Smokey Robinson Files $500 Million Countersuit Against Housekeepers Who Accused Him Of Sexual Assault
Motown legend Smokey Robinson filed a countersuit Wednesday against the four former housekeepers who have accused him of sexual assault — and their attorneys.
Robinson is suing them for defamation, claiming in his countersuit that the four women 'fabricated' rape allegations 'in support of their extortionate scheme.'
'The Robinsons did not abuse, harm or take advantage of plaintiffs; they treated plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity,' his cross-complaint said. 'Unfortunately, the depths of plaintiffs' avarice and greed knows no bounds.'
Robinson and his wife also gave the women multiple gifts — including money for dental work, clothing, vacations, concert tickets, and a car — and treated them like family, his lawsuit said.
Robinson's suit also details an instance in which his safe and bank information went missing, implying that one or multiple of the women may have stolen it from him.
Robinson is also suing for emotional distress and financial elder abuse stemming from a press conference.
'Plaintiffs did not have the right to create a media circus of a press conference, and use that platform to slander the Robinsons,' the suit added.
Robinson has denied the allegations against him, with his attorney Christopher Frost previously saying the housekeepers' lawsuit was 'simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon,' according to NBC News. Frost did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment on Wednesday.
Along with the countersuit, Frost also filed a motion to get the women's suit dismissed on the basis of their being granted anonymity.
'The allegations in the complaint are so far removed from the truth that the Robinsons cannot identify which Doe is whom,' the motion said, according to, Rolling Stone. 'For instance, the Robinsons expect the facts will show that two of the plaintiffs are sisters, one inviting the other to work for the Robinsons, during a time that she now claims she was already being sexually assaulted.'
The women, named in the lawsuit as Jane Does 1 through 4, accuse Robsinson of sexual assault and rape on numerous occassions between 2007 and 2024.
One woman claims in the suit, filed on May 6, that Robinson assaulted her at least 23 times between May 2014 to February 2020. Another claims he assaulted her at least 20 times between 2012 and 2024. A third says Robinson assaulted her at least seven times during the year that she worked for him before quitting in 2024.
Another woman said she worked with the Robinsons for 18 years, but she did not say how many times Robinson allegedly assaulted her. She resigned in 2024.
The four women also claimed that Robinson's wife, Frances Gladney, 'failed to take the appropriate corrective action to prevent Defendant Robinson's deviant misconduct.'
'We believe that Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist, and must be stopped,' the women's attorney John Harris said at a news conference when announcing the lawsuit.
Harris and Herbert Hayden, who is also representing the women, told HuffPost in a statement that the countersuit is 'a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward.'
'This cross-complaint will not stand. We are filing an anti-SLAPP motion to strike it in its entirety and will seek attorneys' fees and costs for having to defend against this abusive tactic,' Harris and Hayden continued in their joint statement.
The women 'remain committed to seeking justice—not only for themselves but for all survivors who have been silenced by fear of retaliation. This case is about accountability, transparency, and ensuring that power is not used to harm or suppress others,' they added.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department launched a criminal investigation into the allegations shortly after the women's lawsuit was filed, but no charges have been filed at this time.
Robinson founded famed R&B and soul group The Miracles, which was known for songs like 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me' in 1962, 'Ooo Baby Baby' in 1965 and 'The Tears of a Clown' in 1970.
The Motown legend has been inducted into both the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. He is currently on his 50th anniversary Legacy Tour.
Need help? Visit RAINN's National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's website.
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