Picture Credit score: Frances Gladney and Smokey Robinson by Gage Skidmore / CC by 2.0
A prison investigation has been launched into the sexual assault allegations towards Smokey Robinson in a lawsuit filed by his former housekeepers.
Legendary singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson was sued final week by former staff who allege assault, sexual battery, and false imprisonment. The 4 Jane Does, who labored for the singer between 2006 and 2024, filed a lawsuit towards the Motown legend and his spouse Frances in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom with comparable claims that Robinson sexually assaulted and harassed them throughout their employment.
Now, a prison investigation has been launched into the allegations, in line with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division Particular Victims Bureau is actively investigating prison allegations involving William Robinson, AKA Smokey Robinson,” reads an announcement from the sheriff’s workplace. “The investigation is within the early levels, and we’ve got no additional remark.”
The 4 girls within the lawsuit additionally declare that Robinson’s spouse contributed to a hostile work atmosphere through the use of “ethnically pejorative phrases and language” whereas yelling at them. Additional, they allege she was conscious of her husband’s misconduct, however didn’t take correct motion to stop it regardless of information that the 85-year-old had settled circumstances from different girls with comparable allegations.
The previous housekeepers within the lawsuit state they didn’t take motion towards Robinson sooner for concern of dropping their jobs, or of familial disgrace and embarrassment. Some had been additionally afraid it might have an effect on their immigration standing.
“We’re conscious {that a} police report has now been filed by the Plaintiffs within the civil lawsuit. It’s clear to us what is occurring right here,” mentioned the singer’s lawyer in a assertion. “Plaintiffs filed a police report solely after they filed a $50 million lawsuit. This implies solely that the police are actually required to research. We welcome that investigation, which includes Plaintiffs who proceed to cover their identities, as a result of publicity to the reality is a strong factor.”
“We really feel assured {that a} willpower can be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing mistaken, and that it is a determined try and prejudice public opinion and make much more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs had been beforehand capable of create,” the assertion continues. “The file will in the end display that that is nothing greater than a manufactured lawsuit supposed to tarnish the great names of Smokey and Francis Robinson, for no different motive than unadulterated avarice.”
