Music legend Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by 4 former employees

Warning: This story includes details of the so-called sexual assault and can affect those who have experienced or know about people who have suffered from it.

Four former housekeepers of Smoky Robinson alleged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that Motown Music repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them while working for him.

The lawsuit filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court demands at least $50 million in damages for the alleged attacks, which women say are compensation between 2007 and 2024, labor breach, including hostile working environments, illegal long hours and lack of salary.

One message that did not immediately answered sought comments from the 85-year-old Robinson representative.

The four women said Robinson would wait until he was alone with them at his house in Los Angeles, and then sexually assaulted their objections and raped them.

“We believe Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist and must stop,” said women's lawyer John Harris in a press conference.

All said they eventually quit the attack, although it took several years in some cases. All said they were worried about fear of revenge, public shame and possible impacts on immigration status.

“The husband and children must be told these mean actions, which fill them with shame and embarrassment,” Harris said. “So, in the horrible experience with Mr. Robinson, all four women remain silent.”

As people with low wage income, they also fear “a lack of paydays, unable to afford rent or buy food for their families.”

All four women identified their legal names on privacy concerns and in their identities in court documents. They appeared at the press conference with their lawyers, but did not speak or cover their faces with masks.

A woman said she worked for Robinson and his wife Francis from 2012 to 2024 and was beaten at least 20 times within this range. Another said she worked for them from 2014 to 2020 and attacked at least 23 times. Another said she worked for them for a year before resigning in 2024 and was attacked at least seven times. The fourth woman said she also served as a personal assistant, hairdresser and Cook to Frances Robinson, working for them for 18 years before resigning in 2024.

The wife also named her in the suit

The lawyer said the women worked for the Robinsons at the same time, and they also kept the story of the attacks with each other, but are now relying on their experience.

They declined to provide details on how they stood up in a press conference and learned that there were others.

The lawsuit also referred to Robinson's wife as the defendant and alleged that her behavior also enabled his behavior despite knowing that she had been sexually misconduct in the past. It also blames her on a hostile work environment, saying she blames them in language including racial slander.

The lawsuit seeks damages based on sexual assault, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and other charges.

“Obviously, there is no money to compensate these women for what Mr. Robinson has experienced,” Harris said. But he said the $50 million guarantee was “based on the gravity of Mr. Robinson's mean and reprehensible misconduct.”

Herbert Hayden, the lawyer for another plaintiff, said that while they believed the attack was worthy of a criminal investigation, the women did not submit police reports, based on the same fear that prevented them from standing up.

Born by William Robinson, the singer started his performance in his hometown of Detroit and eventually met Berry Gordy Jr., who would form Molo Records. Robinson shop,,,,, The track of my tears and The Joker's Tears Help with his group miracles My girl Tempted and This is not that strange Marvin Gaye and other hits.

He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriter Hall of Fame and received the Gershwin Award in 2016 for his lifelong contribution to music.

Robinson released his latest album two weeks ago What the world needs nowand scheduled to tour Biloxi, Mississippi on Friday, with concert dates scheduled in the United States and the United Kingdom in September