Smokey Robinson issues 3-word response to shocking sexual assault allegations

New York Post

07-05-2025

Smokey Robinson has addressed the shocking sexual assault allegations leveled against him.
The Motown legend, 85, broke his silence after four women who claim to be his former employees filed a $50 million lawsuit Tuesday with numerous disturbing allegations, including sexual battery and assault.
'I am appalled,' Robinson told the Daily Mail on the phone when asked about the allegations Wednesday morning.
8 Smokey Robinson at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Getty Images
The outlet claimed that Robinson 'began mumbling incoherently' during the call and 'did not sound well.'
After he allegedly 'became lucid again,' Robinson said, ''I can't speak about this right now,' and ended the call.
The Post has reached out to Robinson's rep for comment.
8 Smokey Robinson at SiriusXM Studios in NYC in April 2025.
Getty Images
8 Smokey Robinson at the 2022 American Music Awards.
AFP via Getty Images
In court documents obtained by The Post, four women who allegedly worked as Robinson's housekeepers between 2012 and 2024 accused him of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence, hostile work environment, and more.
His wife since 2002, Frances Robinson, was also named in the lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court,
Jane Doe 1 — who said she worked as a housekeeper for the couple from Jan. 3, 2023 until February 2024 — claimed she was sexually assaulted by Robinson at least seven (7) times' until her resignation.
8 Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances Gladney at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 32nd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party in March 2024.
Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation
Robinson, according to the accuser, would allegedly take his wife to the nail salon and hurry back 'knowing that he would be home alone' with her since she mainly worked on the weekends.
During the alleged assaults, Robinson's accuser said he would 'rough penetrate her vagina with his fingers, orally copulate her and proceed to penetrate her vagina with his erect penis causing her great pain' and 'enjoyed ejaculating in her vagina without using a condom.'
8 Frances Gladney and Smokey Robinson at the Kentucky Derby 2023.
Getty Images for Churchill Downs
Jane Doe 2 said she was the Robinsons' housekeeper from May 2014 until February 2020. She claimed he assaulted her at least 23 different times during which he'd 'summon her to either the laundry room or garage, where there were no cameras' before allegedly penetrating her vagina with his fingers and 'then would proceed to rape her.'
The second accuser further claimed that if she refused to have sex with him, the singer would threaten that he'd make Frances be 'mean' to her.
The third accuser said she was Robinson's housekeeper from February 2012 until April 2024, and alleged she was 'sexually harassed, sexually assaulted and raped' by the musician 'at least 20 times.'
8 Smokey Robinson out in New York City in April 2025.
GC Images
Jane Doe 4 said that in addition to being hired as the couple's housekeeper, she also worked as Frances' personal assistant, cook and hairdresser from October 2006 until April 22, 2024.
She claimed Robinson first sexually assaulted her in 2007 and raped her at his temporary residence in Bell Canyon, California in 2019.
8 Smokey Robinson performs in Wales in 2011.
AFP via Getty Images
The court docs claimed that Robinson 'never used a condom during the sexual assaults, ejaculating into JD4's vagina or withdrawing and ejaculating all over her body, much to his satisfaction and her abject humiliation.'
All four accusers claimed they didn't report the alleged sexual assaults out of fear of losing their livelihood, public embarrassment, shame and humiliation.
8 Smokey Robinson and his wife, Frances Gladney, in 2016.
AP
They also alleged that Frances 'failed to take the appropriate corrective action to prevent' Robinson's alleged advances 'despite having full knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct.'
The former employees also claimed they were allegedly not paid overtime or given rest and lunch breaks.