Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Remain a Strong Team despite $3M Lawsuit: 'They Maintain Deep Respect' (Exclusive Source)

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Stay United Amid $3M Lawsuit: 'They Share Mutual Respect' (Exclusive)

Will Smith's former friend, Bilaal Salaam, has filed a $3 million lawsuit against Jada Pinkett Smith, alleging that she threatened him in a hotel lobby in 2021. The suit, which was filed on December 1, claims that Pinkett Smith told Salaam that if he continued "spilling her personal details," he would "either disappear or face a bullet."

Despite the lawsuit, a trusted source tells PEOPLE that the couple remains a "committed team." The source states that Will and Jada Pinkett Smith share a strong bond, balancing both time together and apart, while maintaining deep respect for one another. The pair, aged 57 and 54 respectively, are involved in separate projects, but continue to work closely as a team after many years together.

The insider adds that the couple's connection is not just personal but also professional, noting that both are engaged in various entertainment ventures and business endeavors. The two have a healthy relationship, with both working on their individual careers but supporting each other in every way.

The lawsuit stems from an alleged incident that occurred on September 25, 2021, when Salaam claimed that Pinkett Smith and a group of her associates confronted him at the Regency Calabasas Commons, where Will Smith was celebrating his birthday. Salaam alleges that Pinkett Smith threatened him and insisted that he sign a non-disclosure agreement, while continuing to issue threats as he left the venue.

Furthermore, Salaam accuses the couple of launching a "retaliatory campaign" against him after he made viral allegations about Smith's involvement with actor Duane Martin in 2023. Salaam had spoken about the alleged encounter on the Unwine With Tasha K podcast, which Pinkett Smith later dismissed as "nonsense" during an interview on The Breakfast Club.

A source close to the couple claims that they view Salaam's lawsuit as a tactic to gain money and publicity, describing him as someone looking to exploit their name for personal gain.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, who tied the knot in 1997, have openly shared that they have been living separate lives for the past seven years. They have two children, Jaden, 27, and Willow, 25, while Smith also has a son, Trey, 33, from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino.

Author: Grace Ellison