Jada Pinkett Smith Faces Renewed Deposition Push in Oscars Slap Lawsuit
Jada Pinkett Smith is facing a renewed legal effort to compel her testimony in a lawsuit filed by Bilaal Salaam, a man who alleges she threatened and intimidated him after he refused to assist with crisis management following the 2022 Oscars slap. According to court papers filed Tuesday, September 8, in Van Nuys Superior Court, Salaam—representing himself—asked Judge Eric Harmon to intervene, stating that he gave notice to Pinkett Smith’s attorneys two months ago but has yet to receive a deposition date.
“I cannot schedule the depositions of any intermediary witness in my discovery plan until defendant’s deposition is completed,” Salaam wrote. “The delay is causing me ongoing prejudice.” He claims he has exhausted good-faith efforts to resolve the scheduling conflict without court involvement.
Pinkett Smith’s legal team counters that the dispute is not merely about scheduling. In court filings, her attorneys argue that Salaam is seeking unwarranted revisions to the court’s standard deposition protective order. They say he objects to provisions that prevent him from disclosing confidential materials to law enforcement and wants the ability to reveal information he claims to have possessed before the current case. The judge has already rejected those proposed modifications, according to her team. While both sides agreed the protective order would not apply to a prior civil harassment proceeding, they remain at an impasse.
Salaam contends that Pinkett Smith’s attorneys have conditioned all deposition scheduling on resolving the protective order dispute. “That is not a lawful basis for indefinite non-appearance,” he wrote.
Background: Lawsuit Stemming from Oscars Slap Aftermath
The lawsuit, filed on November 7, 2025, was partially dismissed on April 13 after the judge granted Pinkett Smith’s anti-SLAPP motion in part. The remaining claims involve alleged threats, coercion, and intimidation through intermediaries. The case is rooted in the tumultuous aftermath of the 2022 Academy Awards, when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage, an incident that dominated headlines and sparked widespread debate.
Salaam’s suit is just one of several legal entanglements for the Smith family. In recent months, Jada Pinkett Smith has also publicly blasted a separate $3 million lawsuit alleging she threatened Will Smith’s former friend, and she has been involved in a public spat with Bill Maher over comments about her alopecia. The ongoing deposition fight highlights how the Oscars slap continues to generate legal ripples years later.
Meanwhile, Dodgers Catcher Will Smith Returns from Injury
In a completely separate news thread, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith has made a successful return from a nearly three-month stint on the injured list due to a neck injury. Initially expected to resolve in a few days, the injury turned into an annular tear that required multiple medical opinions. Smith was activated at the beginning of September and has already made an impact.
In the Dodgers’ 3-2 win against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, Smith hit a first-inning home run and guided left-hander Tarik Skubal through 7⅓ innings of two-run ball. “He called a great game,” Skubal said. “The targets that he sets up, the way he goes about it, he gives me a ton of confidence back there.”
Manager Dave Roberts praised Smith’s consistency and dependability. “Will is just very consistent, dependable,” Roberts said. “I know he’s taking really good at-bats. He hit some balls to the warning track. Last night, pinch-hit sac fly, and then tonight, got a hanging breaking ball with a good at-bat. Seven, eight pitches, got a breaking ball up, hits a homer, so that was really good to see.” Roberts added that Smith’s presence behind the plate and his at-bat quality are crucial for the Dodgers’ postseason outlook.
Smith’s return comes at a critical time. The Dodgers had been relying on a revolving door of catchers, including Dalton Rushing, who was injured right before the trade deadline. The team traded for Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt to fill the gap. Smith even planned to return this season regardless of whether his neck fully healed. “There was going to be a point at some point that I was going to be fed up and just kind of deal with it,” he said.
Perspective: The Many Faces of “Will Smith” in the News
The simultaneous headlines illustrate how the name “Will Smith” can refer to vastly different stories. On one hand, the legal saga involving Jada Pinkett Smith and the Oscars slap continues to unfold, with courtroom maneuvering and allegations of threats. On the other hand, the baseball Will Smith is making waves on the field, contributing to the Dodgers’ playoff push.
For the Smith family, the deposition fight is a reminder that the 2022 Oscars incident remains a legal and public relations battle. For the Dodgers, getting their starting catcher back could be the key to a deep postseason run. As the legal case proceeds in Van Nuys and the Dodgers chase a title, both stories will likely remain in the spotlight, albeit for entirely different reasons.
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