Photograph Credit score: Smokey Robinson by Dwight McCann / CC by 2.5
4 nameless girls and former housekeepers of Smokey Robinson are suing the singer with allegations of sexual assault and rape.
Motown singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson is being accused of sexual assault and rape, resulting in a hostile work setting, in a lawsuit filed by 4 of his former housekeepers. All 4 girls, listed anonymously as Jane Does, accuse Robinson of undesirable sexual habits and abuse. His spouse, Frances Gladney, is listed as a defendant alongside him within the $50 million lawsuit.
The 85-year-old Robinson is accused of sexual assault, battery, false imprisonment, and gender violence at his Los Angeles house, starting as early as 2007 and lasting till 2024. The 4 girls additionally allege labor violations, claiming they weren’t paid correctly earlier than they stop their jobs.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket, additionally names Robinson’s spouse, Frances Gladney. It alleges that she screamed on the plaintiffs with “ethnically pejorative phrases and language.” Additional, they declare Gladney coated up the continued abuse they suffered by her husband.
Jane Doe 1 accuses Robinson of raping her and committing different undesirable sexual acts a minimum of seven occasions after calling her to a bed room. The ultimate prevalence came about on February 17, 2024—simply two days earlier than Robinson’s 84th birthday. The opposite plaintiffs accused Robinson of comparable offenses; Jane Does 2 and three every allege a minimum of 20 cases of assault.
“Clearly, no amount of cash can compensate these girls for what Mr. Robinson subjected them to,” mentioned legal professional John Harris. “However given the gravity of Mr. Robinson’s despicable and reprehensible misconduct […] this quantity is clearly warranted.”
Attorneys for the 4 plaintiffs mentioned they’d welcome a prison investigation, however haven’t been contacted by prosecutors. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s workplace mentioned the matter was not below assessment as a result of legislation enforcement had not introduced a case. Equally, the Los Angeles police mentioned they’d not obtained a report on the matter.
The 4 plaintiffs say they didn’t come ahead sooner as a result of worry they’d lose their low-paying jobs, mixed with Robinson’s movie star. All 4 girls are Hispanic and say that disgrace related to sexual assault of their tradition additional contributed to their not reporting the difficulty sooner.
Robinson was instrumental within the rise of Motown through the Sixties. He’s finest identified for his hit “Tears of a Clown,” in addition to over 30 hits both as a solo performer or alongside The Miracles.
