Smokey Robinson Sexual Assault Allegations Under Criminal Investigation; Singer's Attorney Calls Lawsuit ‘Manufactured'
A criminal investigation has been launched into the sexual assault allegations against legendary singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson, his attorneys and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirm to Variety.
The singer was sued last week by former female employees alleging sexual battery, assault and false imprisonment. The women are asking for a trial with general damages for several allegations of no less than $50 million. Four Jane Does, who worked for the singer between 2006 and 2024, filed a suit against Robinson and his wife Frances in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, all making similar claims that Robinson sexually assaulted them during their employment as housekeepers at his Chatsworth, CA, residence.
More from Variety
Smokey Robinson Sued by Former Female Employees Alleging Sexual Assault and Battery
MusiCares Dinner for Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy Features Salutes From Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Samara Joy and More
Lionel Richie, Brandi Carlile, Chloe X Halle, Many More to Perform at MusiCares Concert Honoring Motown's Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson
A statement from the sheriff's office issued Thursday reads: 'The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau is actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson AKA 'Smokey Robinson.' The investigation is in the early stages, and we have no further comment.'
The singer's attorney said in a statement: 'We are aware that a police report has now been filed by the Plaintiffs in the civil lawsuit. It is clear to us what is happening here. Plaintiffs filed a police report only after they filed a $50 million lawsuit. This means only that the police are now required to investigate. We welcome that investigation, which involves Plaintiffs who continue to hide their identities, because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing. We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and make even more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs were previously able to create. The record will ultimately demonstrate that this is nothing more than a manufactured lawsuit intended to tarnish the good names of Smokey and Frances Robinson, for no other reason than unadulterated avarice.'
The women also said that Robinson's wife created a hostile work environment by using 'ethnically pejorative words and language' while screaming at the singer, and that she did not take proper action to prevent misconduct despite knowledge that he'd settled cases from previous women alleging similar assaults.
All Does state that they did not take action against Robinson for fear of losing their livelihood, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some of them were fearful it could affect their immigration status.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee killer Maxwell Anderson played Netflix series with mutilation the night he killed Sade Robinson, juror says
The jury that convicted 34-year-old Maxwell Anderson June 6 in the killing and dismemberment of 19-year-old Sade Robinson took less than an hour to render a decision and were informed of new evidence once the trial concluded. "Everyone agreed pretty early on in the morning that he was guilty," juror Melissa Blascoe said. Most of the short time in the jury room was spent looking meticulously at the law to decide whether to convict him of first-degree intentional homicide or first-degree reckless homicide, she said. Anderson was found guilty on all counts: intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and arson. Blascoe, a 33-year-old social worker, said it was revealed in post-trial meeting with the prosecution that on the night of Robinson's murder, Anderson turned on the Netflix series "Love, Death & Robots" while Robinson was inside the home. During the final episode of volume two of the animated series, a corpse is dismembered on a beach. The prosecution believes Anderson dismembered Robinson on a small beach at Warnimont Park in Cudahy. "I was like, oh, ... that's disgusting because that could have been where he got some of his ideas or fantasies," Blascoe said. A "turning point" in the case for Blascoe was the last day of testimony, June 5, when jurors were shown disturbing and graphic images of Robinson inside Anderson's home that were deleted from the phone. "That was pretty damning evidence that shook everyone," she said. "I physically felt like I was gonna throw up at that point. I know a lot of people were shaking and crying." Blascoe said it was the turning point for her because "that was really the first time they put Sade at his house and we could physically see that. It put the nail in his coffin, so to say." Blascoe described how before that moment the prosecution team, led by Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan, were showing jurors grainy or darkened footage in the early morning hours that didn't clearly show Anderson driving Robinson's car before torching it outside an abandoned home on the city's north side. "There was just a lot of video footage and a lot of it didn't make sense because he was just making circles around the city and probably just kind of panicking," Blascoe said. Blascoe felt the prosecution did their job of proving intent to kill Robinson, noting a graphic photo of Anderson holding Robinson's right breast as she lay incapacitated. Robinson's right breast is among her body parts that haven't been recovered. "This is his trophy in a way," Blascoe said of Anderson. "Those pictures will be in my mind for quite some time." As Blascoe sat in the courtroom for two weeks after being called for jury duty, which was the case for 14 other people, she was vaguely familiar with the case after seeing it in the news in April 2024, but hadn't followed it closely since then. She didn't think she was going to be picked after revealing during jury selection that she previously worked for Child Protective Services and dealt with Children's Court often. Blascoe said jurors grew anxious after hearing the extreme nature of the crime. "I don't think anyone was ready to see the defendant at the table," she said. There was way more agreement than dissent amongst the jury for the 45 minutes they discussed the case, she said. It was mainly following the jury instructions and the law, Blascoe said, adding that everyone got a chance to speak and ask questions. "I feel I can walk away with a clean conscience," she added. "If anything, I'm walking away from this experience just knowing that there's good humans out there." In addition to meeting with Judge Laura Crivello after the trial, the jurors also met the prosecution and defense teams where evidence was discussed that wasn't presented at trial. As the jurors departed the post-trial meetings, they didn't receive a definite answer on why Anderson killed Robinson. "It was like speculative," Blascoe said. "Obviously, there was some planning that went into this." Anderson will be sentenced Aug. 15. He faces a mandatory life sentence, but part of that could be extended supervision. Crivello will make the final decision. The Journal Sentinel also reached out to several other jurors and have not yet heard back. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Maxwell Anderson played Netflix show the night he killed Sade Robinson
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Maxwell Anderson verdict, push for task force on missing Black women
The Brief A jury found Maxwell Anderson guilty of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson. According to Columbia researchers, Black women in Wisconsin between 2019 and 2020 were 20x more likely to be murdered than white women. State Rep. Shelia Stubbs wants to create a task force to address that. MILWAUKEE - A jury found Maxwell Anderson guilty of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson on Friday. Robinson's mother now looks to lawmakers for help, wanting the state to set up a task force on missing and murdered Black women. By the numbers Columbia researchers found Black women in Wisconsin between 2019 and 2020 were 20x more likely to be murdered than white women. The researchers said that was the worst disparity in the country. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What they're saying For four years, Wisconsin Representative Shelia Stubbs urged the state to set up a special task force on missing and murdered Black women and girls. The group would be made up of police, survivors, attorneys, and victims' rights experts. It would look into what leads to violence against these people, and the task force would have to give recommendations on how to stop it. The Wisconsin State Assembly passed Stubbs' bill in 2024, but it stalled in the Senate. On Friday, Stubbs joined Sade Robinson's mother and family in court and then spoke with FOX6 News. "We need the state to pass this legislation. We couldn't save Sade, but we have a chance to save somebody else. And that's what I stand here today. With this verdict, I stand here with the family. And it's the right verdict," said Rep. Stubbs. Stubbs said the guilty verdict motivates her to rally her fellow lawmakers to make her bill a law. It's had bipartisan support. The governor has supported it, too. His budget proposal even included money for this proposed task force. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley "My thoughts are with the family, the friends, and the community of Sade Robinson who are deserving of our continued support. Regardless of today's verdict, real justice is living in a world where Sade Robinson is still alive and her killer never had the chance to take her life. As a husband and father, I can't imagine the pain, anger, and grief that Sade's loved ones are carrying. It's my hope that the Robinson family can rest tonight knowing that Sade's killer will be held accountable. Looking ahead, we all must recommit ourselves to protecting the lives of innocent women – particularly Black and Brown women – and working towards a community where everyone is safe from violence." The backstory Anderson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and arson of property other than a building. He is accused of killing Robinson after a date, dismembering her and dumping her body parts across Milwaukee County. One of her arms was later found on an Illinois beach. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Prosecutors said Anderson and Robinson showed up at a Menomonee Valley bar on April 1, 2024 – the night she was last seen or heard from. The next day, Robinson's burned-out car was found near 30th and Lisbon in Milwaukee. Surveillance photos show a man investigators believe is Anderson walking away from the area, and who was later seen on a bus heading back towards his home on the city's south side. Anderson had planned to kill Robinson weeks before her death, according to a statement from a "confidential informant" noted in court filings FOX6 News obtained. A search warrant also revealed prosecutors believe Anderson tried to cover up Robinson's death with a text message. Dig deeper FOX6 News is streaming the entire Anderson trial each day on FOX LOCAL. The app is free to download on your phone, tablet or smart TV. Day 9: Jury finds Anderson guilty of killing, dismembering Robinson Day 8: Closing arguments made, jury deliberations begin Day 7: Sade Robinson killed; mapping path of Robinson's car Day 6: Jurors get look inside Anderson's home; see clothing Day 5: Testimony provided our first look at Anderson's arrest Open Record: Maxwell Anderson trial Day 4: Video from Milwaukee, discovery of Sade Robinson's remains Day 3: Testimony resumes; law enforcement, friends of Sade Robinson take stand Day 2: Opening statements, testimony begins Day 1: Jury selected in single day Sade Robinson homicide: Timeline of events leading to criminal charges Sade Robinson homicide: Parents navigate grief ahead of trial Sade Robinson homicide: The psychology behind the murder Sade Robinson homicide: Lasting legacy, from tragedy to advocacy Open Record: A Date With Death The Source FOX6 News was in court for the Anderson trial. Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, Wisconsin Circuit Court, and prior FOX6 coverage of the case.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Little Rock School District alum heads to New York City after acceptance into acclaimed dance school
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – She may have just graduated from high school, but Little Rock native Madison Robinson is headed to the Big Apple to show off her dancing talent after a big accomplishment. Robinson is 18 years old, and she said her journey with dancing and ballet started at a young age. Little Rock high school student to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York 'I am very grateful that my body allows me to do such amazing things,' Robinson said. 'My first year dancing with Ballet Arkansas was 'The Nutcracker Spectacular.' I landed the leading role.' She said she has had to work hard to develop her dancing skills. 'I did the Debbie Allen Summer Intensive and also Ailey Summer Intensive the past 2 years,' Robinson said. After graduating from Little Rock Central High School, she took the next step by auditioning for the Alvin Ailey School of Dance and was accepted. 'My initial reaction was just pure joy; I was trying not to scream. I'll be there for three years; it is a post-grad dance school,' she said. Little Rock elementary school students write and publish their own books The Ailey School in New York City is the official school of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the most acclaimed dance companies in the world. Leslie Dodge is the Director of pre-professional ballet at Shuffles Dance Studio and worked with Robinson as her dance teacher; she said she is proud of her accomplishment. 'It's very competitive. People from all over the country and world will audition to get into the school and the company tour worldwide.' Dodge said. 'It's very unique to see someone like that give so much to an art form at her age.' Robinson said she is grateful to her family, friends, and teacher for all the support and mentoring that have helped her reach this moment. 'I hope to dance in a company one day and have a long, fulfilling career and after that retire and teach dance to students,' Robinson said. Education Matters: UA Little Rock student lands internship at Arkansas Children's Hospital She hopes to inspire other kids around the state who are involved in the fine arts to know that they can accomplish what they want. 'Never lose sight of your goal. I know sometimes it can feel impossible, but it never really is impossible,' Robinson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
