Bilaal Salaam Files New Claims Against Jada Pinkett Smith
Court documents allege a 2021 phone call included threats, while Pinkett Smith seeks an independent mental examination of Salaam.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Celebrities
Bilaal Salaam filed new court documents alleging Jada Pinkett Smith threatened him during a 2021 phone call, as part of a suit seeking $3 million in damages. Pinkett Smith denies all of Salaam's accusations and has asked a judge to order an independent mental examination of him.
Why it matters
The filings center on claims of threats and emotional distress tied to Salaam's plan to publish a book about the Smith family, placing his mental health at issue in the case. A ruling on the requested examination could shape how the lawsuit proceeds.
Salaam seeks $3 million in damages, and the court has ordered him to pay Pinkett Smith's legal fees totaling $32,836. Pinkett Smith's filing proposes about six hours of mental testing with no physical exam, and the lawsuit remains unresolved.
The players
Bilaal Salaam
Bilaal Salaam is the plaintiff who brought the lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith and alleges emotional distress tied to his planned book about the Smith family.
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith is the actress and television host who denies Salaam's accusations and has asked the court for an independent mental examination of him.
Will Smith
Will Smith is the actor named in Salaam's allegations about the 2021 phone call, and he and Pinkett Smith have never divorced.
The details
Salaam alleges that Pinkett Smith said she would have him killed if he published the memoir, and that Will Smith responded by pointing back to her words during an October 5, 2021 phone call. Pinkett Smith's filing argues that Salaam's emotional distress claims put his mental health at issue, which is why she is requesting the examination.
Timeline
October 5, 2021: Alleged phone call in which the threats were made.
Earlier this year: Court ordered Salaam to pay Pinkett Smith's legal fees.
July: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith reportedly moved back in together.
November 4, 2026: New court filings alleging threats were published.
Industry Dynamics
Lawsuits in which a defendant asks the court to examine a plaintiff's mental health are a recurring tactic in high-profile celebrity disputes, where emotional distress claims are used to seek damages. This filing places Salaam's distress claims at the center of a case that could test how far such examinations are allowed to go.
The filings are not yet resolved, so no changes to how readers can access related content are confirmed. Readers can follow the case through court records as the judge considers the request for an independent examination.
The takeaway
Lawsuits over threats and emotional distress can turn on a plaintiff's mental health, so the court's ruling on the requested examination may matter as much as the damages sought. Readers following celebrity disputes should look for the judge's decision rather than early accusations.
Further reading
For more on the personalities involved, see our Celebrities coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rolling Out.
