In late 2024, social media timelines were flooded with a headline too explosive to ignore: “LisaRaye Speaks on Will Smith Paying Duane Martin for Sex.” The story spread like wildfire across YouTube gossip channels, TikTok commentary pages, and celebrity blogs, fueling another round of speculation about Will Smith’s private life and Hollywood friendships.

But as with most viral rumors, what actually happened — and what was said — differs greatly from the clickbait headlines. This is the real story of how a single comment snowballed into one of the most talked-about celebrity scandals online, even without any verified evidence.

Where the Rumor Started

The controversy began in November 2023 after a former assistant of Will Smith named Brother Bilaal appeared on the Tasha K podcast. During the interview, Bilaal claimed he had once “walked in” on Smith and actor Duane Martin in an intimate situation. The allegation was graphic, unverified, and immediately went viral.

Within hours, entertainment outlets from TMZ to Page Six picked up the story — though each noted that no proof or corroboration was ever presented. Will Smith’s representatives denied the claims, calling them “false and malicious.” Duane Martin’s team also dismissed them outright.

Still, the internet doesn’t run on verification; it runs on virality. The clip amassed millions of views, reigniting long-circulating rumors about Smith’s sexuality — rumors he and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, have denied repeatedly over the years.

It was into this storm that actress LisaRaye McCoy entered the

LisaRaye’s Actual Comments

LisaRaye, a veteran actress known for The Players Club and Single Ladies, was asked about the situation during an interview on Fox Soul’s Cocktails with Queens, a talk show where she often appears alongside Vivica A. Fox, Claudia Jordan, and Syleena Johnson.

When asked about the Will Smith–Duane Martin rumors, LisaRaye didn’t claim to have direct knowledge. Instead, she responded cautiously, saying that “Hollywood has secrets,” and that “you hear things — but unless you’ve seen them, it’s hard to say what’s true.”

At no point did she say that Will Smith “paid” Duane Martin for sex. However, several gossip blogs twisted her comments into sensationalized headlines, implying she had confirmed or accused Smith of misconduct.

Within 24 hours, phrases like LisaRaye exposes Will Smith” andLisaRaye confirms Duane Martin affair” trended on X (formerly Twitter). But when viewers watched the full segment, they saw a much more measured discussion — one about rumors, power, and privacy in Hollywood, not a revelation.

A Long History of Misinterpreted Comments

LisaRaye is no stranger to controversy. Over the years, she’s been outspoken about sexism and favoritism in Hollywood. Her candid style, while refreshing to some fans, often leads to her being quoted out of context.

People take one sentence and turn it into a headline,” she said in a 2022 interview. “By the time you see it on a blog, it doesn’t even sound like what you said.”

That’s exactly what happened here. A brief remark about “hearing things in Hollywood” morphed into an internet-wide accusation that she had insider knowledge about Will Smith and Duane Martin’s relationship.

No reputable outlet — including Variety, People, The Hollywood Reporter, or CNN — has ever verified any of the sexual allegations. In fact, they’ve largely avoided covering them beyond quoting Smith’s legal team’s denials.

The Role of Gossip Platforms

In the ecosystem of online celebrity coverage, rumor often outpaces reality. Channels like The Neighborhood Talk, Hollywood Unlocked, and dozens of YouTube commentary pages built entire segments around the so-called “LisaRaye revelation.”

They used clips stripped of context and thumbnails suggesting she had “confirmed” the rumor. The tactic is simple: controversy sells. The more shocking the claim, the more clicks, engagement, and ad revenue.

According to media analysts, this is part of a larger pattern in entertainment coverage — where Black celebrities, in particular, face more invasive and sensational treatment online.

Stories about Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and others in that circle always perform,” said Professor Jamal Collins, a cultural studies expert at UCLA. “Even when the sources are flimsy, people click because they mix celebrity, sexuality, and conspiracy — three things the internet can’t resist.”

Will Smith’s Response

Will Smith’s camp moved quickly after the rumor resurfaced. In late 2023, his representatives issued a cease-and-desist letter to the Tasha K podcast and publicly condemned the allegations as false. Smith did not address LisaRaye directly — likely recognizing that her comment had been distorted — but he made it clear he intended to protect his reputation.

In a brief clip posted to his Instagram Stories, Will appeared light-hearted, jokingly saying, “People need better stories.” Fans interpreted it as both humor and fatigue — a subtle acknowledgment of how many times his private life has been sensationalized.

Smith’s publicist later told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor was “focused on his work and family” and “not interested in giving false narratives more oxygen.”

Why This Story Caught Fire

So why did this particular rumor resonate so strongly online? Media researchers point to three key factors:

The lasting fascination with the Smiths’ marriage. Since the infamous “Red Table Talk” discussions and the 2022 Oscars slap, the couple’s personal lives have been under a microscope. Every new headline feels like another “chapter” in a never-ending saga.

Hollywood’s culture of secrecy. The entertainment industry has long been seen as glamorous but opaque. When a celebrity insider like LisaRaye hints that “everyone hears things,” audiences fill in the blanks with their own assumptions.

The internet’s appetite for scandal. Social media thrives on narratives that mix fame, sex, and betrayal. Even when false, those stories dominate feeds because they provoke emotion — outrage, disbelief, judgment.

LisaRaye’s Clarification and Aftermath

After seeing how her comments were interpreted, LisaRaye later clarified on social media that she had “no personal knowledge” of any inappropriate behavior and was simply responding to a trending topic. She expressed frustration at being misquoted, saying that “people will take what you say and run with it for views.”

That clarification received only a fraction of the attention the original headlines did. By then, the rumor had already taken on a life of its own.

In a way, LisaRaye became an accidental participant in a larger conversation about media accountability — how snippets of talk-show dialogue can morph into false “confirmations” and damage real reputations.

The Bigger Issue: Truth vs. Virality

The LisaRaye–Will Smith–Duane Martin saga isn’t just about gossip; it’s a case study in how easily misinformation spreads in celebrity culture. With podcasts, reaction videos, and fan-driven accounts operating outside traditional journalistic standards, rumors can go viral before facts even enter the conversation.

Traditional outlets, which verify stories before publishing, are often too slow to compete with social platforms that value speed and sensation. As a result, public figures like Smith or LisaRaye find themselves perpetually defending against narratives that originated not from investigation, but from imagination.

Conclusion

The viral story claiming LisaRaye “spoke on Will Smith paying Duane Martin for sex” was, in truth, a product of digital distortion. She never made that claim; no evidence ever supported it. Yet, in the hyperconnected world of online media, suggestion became “fact” through repetition.

For Will Smith, it was another reminder of how fame in the 2020s comes with constant rumor surveillance. For LisaRaye, it was a warning about how quickly casual remarks can become clickbait. And for audiences, it’s a lesson in skepticism: headlines are often entertainment, not evidence.