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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 Post
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault, hostile work environment by ex-employees
Smokey Robinson has been accused of misconduct. Four women filed a lawsuit against the 85-year-old musician in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, The Post can confirm. The females all claim to be Robinson's former employees. In the suit, they accused Robinson of creating a hostile work environment, sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and gender violence. Smokey Robinson discusses his new album 'What the World Needs Now' at SiriusXM Studios on April 23, 2025. Getty Images Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances Gladney. AP The singer's wife, Frances Robinson, is also named in the lawsuit. A press conference is set to take place on Tuesday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. The Post has reached out to Robinson's rep for comment. This lawsuit comes on the heels of the R&B artist releasing his new album 'What The World Needs Now' on April 25. Robinson shared a video to his Instagram in which his album received a billboard in Times Square. He captioned the footage, 'It's finally here y'all, 'What the World Needs Now' is officially out everywhere 🎶 Listen to the full album—tap the link in my bio.' At the time, fans flocked to the comments section to share their excitement. One follower wrote, 'It's been on repeat for us!' while a second user chimed in, 'Look at Uncle SMOKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking good Unc. They did you right!!' Robinson rose to fame as an R&B and soul singer after he found the group the Miracles in 1955. The band dispersed in 1972.
