Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by former housekeeper
Legendary Motown musician Smokey Robinson faces allegations of sexual assault from a housekeeper who sued him for $50 million on Tuesday.
More than a week after four former housekees sued Smokey Robinson and accused him of sexually abusing him over the years, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department of Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into the 85-year-old singer.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Department is actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson, ‘Smokey Robinson,'” a LASD spokesman said in a statement to USA Today. “The investigation is in the early stages and there are no further comments.”
In a statement to USA Today, Smokey Robinson’s lawyer Christopher Frost “welcomes” the investigation and called R&B and soul singers “confident” and “confident” to escape fraud.
“We are aware that a police report was filed by the plaintiff in a civil suit. It is clear what is going on here. The plaintiff only filed the police report after filing a $50 million lawsuit, which means that the police need to investigate now.” “Because the truth is strong, we welcome investigations involving plaintiffs who continue to hide their identity.
“It has been decided that nothing wrong with Mr. Robinson, and I am confident that this is a desperate attempt to make public opinion and create even more media circus than the plaintiffs could have created before,” the statement continued. “The record ultimately demonstrates that this is nothing more than a manufactured lawsuit aimed at hurting the good names of Smokey and Francis Robinson.
Attorneys representing the four anonymous accusers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, said in a statement to USA Today that they were “pleasant to learn that the LA County Sheriff’s Department has launched a criminal investigation into the client’s allegations of sexual assault on Smokey Robinson.”
The statement continued, “Our clients will fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation of LASD in pursuit of seeking justice for themselves and others who may have been assaulted by him as well.”
TMZ first reported the news.
What is Smokey Robinson accused of doing?
In a civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on May 6, the woman who used Jane Daw’s alias claimed that Robinson assaulted each of them multiple times at home while performing her duties as the homekeeper. The cases ultimately forced them to resign from working from their home in the Los Angeles area, according to the lawsuit.
Most Jane explains fear of retaliation and “possible negative impact on her immigrant status” when reporting cases to law enforcement.
In addition to leveling out charges of labour law violations, the lawsuit alleges that Smokey’s wife, Francis Robinson, could perpetuate a hostile work environment and prevent alleged attacks “despite fully knowledge of previous acts of sexual misconduct.”
Jane Doh1 in the lawsuit alleges that Robinson raped him multiple times while he was employed with the singer.
Jane Doe 2 said she worked for Robinson and his wife from around May 2014 until February 2020. According to the lawsuit, Doe received repeated “brutal sexual advances” from Robinson in late 2016.
Jane Doh3, who was allegedly employed by the couple from around February 2012 to April 2024, claimed that Robinson had raped her at least 20 times through her employment.
Jane Doe4, who allegedly worked for the couple from around October 2006 to April 2024, said the musician first sexually assaulted her in 2007 and began a long-standing cycle in a year of sexual assault.
Smokey Robinson’s lawyer accused the woman of “trying to extract money from the 85-year-old American icon.”
Robinson’s attorney denied the claim in a statement provided to USA Today on May 7th.
“As this case progresses, the evidence (the key element that guides us) shows that this is an ugly way of trying to extract money from the 85-year-old American icon ($50 million to be exact),” attorney Christopher Frost added that the allegations are “deprecating” and “false” and that they “dismiss the law.”
Robinson’s lawyers continued to lash out “demeaning false allegations against the Robinsons” claiming that the accusers were trying to create a “media circus.” Without providing details, Frost argued that many aspects of the complaint “disregard credibility” and “there are issues regarding the timeline, inconsistencies and relationships between the plaintiff and others.”
“We ask those who follow this case to reserve judgment as the evidence is revealed and all the actual facts of the case unfold,” Frost said, “In time, Robinson will “respond in his own words.”
Contributors: Edward Segara and Brendan Moreau, USA Today
If you or you have experienced sexual violence, Rainn’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, secret, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish: 800.656.hope (4673) and hotline.rainn.org and enespañolainn.org/es.
