Jada Pinkett Smith Asks Court to Order Psychological Evaluation of Will Smith’s Ex-Best Friend

Jada Pinkett Smith has asked a California court to order Bilaal Salaam, Will Smith’s former close friend, to undergo a psychiatric evaluation as part of an ongoing legal dispute over allegations of threats, intimidation and emotional distress.

Pinkett Smith’s legal team argues that the examination is necessary because Salaam has claimed that he suffered significant psychological and physical harm as a result of her alleged conduct. The request seeks an independent assessment of the emotional distress he says he experienced.

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Salaam, who has described himself as one of Will Smith’s closest friends for nearly 40 years, filed a lawsuit seeking $3 million in damages. He alleges that Pinkett Smith threatened and intimidated him after he refused to help manage the fallout from the 2022 Oscars incident, during which Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock. Salaam has also claimed that tensions arose over his plans to write a memoir discussing private matters involving the Smith family. These allegations have not been established as facts

According to the defence’s account of Salaam’s claims, he says the alleged intimidation had serious consequences for his personal life and health. He claims that he spent 18 months living in four foreign countries because of fear, became separated from his children, lost a long-term romantic relationship and developed high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. He has also attributed approximately 100 pounds of weight gain to stress.

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Pinkett Smith’s attorneys argue that an independent psychiatric evaluation would help assess the psychological harm Salaam claims to have suffered. The defence has questioned the evidence supporting his reported injuries and wants an opportunity to examine the extent of his alleged emotional distress.

The proposed examination would be conducted by psychiatrist Dr. Christopher R. Thompson at his office on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. According to the court filing described in reports, the assessment could take five to six hours, excluding breaks.

The request follows an earlier court decision that partially granted Pinkett Smith’s anti-SLAPP motion. The California legal procedure allows defendants to challenge certain claims involving protected speech or petitioning activity. Some claims in Salaam’s lawsuit have reportedly been dismissed, while others remain subject to the legal proceedings.

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The dispute stems from allegations Salaam has made about his relationship with the Smith family and events surrounding their private lives. Pinkett Smith has rejected allegations of wrongdoing, while Salaam continues to seek damages through the lawsuit.

A psychiatric evaluation would not determine whether Salaam’s allegations against Pinkett Smith are true. Its purpose would be to assess the psychological harm he claims to have experienced. The request places the focus on the evidence needed to support his damages claims as the case continues.