Latest news with #MyGuy
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Smokey Robinson sues ex housekeepers for £370 million over sexual assault claims
In their counter-filing, the Robinsons allege that the women made false claims of sexual misconduct as part of a scheme to extort money from the couple. Motown icon Smokey Robinson has filed a £370 million defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who accused him of sexual assault. The singer has called their claims 'extortionate' and 'fabricated.' The civil suit, filed on Wednesday in a California court by the 85-year-old singer and his wife Frances Robinson, names four anonymous women identified only as Jane Doe 1 through 4. In their filing, the Robinsons allege that the women made false claims of sexual misconduct as part of a scheme to extort money from the couple. The countersuit follows a May 6 complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, in which the four women accused Robinson of pressuring them into sex over a period dating back to 2006. Their 27-page lawsuit, which remains sealed under pseudonyms, alleges that they refrained from speaking out earlier due to fears of losing their jobs, a backlash, embarrassment, and concerns over immigration status. In response, Robinson's legal team not only filed the defamation countersuit but also submitted a motion to dismiss the original claims. His attorneys argue that the plaintiffs should not be allowed to remain anonymous, citing a lack of legal grounds to withhold their identities. 'The Robinsons did not abuse, harm, or take advantage of plaintiffs; they treated plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity,' the couple's lawsuit states. The couple further claim that the women were not merely staff members but were included in family trips and holiday celebrations, painting a picture of a long-standing and seemingly personal relationship. 'They fabricated their allegations and filed a legally and factually deficient complaint to harass and extort a beloved and respected public figure,' the lawsuit alleges. The women's original civil case seeks at least £38 million in damages for each count, of which they are women are of Hispanic descent, and the claims include multiple alleged incidents of sexual misconduct over nearly two decades. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has launched a criminal investigation into the allegations. The Tears of a Clown hitmaker, through his attorney, has denied all claims and said he welcomed the inquiry. 'Exposure to the truth is a powerful thing,' he said. Robinson's attorney said the criminal complaint and civil suit are financially motivated. 'They are after his money,' the lawyer said, reiterating that the singer has done nothing wrong. Robinson is one of the most celebrated artists in American music history. A founding member of Motown Records, he was responsible for some of the label's biggest early hits, including 'My Girl' for The Temptations and 'My Guy' for Mary Wells. As both a solo artist and songwriter, he has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and is credited with writing or co-writing more than 4,000 songs.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson files $500m case against rape accusers
Motown legend Smokey Robinson has filed a $500m (£370m) defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who have accused the singer of sexual assault. The legal case filed by the star and his wife Frances on Wednesday in California accused the women of fabricating the sexual assault allegations as part of an "extortionate" lawsuit. The Robinsons say the alleged victims, who filed their case anonomously, went on family holidays with the couple and celebrated holidays together. The singer, who is now also under criminal investigation in Los Angeles over accusations of sexual assault, has denied all the allegations, and his lawyer said those behind the accusations were after his money. Mr Robinson's lawyers also filed a motion to dismiss the women's lawsuit, arguing they should not have been granted anonymity. "The Robinsons did not abuse, harm, or take advantage of plaintiffs; they treated plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity," the lawsuit states. The women filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on 6 May under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the 27-page legal action, they alleged several incidents that they said dated back to 2006, and accused Mr Robinson of pressuring them into sex. All four women, who are of Hispanic descent, said they had not come forward until now because they feared losing their livelihoods, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some were concerned the allegations could affect their immigration status. They are seeking at least $50m (£38m) in damages and a jury trial. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department then opened its investigation, which the 85-year-old singer said at the time he welcomed "because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing". Mr Robinson was Motown's first hitmaker, writing number one records like Mary Wells' My Guy and The Temptations' My Girl. He was both a talent scout for the record label and one of its most prominent recording artists in his own right, known for songs like Tracks of My Tears, Shop Around and Tears of a Clown. He has spots in both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson under criminal investigation after sexual assault claims
Motown legend Smokey Robinson is under criminal investigation in Los Angeles over accusations of sexual assault. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed it had launched a formal inquiry into the allegations, saying the probe was in the "early stages". The investigation comes after a lawsuit was filed last week by four anonymous housekeepers against the 85-year-old singer-songwriter, accusing him sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence and gender violence. Mr Robinson has denied the allegations. His lawyer has said those behind the accusations are after the musician's money, and he welcomed the police investigation "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 attorney, Christopher Frost, said in a statement to the BBC. He argued the police investigation was only opened because the plaintiffs filed a formal report with their allegations and said the claims were "manufactured" and designed to "tarnish the good names" of the musician and his wife, who is also named in the lawsuit and accused of contributing to a hostile work environment. The sheriff's department told the BBC in a statement that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson AKA 'Smokey Robinson.' The investigation is in the early stages, and we have no further comment." The women filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on 6 May under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the 27-page legal action, they allege several incidents that they say dated back to 2006, and accuse Mr Robinson of pressuring them into sex. All four women, who are of Hispanic descent, said they had not come forward until now because they feared losing their livelihoods, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some were concerned the allegations could affect their immigration status. They are seeking at least $50m (£38m) in damages and a jury trial. Mr Robinson was Motown's first hitmaker, writing number one records like Mary Wells' My Guy and The Temptations' My Girl. He was both a talent scout for the record label and one of its most prominent recording artists in his own right, known for songs like Tracks of My Tears, Shop Around and Tears of a Clown. He has spots in both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs. The women's lawyers held a press conference last week after filing the lawsuit, accusing Mr Robinson of being a "serial and sick rapist" who "must be stopped". Mr Robinson's legal team called the event a "bizarre" attempt "to enlist the public as an unwitting participant in the media circus they are trying to create". "We will have more to say in the coming days as we make our legal response, and in time Mr Robinson will respond in his own words," Mr Frost said, noting that the musician's legal team plans to ask for the case to be dismissed. "We ask anyone following this case to reserve judgment as the evidence comes to light and all the actual facts of the case unfold." Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by four women Smokey Robinson denies sexual assault allegations
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by four women
Four anonymous housekeepers are suing Motown legend Smokey Robinson for $50 million (£37 million), accusing him of sexual assault. A complaint filed in Los Angeles superior court accuses the 85-year-old of sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence and gender violence, in addition to a number of labour violations related to wages, breaks, meal times and overtime pay. The lawsuit also names Robinson's wife, Frances Robinson, claiming she contributed to a hostile work environment, and used "ethnically pejorative words and language". Representatives for the Robinsons did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the accusations could not be independently verified. Robinson was Motown's first hitmaker, writing number one hits like Mary Wells' My Guy and the Temptations' My Girl. Born William Robinson Jr in Michigan, he was both a talent scout for the record label and one of its most prominent recording artists, known for songs like Tracks of My Tears, Shop Around and Tears of a Clown. He has spots in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Halls of Fame, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs. Robinson's second wife, Frances, is also named in the lawsuit [Getty Images] Robinson's reputation and stature was an intimidating factor for his accusers, who were made to feel "powerless", their lawyer said at a press conference in Los Angeles. "They're Hispanic women who were employed by the Robinsons earning below minimum wage," said John Harris. "As low-wage women in vulnerable positions, they lacked the resources and options necessary to protect themselves from sexual assaults." The women are suing under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4, due to the sexual misconduct allegations, including rape, being levelled against the musician. Three are former housekeepers and one was the singer's personal assistant, cook and hairdresser, according to court documents. In the lawsuit, all four women claim that Robinson would summon them to various areas of his properties in Chatsworth, Bell Canyon and Las Vegas, at times when his wife was away. Sometimes emerging naked from a shower, he forced them to have various types of sex over a number of years, starting in 2006, the lawsuit alleges. Jane Does 1, 3 and 4 all allege Robinson sexually assaulted them in the "blue bedroom" of his Chatsworth residence, claiming he would lay down a towel to protect the bed sheets prior to the assaults. Jane Doe 2's allegations state that Robinson raped her in the laundry room and garage of his Chatsworth residence, where closed-circuit cameras were unable to see. The women claim that during the alleged assaults, Robinson used physical barriers and threats of force to prevent them from fleeing. The lawsuit also includes several allegations of workplace violations. All four women say they worked 10 hours a day, for six days a week without being paid minimum wage or overtime. They also claim to have worked holidays without receiving a holiday rate. According to their lawsuit, the employees all quit because of the alleged sexual misconduct and hostile work environment. The BBC has contacted Robinson's representatives for a response to the lawsuit. No police reports or criminal charges have been filed against the musician. A spokesperson for Los Angeles County District Attorney said the women's claims were not under review because law enforcement had not presented a case. Los Angeles police said they had no statement on the matter.
