Smokey Robinson accused by 4 former rape men, sexual battery: NPR

Smokey Robinson performs on stage during the 65th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images for the Registration Academy)

Kevin Winter / The Recording Academy / Getty Images

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Four women accuse the legend of R&B Smokey Robinson of sexual battery, rape and other offenses in a complaint for damages filed Tuesday before the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles.

The complaint indicates that the four nameless women were the cleaning women of the Robinsons at the time of alleged misconduct. Robinson’s wife, Frances Robinson, is also named.

The complaint alleys that Jane Doe 1, who was a cleaning lady for the Robinsons from January 2023 to February 2024, was forced to resign due to the “repeated sexual assaults by Smokey Robinson and sexual harassment against her”. The other women also lighten several sexual assaults, go back at least 2007.

The complainants are represented by the law firm Harris & Hayden. The complaint indicates that women also accuse Smokey Robinson of false imprisonment, emotional distress and gender violence. The allegations against the two include emotional distress and illegal working conditions.

NPR has not yet received a response from Robinson representatives.

At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, lawyer John Harris called Smokey Robinson as a “serial assaumer” and said that women had remained silent on alleged misconduct out of fear, because they were low wages “living the pay check to the pay check” and were “intimidated” by the celebrity of Robinson. He also said that women were threatened, but did not specify the nature of the threats. Women are also represented by Herbert Hayden.

THE Women’s lawyers ask for a total of $ 50 million in damages. They say that women have not yet submitted police reports.

As a former leader of miracles, Robinson, who is 85, is responsible for some of Motown’s greatest successes, notably “The Tears of A Clown” and “I secondly this emotion”. Robinson finally became the vice-president of Motown Records.

Jennifer Vanasco has published this story.