WARNING: This story embrace particulars of alleged sexual assault and will have an effect on those that have skilled sexual violence or know somebody who’s been impacted by it.
4 former housekeepers of Smokey Robinson allege in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the Motown music luminary repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them whereas they labored for him.
The swimsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court docket seeks no less than $50 million US in damages over the alleged assaults, which the ladies say came about between 2007 and 2024, and labour violations, together with a hostile work setting, illegally lengthy hours and lack of pay.
A message looking for remark from a consultant for the 85-year-old Robinson was not instantly answered.
The 4 girls every say that Robinson would wait till he was alone with them in his Los Angeles home, then sexually assault and rape them over their objections.
“We consider that Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist, and should be stopped,” the ladies’s lawyer, John Harris, mentioned at a information convention.
All mentioned they ultimately stop over the assaults, although in some instances it took a number of years. And all mentioned they feared coming ahead over fears of retaliation, public disgrace and attainable results on their immigration standing.
“Having to inform their husband and youngsters of those despicable actions left them full of disgrace and embarrassment,” Harris mentioned. “So all through their dreadful experiences with Mr. Robinson, all 4 girls remained silent.”
He mentioned as low-wage earners, in addition they all feared “lacking a payday, and never with the ability to afford hire or purchase meals for his or her households.”
All 4 girls withheld their authorized names, citing privateness considerations, and are recognized as Jane Does in courtroom paperwork. They appeared on the information convention with their attorneys, however didn’t converse and coated their faces with masks.
One girl mentioned she labored for Robinson and his spouse, Frances, from 2012 till 2024, and was assaulted no less than 20 instances in that span. One other mentioned she labored for them from 2014 till 2020, and was assaulted no less than 23 instances. One other mentioned she labored for them for a 12 months earlier than quitting in 2024 and was assaulted no less than seven instances. The fourth girl, who mentioned she additionally acted as Frances Robinson’s private assistant, hairdresser and cook dinner, labored for them for 18 years earlier than resigning in 2024. She cited related experiences to the opposite girls, however didn’t say how usually she was assaulted.
Spouse additionally named in swimsuit
The ladies, a few of whom labored for the Robinsons concurrently one another, additionally saved tales of the assaults from each other, however are actually bonding over their expertise, the attorneys mentioned.
They declined to provide particulars on the information convention about how they got here ahead and realized there have been others.
The lawsuit additionally names Robinson’s spouse as a defendant, alleging that she enabled his behaviour regardless of realizing about previous sexual misconduct. It additionally blames her for the hostile work setting, saying she berated them with language that included ethnic slurs.
The swimsuit seeks damages based mostly on sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and different allegations.
“Clearly, no sum of money can compensate these girls for what Mr. Robinson put them by means of,” Harris mentioned. However he mentioned the $50 million was warranted “based mostly on the gravity of Mr. Robinson’s despicable and reprehensible misconduct.”
Herbert Hayden, one other lawyer for the plaintiffs, mentioned that whereas they felt the assaults are worthy of legal investigation, the ladies haven’t filed police reviews, based mostly on the identical fears that saved them from coming ahead.
Born William Robinson, the singer started performing as a teen in his hometown of Detroit and ultimately met Berry Gordy Jr., who would type Motown Information. Robinson was an integral a part of the label as artist, producer and songwriter, scoring hits resembling Store Round, The Tracks of My Tears and The Tears of a Clown together with his group The Miracles, whereas serving to to put in writing My Woman by The Temptations and Ain’t That Peculiar by Marvin Gaye, amongst different hits.
He has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame and Songwriters Corridor of Fame, receiving the Gershwin Prize in 2016 for lifetime contributions to music.
Robinson launched his newest album two weeks in the past, What The World Wants Now, and is ready to renew touring on Friday in Biloxi, Miss., with live performance dates scheduled by means of September in each the U.S. and U.Ok.
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