Smokey Robinson and his spouse have been hit with an explosive new lawsuit that seeks $50 million in damages over claims that the legendary Motown singer repeatedly raped 4 housekeepers over almost twenty years.
Within the swimsuit, filed on Tuesday (Could 6) in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom, 4 nameless ladies say William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. had a behavior of forcing housekeepers to have intercourse with him within the bed room of his residence, positioned within the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, between 2007 and 2024.
“Plaintiffs didn’t consent to defendant Smokey Robinson’s sexual contact or touching,” wrote John W. Harris, an legal professional representing the 4 housekeepers. “Plaintiffs explicitly instructed defendant Robinson on quite a few events that they weren’t involved in his advances and objected to his forceful, bodily, sexual and dangerous conduct.”
The 4 ladies — known as Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4 within the lawsuit — declare Robinson adopted a constant sample of assault through the years. The grievance alleges that the 85-year-old R&B singer and document government would commonly get housekeepers alone in his blue bed room carrying solely his underwear, put a towel down on the mattress, and power them to have oral and vaginal intercourse with no condom.
Jane Doe 1 says Robinson assaulted her on this method no less than seven occasions whereas she labored for him between 2023 and 2024. Jane Doe 2 claims she was raped no less than 23 occasions in Robinson’s bed room, in addition to in the home’s laundry room and storage, throughout her employment with him between 2014 and 2020.
Jane Doe 3, who says she labored as Robinson’s housekeeper from 2012 to 2024, alleges she was assaulted no less than 20 occasions. Jane Doe 4 doesn’t specify what number of occasions she was allegedly raped however says Robinson “would typically create a scenario” to get her alone and abuse her between 2007 and 2024.
Every of the 4 ladies declare they didn’t report Robinson’s conduct to regulation enforcement “resulting from her concern of shedding her livelihood, familial reprisal, public embarrassment, disgrace and humiliation to her and her household, the doable opposed impact on her immigration standing, in addition to being threatened and intimidated by defendant Smokey Robinson’s well-recognized movie star standing and his influential buddies and associates.”
The housekeepers say Robinson’s spouse, Frances, shares the blame for these assaults. In keeping with the plaintiffs, Frances Robinson did nothing to guard them, regardless that she knew her husband had a historical past of sexual misconduct and that he’d beforehand struck settlements with alleged assault victims.
The ladies say Frances additionally created a hostile work atmosphere by “commonly screaming” and utilizing racial slurs, and that they have been paid under minimal wage and didn’t obtain extra time or legally-mandated work breaks.
“Regardless of having full information of defendant Smokey Robinson’s conduct, defendant Frances Robinson would additional perpetuate hostilities in direction of plaintiffs as a substitute of stopping additional harassment and assaults,” writes the housekeepers’ lawyer. “As an alternative, defendant Frances Robinson, all through plaintiffs’ employment, berated plaintiffs with derogatory, racially-charged epithets, assign[ed] further arduous duties, and forbid plaintiffs from exercising their rights to meals and relaxation intervals.”
The lawsuit brings a complete of 16 claims, together with sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and negligence. The 4 housekeepers are in search of no less than $50 million in damages from Smokey and Frances for financial, emotional and bodily hurt.
Representatives for Smokey Robinson didn’t instantly return requests for touch upon Tuesday.