⚖️ Legal Spotlight: Key Allegations and Developments
- Multiple Accusations: Four former employees allege that Smokey Robinson subjected them to repeated sexual assaults over nearly two decades.
- Complicity Claims: Frances Robinson, Smokey’s wife, is accused of enabling the abuse and contributing to a hostile work environment.
- Labor Violations: The lawsuit also cites wage theft, unpaid overtime, and other labor law infractions.
By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald
On May 6, 2025, a lawsuit was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court against Motown legend Smokey Robinson, 85 and his wife, Frances Robinson. The suit, brought by four former employees identified as Jane Does 1 through 4, alleges a pattern of sexual misconduct, including sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, and gender violence, spanning from 2007 to 2024. The plaintiffs are seeking a minimum of $50 million in damages.
According to the complaint, Jane Doe 1 alleges that Frances Robinson, 77, had “full knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct” and “failed to take the appropriate corrective action” to prevent his “deviant misconduct,” even after Smokey resolved prior claims brought by other women who alleged similar acts of sexual assault by him.
She claims that the first sexual assault occurred in March 2023 and during the course of her employment, she experienced “repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment” against her.
In the complaint, Jane Doe 2 alleges she worked for the defendants from 2014 to 2020 when she was “forced to resign” due to Smokey’s “repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment” against her, which allegedly began in 2016.
Jane Doe 3 worked as a housekeeper for Smokey from 2012 until 2024, when she was allegedly forced to resign due to Smokey’s repeat “sexual assaults and sexual harassment against her,” per the complaint. She also claims that Smokey raped her from behind “at least 20 times” after forcing her to “lie face down” while wearing only a towel.
Jane Doe 4, is also a housekeeper who alleges in the complaint that she worked for Smokey from 2006 to 2024 and was forced to resign due to his “repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment” against her that began in 2007.
The plaintiffs, who served in various roles such as housekeepers, personal assistants, cooks, and hairdressers, allege that Robinson exploited his position to coerce them into non-consensual sexual acts. These incidents reportedly occurred in multiple residences, including homes in Chatsworth, Bell Canyon, and Las Vegas. One plaintiff claims she was raped over 20 times during her 12-year tenure.
Frances Robinson is accused of being aware of her husband’s misconduct and failing to take corrective action.
The lawsuit also alleges that she contributed to a hostile work environment by using ethnically derogatory language and verbal abuse.
The Plaintiffs accuse Frances Robinson of “regularly screaming … in a hostile manner, using ethnically pejorative words and language” toward them and that she knew what her husband was doing and failed to stop to him.
Beyond the sexual misconduct allegations, the lawsuit highlights several labor law violations. The plaintiffs claim they were subjected to excessive work hours without appropriate compensation, denied meal and rest breaks, and were paid below the minimum wage. One plaintiff reported earning as little as $10 per hour.
The plaintiffs cite fear of retaliation, public embarrassment, and potential immigration consequences as reasons for not reporting the alleged abuses earlier. They also express concerns about Robinson’s celebrity status and influence deterring them from seeking justice sooner.
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