LOS ANGELES — 4 former housekeepers of Smokey Robinson allege in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the Motown music luminary repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them whereas they labored for him.
The go well with filed in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom seeks at the very least $50 million in damages over the alleged assaults, which the ladies say happened between 2007 and 2024, and labor violations together with a hostile work surroundings, illegally lengthy hours and lack of pay.
A message searching for remark from a consultant for the 85-year-old Robinson was not instantly answered.
The 4 girls every say that Robinson would wait till he was alone with them in his Los Angeles home then sexually assault and rape them over their objections. All stated they ultimately give up over the assaults, although in some circumstances it took a number of years. And all stated they feared coming ahead over fears of retaliation, public disgrace and doable results on their immigration standing.
All 4 girls withheld their authorized names citing privateness issues and are recognized as Jane Does in courtroom paperwork.
The lawsuit additionally names Robinson’s spouse Frances Robinson as a defendant, alleging that she enabled his habits regardless of figuring out about previous sexual misconduct. It additionally blames her for the hostile work surroundings, saying she berated them with language that included ethnic slurs.
One lady stated she labored for the Robinsons from 2012 till 2024, and was assaulted at the very least 20 instances in that span. One other stated she labored for them from 2014 till 2020, and was assaulted at the very least 23 instances. One other stated she labored for them for a 12 months earlier than quitting in 2024 and was assaulted at the very least seven instances. The fourth lady, who stated she additionally acted as Frances Robinson’s private assistant, hairdresser and cook dinner, labored for them for 18 years earlier than resigning in 2024. She cited comparable experiences to the opposite girls, however didn’t say how typically she was assaulted.
The go well with seeks damages primarily based on sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and different allegations.
Robinson, a member of each the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame and the Songwriters Corridor of Fame, was among the many greatest hitmakers of the Sixties — each along with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, with songs together with “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.”
He was a central a part of the Motown Data music machine in his hometown of Detroit as an artist, producer and songwriter for different artists.
