Smokey Robinson’s Victory Lap Upended by Sexual Assault Allegations
At 85, the Motown legend Smokey Robinson was on something of a celebratory tour. With a new album to promote, he shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen last month, performed last week on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and was in the midst of playing a series of live dates in the United States and the United Kingdom.
“I feel wonderful,” he told Entertainment Tonight in a recent interview. “I pray every night before we go on that we can be entertaining and uplifting to the people who are there.”
But on Tuesday, Mr. Robinson’s victory lap was upended when four women who had worked as housekeepers for him filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, claiming in the suit that he abused them dozens of times over many years.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles, identifies the women only as Jane Does 1 through 4. They each accuse Mr. Robinson of raping them repeatedly while they were employed cleaning his home in Chatsworth, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, as well as in his other homes in Ventura County, Calif., and Las Vegas.
Multiple attempts to reach Mr. Robinson and his lawyers and representatives were unsuccessful on Wednesday. The Daily Mail said it had reached Mr. Robinson by telephone and reported that he had said, “I am appalled.”
Three of the women feared reporting Mr. Robinson to the authorities because of their immigration status, according to the lawsuit, which also accuses Mr. Robinson and his wife of false imprisonment, creating a hostile work environment and failure to pay minimum wage.
The lawsuit goes into graphic detail about the abuse claims.
Court papers say that Mr. Robinson would drop off his wife at the nail salon and rush home to assault one woman while she was alone. A second woman, the suit says, had worked for the Robinsons from 2014 to 2020 and had been sexually assaulted by Mr. Robinson at least 23 times during that period. The suit says that a third woman who worked for the Robinsons from 2012 to 2024 reported being sexually assaulted by Mr. Robinson at least 20 times. A fourth woman says in the suit that she worked for the couple from 2006 until April 2024 and had been sexually assaulted by Mr. Robinson at several of his homes.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs, who did not immediately provide additional details about the case on Wednesday, have not said whether their clients intended to pursue criminal charges. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department, which covers the area where the lawsuit said that incidents had occurred, said the department was not investigating the allegations because they were part of a civil matter. Law enforcement agencies in other municipalities where, according to the lawsuit, crimes occurred, said they had no record of reports of assaults.
Public records show that Mr. Robinson has been a defendant in a handful of civil lawsuits over the years, for disputes that include breach of contract, copyright issues and royalty payments.
Mr. Robinson was Motown royalty, writing and performing some of the most beloved hits in the catalog with the Miracles. He wrote (solo and with others) classic songs including “Shop Around,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Going to a Go-Go,” “I Second That Emotion” and “The Tears of a Clown.” He also wrote or co-wrote many hits for other artists, including “My Girl,” for the Temptations, and “My Guy,” for Mary Wells.
Even as he has became an octogenarian, Mr. Robinson — who has been honored over the years by the Recording Academy, the Kennedy Center and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, among many others — has been prolific. He released a studio album in 2023 called “Gasms” that was filled with sensual tracks, an effort that drew renewed attention from some fans on social media on Wednesday.
“‘Gasm’ is any good feeling you might have,” he told Mr. Kimmel.
Now, Mr. Robinson, who is credited with more than 4,000 songs, is out with a new album titled “What the World Needs Now” and taking part in a media blitz to promote it.
He is scheduled to play a show on Friday in Biloxi, Miss., at a 1,600-seat casino theater. Representatives for the concert venue did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment.
Asked about the new album’s title in the interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mr. Robinson said: “It’s so timely, man. What the world needs now is love.”
Kitty Bennett contributed research.
Smokey Robinson Accused: A Q&A on the Allegations and Recent Developments
This article provides data about the allegations against Smokey Robinson. It’s critically important to remember that these are allegations and that Mr. robinson denies them. We aim to present the facts as reported in the news, while striving for neutrality and accuracy.
Q: Who is Smokey Robinson?
A: William “Smokey” robinson Jr.is an 85-year-old American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former lead singer of the Motown group The Miracles. He is a highly influential figure in music history, known for his smooth vocals, songwriting prowess, and contributions to the establishment of Motown records. He wrote and co-wrote numerous hit songs,many of which are considered classics.
Q: What are some of Smokey Robinson’s most famous songs?
A: Smokey Robinson is the artist and co-writer of numerous iconic songs. Some of the most well-known include:
“Shop Around”
“You’ve Really Got a hold on Me”
“The Tracks of My Tears”
“Going to a Go-Go”
“I Second That Emotion”
“The Tears of a Clown”
He also penned the following songs for othre artists:
“My Girl” (The Temptations)
“My Guy” (Mary Wells)
Q: What are the recent accusations against Smokey Robinson?
A: In late May, 2024, four women who formerly worked as housekeepers for Smokey Robinson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles. The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Robinson sexually assaulted them on multiple occasions over several years. The women are identified in the suit as Jane Does 1 through 4.
Q: What specifically does the lawsuit allege?
A: The lawsuit accuses Mr. robinson of raping the women repeatedly while they were employed cleaning his homes in Chatsworth (Los Angeles), Ventura County (California), and Las Vegas.The suit provides specific examples, including claims of assaults occurring while his wife was away. There are further allegations of false imprisonment, creating a hostile work surroundings, and failure to pay minimum wage.
Q: What has Smokey Robinson said about the accusations?
A: According to The Daily Mail, which reported it had reached Mr. Robinson by telephone, he stated, “I am appalled.” No other public statement from Mr. Robinson or his representatives has been confirmed at this time.
Q: What is alleged in the lawsuit concerning the timing of the alleged assaults?
A: The lawsuit provides specific details on the timing. One woman worked for the Robinsons from 2014 to 2020 and was allegedly assaulted at least 23 times. A second woman worked from 2012 to 2024 and alleges being assaulted at least 20 times. A fourth woman stated that she was employed by the Robinsons from 2006 to April 2024, claiming assaults at multiple homes.
Q: Why did some of the alleged victims reportedly not report the assaults to authorities?
A: According to the lawsuit, three of the women were hesitant to report the alleged abuse due to their immigration status, suggesting a fear of potential negative repercussions related to their legal residency.
Q: are there any ongoing investigations or criminal charges related to the allegations?
A: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department, which covers the area where the alleged incidents occurred, has stated that they are not investigating the matter because it pertains to a civil lawsuit. Law enforcement agencies in other claimed locations of the alleged offenses have reported no record of any reports of assaults. Whether the plaintiffs intend to pursue criminal charges in the future is as yet unknown.
Q: What is a “victory lap” and why was it upended?
A: the term “victory lap” refers to a period of success and public recognition, often accompanied by promotional activities. in this case,it described Smokey Robinson’s busy schedule. The accusations of sexual assault upended the tour and other activities he undertook during this period.
Q: What was Smokey Robinson doing prior to the lawsuit being filed?
A: Prior to the filing of the lawsuit, Smokey Robinson was enjoying a period of renewed attention and activity. He had performed last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen the prior month, and was promoting a new album, titled “What the World Needs Now.” He was also in the midst of a series of tour dates in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Q: What is the meaning of the new album title, “What the World Needs Now?”
A: According to Smokey Robinson himself, “It’s so timely, man. What the world needs now is love.”
Q: What other legal issues has Smokey Robinson faced previously?
A: Public records show that Mr. Robinson has been involved in a handful of civil lawsuits over the years, including disputes concerning breach of contract, copyright issues, and royalty payments.
Q: Where can I find the original source material regarding Smokey Robinson’s allegations?
A: Information regarding these allegations is reported in various news outlets. For the original legal filing, you would need to consult official court documents, which are generally publicly available.