Latest news with #Cruisin
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson Responds to Bombshell Sexual Assault Lawsuit With His Own Bombshell Claims
Legendary singer Smokey Robinson isn't taking those surprising sexual assault lawsuit lightly. In fact, his latest move proves he just may be gearing up for a big fight and we've got all the details. As we previously told you, four women have accused the Motown legend of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and creating a hostile work environment. His wife, Frances, has also been named in the suit. The women in particular are all allegedly former housekeepers of Robinson who claim that his wife had 'full knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct' but 'failed to take the appropriate corrective action' to prevent 'deviant misconduct' from Robinson. They're seeking $5o million in damages. In the immediate aftermath, Robinson's attorney spoke out on behalf of him, describing the suit as an 'ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon' and the accusations as 'vile' and 'false.' Now, Robinson is taking further action to clear his name by filing a $500 million defamation countersuit against his accusers. Per court documents obtained by PEOPLE on Wednesday, the 'Cruisin'' singer is countersuing over allegations of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, financial elder abuse and more. The documents claim that the women lobbed 'gratuitous and slanderous allegations' against him, specifically citing a May 6 press conference in which 'The Tears of a Clown' singer was allegedly referred to as a 'serial and sick rapist.' 'The statements were false, and Plaintiffs knew them to be false,' the countersuit read. 'Nevertheless, they made the statements, and undoubtedly many people believe the statements to be true.' It later added: 'The Robinsons did not abuse, harm, or take advantage of Plaintiffs; they treated Plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity. Unfortunately, the depths of the Plaintiffs' avarice and greed knows no bounds.' The countersuit also went on to say that Robinson's wife Frances was particularly distraught and felt betrayed by the accusations and their allegations of financial elder abuse stem from the fact that the four women's claims have 'caused the Robinsons, who are senior citizens, loss of income and assets set aside for retirement or for personal or family care and maintenance.' Additionally, Robinson alleges that this suit only came about after he and his wife rejected the women's demands of $100 million. Lawyers representing the unidentified women have since responded to Robinson's countersuit in statement, calling it 'a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward.' They also said that their clients remain dedicated to receiving justice in this case and will file an anti-SLAPP motion in an attempt to get rid of the 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singer's suit altogether. 'This case is about accountability, transparency, and ensuring that power is not used to harm or suppress others,' the four women's response read in part. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson Hits Back With $500M Defamation Suit Against 'Fabricated' Rape Claims By Ex-Employees
In a $500 million defamation and elder abuse action of their own, Smokey Robinson and his wife are now going after the four former employees who have accused the Motown legend of rape in a $50 million lawsuit. 'The Robinsons did not abuse, harm or take advantage of plaintiffs; they treated plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity,' a countersuit filed Wednesday in L.A. Superior Court asserts of the Jane Does. 'Unfortunately, the depths of plaintiffs' avarice and greed knows no bounds.' More from Deadline Smokey Robinson Sued For Sexual Assault & Rape By Four Of His Former Housekeepers Smokey Robinson Under Criminal Investigation After Rape Allegations – Updated Halle Bailey & Smokey Robinson To Host Motown Christmas Special For NBC Self-described 'living legend' Robinson and his attorney Christopher Frost claim that the women tried at first to get $100 million out of the singer and his spouse for their silence on the 'fabricated' claims. The four supposedly only turned to the courts when they were rebuffed by the Robinsons. Today's countersuit makes note of Robinson's new What The World Needs Now album that came out in late April and the fallout the rape accusations and legal action has had on the performer's career the past month. Filed back on May 6, the 16-claim civil action alleges that the 85-year-old Robinson individually raped each of the four women several times in his homes in Las Vegas, Chatsworth and Bell Canyon in Ventura County over the years. With description of the 'Cruisin'' singer making sure to take a shower before the attacks and carefully laying a towel on the bed to prevent stains, Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4's stories are nearly identical. They all also say that Frances Robinson, who has been married to 'The Tears of a Clown' singer since 2002, knew what her husband was doing and did nothing to stop it. In fact, the women, who the Robinsons termed 'extended family' in their countersuit, insist Frances Robinson also ripped off the housekeepers on their wages and more in a 'hostile work environment.' Since the $50 million rape suit was filed earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has begun its own criminal probe into Robinson, as the cops confirmed on May 15. Turning the spotlight to a press conference that the four women and their Hayden & Harris lawyers gave on May 6, the same day they filed their civil action, the Robinsons declare now that the plaintiffs forced them to sue back and, in a separate motion, sought to have the initial suit tossed out. 'Because of Plaintiffs' slanderous statements, the Robinsons had no choice but to seek legal relief,' today's filing says. 'Plaintiffs may be able to make slanderous statements in a legal pleading (for now), but they are not entitled to do so in gratuitous, self-serving press conferences.' Citing a litany of assistance from dental work to cars and more that the Robinsons say they gave the women during the time they worked for the couple, today's countersuit also not so subtly accuses the quartet of having some strategically sticky fingers. 'Shortly after the Plaintiffs left their jobs, Ms. Robinson discovered that several of her financial records (including bank statements) were missing, the 10-claim countersuit says. 'At least one Plaintiff had access to and knew exactly where these records were kept. In that vein, Wednesday's countersuit adds of the women: 'As a result of their roles as household staff, they had particular knowledge of where the Robinsons' valuables were kept, including a hidden safe and gold Krugerrands. That safe and the valuables it contained and several gold Kruggerands were later stolen by someone who knew precisely where they were located. The Robinsons reported the theft to the police.' Attorneys for the four women who have accused Robinson of rape and more did not respond to request for comment on today's countersuit. Best of Deadline 'The Morning Show' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 'Hacks' Season 4 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
After Allegations, Smokey Robinson Show Goes On as Planned
By the time Smokey Robinson performed 'Cruisin'' near the end of his concert at the Beau Rivage Theater on Friday night, the mutual admiration was in full display between the Motown icon and a revering audience of nearly 1,600 people, with no mention made of the sexual assault allegations levied against him this week. Mr. Robinson had long discarded the jacket from the sparkling green suit and the tie he had begun the night with. 'Do you know what you volunteered for?' he asked one woman he invited onstage. 'We'll be right back,' Mr. Robinson said when she answered that she had freely agreed to join him in front of the audience, and he took a few steps pretending to accompany her backstage. He then implored her to get the audience to sing 'Cruisin'' lyrics with them. Mr. Robinson, 85, smiled widely throughout a festive set, dancing suggestively while performing many of his landmark songs as part of a tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of his album 'A Quiet Storm' and the release of a new album, 'What the World Needs Now.' He proceeded with the concert just days after four women who worked as housekeepers for Mr. Robinson claimed in a lawsuit that he had repeatedly sexually abused them for years at his homes in California and Nevada. Three of the women did not report the allegations sooner over fear of their immigration status, the lawsuit states. The suit argues that Mr. Robinson created a hostile work environment and demanded they work long hours without receiving minimum wage. It also claims that Mr. Robinson's wife, Frances Robinson, knew of the assaults but did not to stop them. A lawyer for Mr. Robinson, Christopher Frost, said he would argue for the lawsuit's dismissal, calling it 'an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon' in a statement to The New York Times. The women are only identified as Jane Does 1 through 4 in the lawsuit filed in Superior Court in Los Angeles on Tuesday. 'We stand behind our four clients' truthful claims, which are neither false nor vile but clearly describe Mr. Robinson's despicable criminal acts,' their lawyer, John Harris, said in a statement on Tuesday. No mention of the lawsuit was made during Friday's show. Mr. Robinson received a rose from a spectator during the set. He paused to take a selfie with another audience member, doubling back when she said that she did not capture the photo the first time, and received an extended ovation at the end of the performance. Mr. Robinson starred in the Motown group the Miracles and performed many of the songs — 'The Tears of a Clown,' 'I Second That Emotion,' 'My Girl' and 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me' — he helped create that are threaded with some of the most endearing soul music ever created. Friday's performance included songs from 'Gasms,' his 2023 album of love songs. He interspersed the show with personal recollections of working in Motown and joked that Stevie Wonder had once been so motivated to collaborate that the blind musical pioneer had offered to drive him to the studio. Clara Mecum said that she had come to hear Mr. Robinson's songs and that the lawsuit did not affect her enjoyment. 'I paid over $100 to see him,' she said. 'I didn't care. I really love him.' Sandra Thames attended the performance with her son, David Rucker, after the pair drove three hours on a rainy afternoon. They relished the performance and the enthusiasm Mr. Robinson brought to the stage. 'That has no bearing on the show,' Ms. Thames said of the lawsuit. 'Whatever happened, if it happened, it'll come to the light, I believe.' Liz Moran, who had brought her mom to the show as a Mother's Day present, said she was unaware of the allegations, so they had no effect on her appreciation of the show. 'I liked all the oldies,' she said. 'I enjoyed it.' Mr. Robinson was enshrined as a solo artist in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and has been honored by the Recording Academy and the Kennedy Center. His next performance is scheduled for May 31 at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, N.Y.
Los Angeles Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Terrence Howard didn't play Marvin Gaye because he couldn't kiss a man: ‘I don't fake it'
'Do what you love, but don't do it at me, don't aim it at me.' That's Terrence Howard talking about gay men while explaining why he never portrayed singer Marvin Gaye onscreen. He planned at one point to portray Gaye in a movie helmed by 'Empire' executive producer Lee Daniels, Howard told Bill Maher on the 'Club Random' podcast released Sunday. Then he was taken out to dinner and asked to star in a movie about the life of Smokey Robinson — by Smokey Robinson himself. Howard had to turn the 'Cruisin'' singer down because he was 'being faithful' to Daniels. 'I had given my word as a man, I'm gonna do this with you.' 'The biggest mistake I made in my career,' Howard told Maher as the two were getting high together. The actor didn't say exactly when this went down, but added, 'He wanted me to play his life ... I had to tell them [no] at the table and it broke his heart.' But playing Gaye wasn't to be either. Maher called it 'a shame' because he said Gaye's life story was much more dramatic. 'I'm sorry, drama's drama, and there's a lot more drama in getting killed by your dad,' the 'Real Time' host said. 'That's a story ... that's much more interesting and Marvin Gaye, like, you would have been perfect as Marvin Gaye. And that is a story that needs to be told.' Then Howard, who has been married four times, to three different women, decided to explain why he also didn't play the twice-married 'Sexual Healing' singer. 'I was over at Quincy Jones' house — and I'm not dropping names, I'm just giving credibility about what I'm saying — I'm asking Quincy, I'm hearing rumors that Marvin was gay ... and I'm like, 'Was he gay?' and Quincy is like, 'Yes.'' Insert mic drop here. Gaye told a biographer in 1982 that he wasn't interested in men and the singer's younger sister Zeola Gaye was not at all pleased when Jones alluded to her brother's sexuality in a 2018 interview. 'They would have wanted to do that and I wouldn't have been able to do that,' Howard said. 'You mean, you couldn't kiss a guy on screen in a movie?' Maher asked. 'No, 'cause I don't fake it,' the Oscar-nominated 'Hustle & Flow' actor replied. 'That would f— me. I would cut my lips off. If I did that I would cut my lips off.' After the host admitted that, well, he couldn't kiss a man either — 'It does not make me homophobic to not want to kiss a man,' Maher said, 'just like lots of gay men are like, 'p—, yuck.'' Howard expanded on his reasoning. 'Do what you love, but don't do it at me, don't aim it at me,' the actor said. 'And I can't play that character 100%. I can't surrender myself to a place that I don't understand.' The actor, who played patriarch Lucious Lyon for six seasons on 'Empire,' declared in 2019 that he was done with acting, 'done pretending.' Since then, he's done eight movies and two miniseries.
