Smokey Robinson Faces $50 Million Lawsuit Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details incidents involving battery and labor violations, naming Robinson's wife as complicit.

 

Motown icon Smokey Robinson, aged 85, is facing serious allegations as four anonymous women have filed a $50 million lawsuit against him. The complaint, lodged in Los Angeles superior court, mentions grievous charges including sexual battery, false imprisonment, gender violence, and negligence, as well as violations related to wages and labor conditions.

The plaintiffs, who are represented by their lawyer John Harris, identify as housekeepers and other domestic staff for Robinson and his wife, Frances Robinson. They allege that not only did the singer maintain a hostile work environment, but that his wife reportedly contributed by employing derogatory language. The lawsuit accuses Robinson of leveraging his fame and influence to intimidate his staff, who felt powerless and fearful of retaliation.

In a shocking revelation, the women have detailed various incidents of alleged sexual misconduct, claiming that they were summoned to different rooms in Robinson's homes in Chatsworth, Bell Canyon, and Las Vegas while his wife was away. Allegations include instances wherein Robinson would emerge from the shower in the nude and force the women into unwanted sexual acts—a pattern they contend began in 2006.

The lawsuit reveals that three of the women, identified as Jane Doe 1, 3, and 4, allege that they were assaulted in the "blue bedroom" of Robinson's Chatsworth home, with one plaintiff claiming she was raped in a laundry room. To further aggravate the situation, the women assert that Robinson used threats to prevent them from escaping during these assaults.

Beyond the sexual assault claims, the plaintiffs also argue they were subjected to labor violations, including working 10-hour shifts across six days a week without fair compensation. They allege they earned below minimum wage and were denied overtime pay, as well as holiday rates, prompting all four to resign due to the alleged misconduct and an unbearable work environment.

As of now, there has been no response from Smokey Robinson or his representatives, and crucially, no criminal charges or police reports have been issued related to these allegations. The Los Angeles County District Attorney confirmed that the claims are not currently under review as there is no active case presented by law enforcement. The gravity of the lawsuit has raised eyebrows across the entertainment community, awaiting further developments in this unfolding situation.