Motown music legend Smokey Robinson broke his silence following a civil lawsuit filed by four former employees who have accused him of sexual misconduct. Speaking briefly to the Daily Mail by phone on Wednesday, May 7, Robinson, 85, expressed his shock over the accusations: “I’m in disbelief … I can’t comment on this right now.”
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 6, alleges a series of serious offenses against Robinson, including sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender-based violence, and the creation of a hostile work environment. The claims come from four women, identified as Jane Does, who say they worked for Robinson and his wife, Frances Glandney, over nearly two decades. Glandney, whom Robinson married in 2002, is also named as a defendant, with claims that she was aware of Robinson’s past behavior and failed to take action, even after reportedly settling prior cases involving similar accusations. All four plaintiffs, who were employed as housekeepers, also allege they were denied proper wages and overtime compensation.
According to the filing, Jane Doe 1 worked for the couple from January 2023 until she left in February 2024; during that time, she claims Robinson assaulted her on at least seven occasions. Jane Doe 2 was employed between May 2014 and February 2020; she claims Robinson sexually assaulted her 23 times. Jane Doe 3 worked as a housekeeper for Robinson from February 2012 through April 2024; with claims she endured at least 20 rapes during her employment. Jane Doe 4 says she began working for the couple in October 2006 and resigned in April 2024; serving as a housekeeper, cook, hairstylist, and personal assistant to Glandney. The lawsuit states that in 2007, Robinson sexually assaulted her, and those assaults continued until her resignation.
The women stated in the complaint they chose not to come forward sooner out of fear of losing their jobs, and also due to concerns about retaliation. They are jointly seeking a minimum of $50 million in damages for the physical, emotional, and psychological harm they claim to have suffered.
Attorney John Harris said during a press conference Robinson’s alleged actions were “despicable and reprehensible misconduct. These courageous four women have collectively decided to come forward and share their experiences of being sexually assaulted by Mr. Smokey Robinson and stand up for their rights as well as the rights of other women, particularly those that may be victimized by him in the future.”
Robinson’s attorney Christopher Frost said the complaint as “an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon,” adding that his team would be “addressing the numerous aspects of the complaint that defy credulity as well as issues relating to purported timelines, inconsistencies, and relationships between the plaintiffs and others.”
Frost — who is also representing Glandney — said Robinson will “respond in his own words” in time, and “we ask anyone following this case to reserve judgment as the evidence comes to light and all the actual facts of the case unfold We will be asking the Court to dismiss the lawsuit. We will also be asking the Court to address that in their statements to the press about Mr. Robinson, the plaintiff’s attorneys have reached beyond the bounds of liberties that even lawyers are typically allowed in this context.”
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