court grants the motion to dismiss under the anti-SLAPP statute, Salaam could be ordered to pay Pinkett Smith’s legal fees, effectively ending the litigation before it reaches the discovery phase. If the motion is denied, the case could move toward a high-profile civil trial involving depositions from some of Hollywood's biggest names.

A hearing to determine the fate of the lawsuit is expected to be scheduled for later this spring.