Jada Pinkett Smith has scored a legal victory in her ongoing courtroom battle against Bilaal Salaam, the man who claims he was once a close friend of Will Smith. According to newly obtained court documents, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge awarded Jada more than $32,000 in attorney’s fees after partially dismissing several claims brought against her. Jada originally requested nearly $49,000 in legal fees, but the judge ultimately approved a reduced amount totaling $32,836.
The lawsuit stems from allegations made by Bilaal Salaam, who claimed he suffered emotional distress due to alleged threats from Jada and people associated with her.
Salaam previously alleged that he had been friends with Will Smith for decades and was contacted by the Smith camp following the infamous 2022 Oscars incident where Will slapped Chris Rock onstage during the Academy Awards ceremony.
According to Salaam, he was allegedly asked to assist with damage control efforts after the controversy exploded worldwide.
However, he claims tensions escalated after he declined involvement and began working on a memoir that would reportedly discuss his experiences with the Smith family.
Salaam alleged that threats were made against him after the family became aware of the planned book.
Jada denied all allegations of wrongdoing and argued that Salaam failed to prove he suffered legitimate damages. Her legal team then requested attorney fees after successfully convincing the judge to dismiss portions of his case.
The latest ruling marks another chapter in the highly publicized fallout surrounding the Smith family in the years following the Oscars controversy.
While neither Will nor Jada has publicly commented in detail about the latest court development, the legal battle has continued to attract attention online due to Salaam’s repeated claims about his relationship with the couple and his plans for a tell-all memoir.
The court’s decision to award attorney fees suggests the judge sided, at least in part, with Jada’s legal arguments surrounding the dismissed claims.
The case itself, however, still remains closely watched due to its connections to one of Hollywood’s most talked-about celebrity families.