Jada Pinkett Smith Faces New Deposition Request in Ongoing Lawsuit
Jada Pinkett Smith is at the center of a new legal filing after Bilaal Salaam, who describes himself as a former friend of Will Smith, asked a judge to require the actress to sit for a deposition in their ongoing civil dispute.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Salaam has requested that the court order Jada to appear for questioning within 30 days. The filing marks the latest development in a lawsuit in which Salaam alleges that he was threatened after planning to publish a memoir discussing the Smith family. Jada has denied the allegations, and much of the lawsuit has already been dismissed by the court.
The judge has not yet ruled on the latest request.
Bilaal Salaam Seeks Court-Ordered Testimony
In the newly filed court documents, Salaam states that he scheduled a deposition for May 20, but alleges that Jada did not appear.
He is now asking the court to compel her testimony.
According to the filing, Salaam wants to question Jada about communications she allegedly had concerning him, as well as any communications he claims may have authorized threats against him.
These allegations are claims made by Salaam in the lawsuit. They have been denied by Jada and have not been established as fact in court.
The Allegations Behind the Lawsuit
According to Salaam’s court filing, he claims tensions arose after he declined to help Will Smith manage the fallout following the actor’s widely discussed confrontation with Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony.
Salaam further alleges that after Jada learned he intended to publish a memoir discussing the Smith family, third parties threatened him.
Jada has denied those allegations.
TMZ reports that she successfully persuaded the court to dismiss the majority of Salaam’s lawsuit, leaving only limited claims still before the court.
The current filing relates only to Salaam’s request for additional testimony in the remaining portions of the case.
Jada’s Legal Team Pushes Back
According to documents included with Salaam’s filing, Jada’s attorneys argue that another lengthy deposition is unnecessary.
Her legal team states that she previously participated in a deposition during a separate legal proceeding initiated by Salaam.
Because the current lawsuit reportedly overlaps with issues addressed during that earlier testimony, her attorneys contend that any additional questioning should be limited to one hour.
The court has not yet determined whether additional testimony will be required or, if so, how long any deposition may last.
What Happens Next?
The latest filing places the issue before the judge, who will decide whether Jada must appear for another deposition.
If the request is granted, the court could establish a deadline for her testimony and determine the scope of questioning allowed.
If the request is denied or modified, the litigation would proceed under whatever limitations the court sets.
At this stage, no ruling has been issued.
Why This Case Is Drawing Attention
Because the lawsuit involves Jada Pinkett Smith and references events following the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock, developments in the case have attracted significant public interest.
However, the latest filing concerns a procedural issue rather than a determination on the merits of the allegations.
Importantly, the court has not ruled in Salaam’s favor on the claims outlined in this filing, and Jada continues to deny the allegations against her.
Human Angle
Civil litigation often extends well beyond the filing of a lawsuit, with disputes over evidence, testimony, and discovery becoming central parts of the legal process.
In this case, the immediate question before the court is not whether Salaam’s allegations are true, but whether Jada Pinkett Smith should be required to provide additional sworn testimony.
For now, the next move rests with the judge, whose decision will determine whether Jada Pinkett Smith must sit for another deposition as the civil case continues.