Smokey Robinson denies "vile" and "false" rape allegations
Smokey Robinson has responded to accusations of sexual assault, calling them "vile" and "false".
Smokey Robinson has responded to accusations of sexual assault, calling them âvileâ and âfalseâ.
On Tuesday (May 6), a lawsuit was submitted against singer and ex-Motown Records executive Robinson and his wife. The 85-year-old was alleged to have committed sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and creating a hostile work environment against four former housekeepers for the couple between 2007 to April 2024. The pair are being sued for a total of $50million (£37.5million) in damages.
Now, Robinson has responded to the lawsuit through his attorney. In a statement to Rolling Stone, lawyer Christopher Frost said he would demonstrate the lawsuit âis simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon â $50 million, to be exact.â
He also accused the plaintiffâs legal team of using âbizarre theatricsâ during a news conference on Tuesday, adding that the âvile, false allegations against Mr. and Mrs. Robinsonâ were made to âenlist the public as an unwitting participant in the media circus they are trying to create.â
Frost requested readers âreserve judgment as the evidence comes to lightâ, going on to say he would expose âthe numerous aspects of the complaint that defy credulity as well as issues relating to purported timelines, inconsistencies, and relationships between the plaintiffs and others.â Frost also claimed the plaintiffâs attorneys had gone âbeyond the bounds of liberties that even lawyers are typically allowed in this contextâ in their statements to the press, and that Robinson himself would be responding to the allegations soon.
Smokey Robinson (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
In the suit, Robinson is accused of unconsensual âsexual contactâ and âtouchingâ on the alleged victimsâ âentire bodies, including their vaginas, breasts, legs, abdomen, lips, and faceâ.
They additionally accused Robinsonâs wife of failing to prevent his alleged behviour, despite claims that she had âfull knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct, having settled cases with other women that suffered and experienced similar sexual assaults perpetuated by himâ.
The couple were also claimed to have underpaid the housekeepers, and wife Frances was accused of âregularly screaming at them separately in a hostile manner, using ethnically pejorative words and languageâ.
The plaintiffs claim that they âsuffered and continue to suffer economic damages, as well as severe emotional and physical harm, humiliation, distress, embarrassment, and anxiety as a result of Robinsonâs conductâ.
In a press conference, the plaintiffâs attorney John Harris said (via The Guardian): âTheyâre Hispanic women who were employed by the Robinsons earning below minimum wage. As low-wage women in vulnerable positions, they lacked the resources and options necessary to protect themselves from sexual assaults.â
No police reports or criminal charges have been filed against Robinson, it has been reported.
Smokey Robinson is due to play his first UK shows in over 15 years this summer. Heâs scheduled to make an appearance at the Love Supreme Festival, and perform headline concerts in Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff and London.
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.