Smokey Robinson sued, accused of sexually assaulting former employees
Story by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press
5 min read
Smokey Robinson — the singer, songwriter, producer and celebrity who had a vital role in building the Motown record label — is facing a $50 million civil lawsuit filled with racy allegations that, proven or not in court, threaten to damage his reputation and legacy.
In court documents filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, four women, each identified only as Jane Does to protect their privacy, accused Robinson of an array of offenses that their attorney said included "sexual misconduct of the worst sort."
Among the allegations: sexual battery, sexual assault and sexual harassment.
"I will not describe the details of the sexual assaults and rapes because they are too graphic and disturbing for this news conference," attorney John Harris said at the Los Angeles news conference. "But you can read about them in the complaints."
Within hours, the news was all over the internet.
In addition to the Free Press, several news outlets, that included USA TODAY, Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Associated Press and Fox News are seeking — but did not yet receive — a response from Robinson's representatives.
The lawsuit, reports said, asserts in explicit detail that Robinson, now 85, sexually abused and financially took advantage of the women who were working in his homes in Los Angeles; Ventura County, Calif.; and Las Vegas for many years.
The court filing also accuses Robinson’s wife, Frances Robinson, of knowing about the misconduct, but failing to prevent it, and three of the women, one report said, feared reporting the incidents to authorities because of their immigration status.
The bombshell allegations against the celebrated musician — born and raised in Detroit and who returned last year to serve as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix grand marshal and an honored guest — cast a cloud over his other accomplishments.
The lawsuit's allegations
Three accusers were at the news conference in person, wearing masks and dark glasses, according to several news reports, and the fourth appeared remotely through video conference. Her face was also obscured.
Their attorney, whose remarks were translated into Spanish during the news conference, said all the women are Hispanic and Robinson paid them less than minimum wage and violated various labor rules.
According to USA TODAY, which reported it had reviewed a copy of the lawsuit, the women said they were forced to leave their jobs because of Robinson’s "repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment."
One woman, USA TODAY reported, claimed the singer offered to pay her for sex.
Another said that Robinson had raped her several times for more than a year, accusing the singer of initiating advances on Saturdays, when she was working, after dropping off his wife at the nail salon.
The woman also said Robinson would call her into his bedroom, where he was "clothed only in his underwear," and kissed her, penetrated her with his fingers and forced her to have oral sex and intercourse.
"Obviously, no amount of money can compensate these women for what Mr. Robinson subjected them to," Harris said in the news conference. However, he added, given the nature of the allegations, the $50 million his clients are seeking "is clearly warranted."
Starting Motown Records
Known as the "King of Motown," William Robinson Jr., was born in Detroit to working-class parents, who, one biographical account goes, had little money but lots of love.
But they didn't necessarily have enough love for each other because, when Robinson was a boy, his parents divorced. And then, when he was 10, his mother died, and his older sister looked after him.
Robinson got the nickname Smokey, he once explained, because he loved cowboy movies and that’s what his favorite uncle and godfather called him, “Smokey Joe.” It mostly stuck, with Robinson later dropping the Joe.
He went to Northern High in Detroit, where he formed a doo-wop group. He also lived not far from two other future stars, Aretha Franklin, another future Northern graduate, and Diana Ross.
Smokey Robinson speaks about inspiration from the Motown family while addressing a crowd at the unveiling of expansion work at Detroit's Motown Museum on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. Motown© USA TODAY
Robinson formed a group with friends — the Matadors, which later became the Miracles — and after a failed audition, met songwriter Berry Gordy, who helped them release singles, and later started the Motown label.
For writing, producing, and performing for the singles, Gordy, Robinson and the rest of the group got a check for only $3.19, and that’s when, according to music magazine Wax Poetics, Robinson got in Gordy’s ear.
The magazine said Robinson told Gordy: The only way to make money would be to control the publishing as well as writing. Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and set up a venture that later became Motown.
Disbelief and disappointment
Fans, so far, have reacted to the allegations with skepticism and disappointment.
A spokesperson for Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the case was not under review for criminal prosecution because law enforcement had not presented a case, according to Reuters news.
The Los Angeles police, the news service added, had no statement on the matter.
Civil cases involve disputes between people and organizations, and its usually resolve by paying monetary damages. In criminal cases, the government on behalf of the people allege a crime has been committed and attempts to prove it.
In the former, a plaintiff — or plaintiffs — must show that it is more likely than not the accusations are true, while in the latter, the standard is higher, beyond reasonable doubt. The punishment often is time behind bars.
At 85, some have suggested Robinson may be too old and frail to assault anyone.
Smokey Robinson speaks onstage during the 10th annual Hollywood Beauty Awards at Avalon Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles on April 6, 2025.© Amy Sussman, Getty Images
Throughout his music career, Robinson has had his share of celebrity scandals over what might be considered "bad boy behavior," including affairs and drug addiction. But, the star later said, God freed him from cocaine.
And to Robinson’s admirers, he is more than a velvety-smooth crooner who raced to the top of the music charts as the frontman of the Miracles. He is a savvy business executive who blazed a trail for other artists.
Through the lawsuit — and a trial, if there is one — the public may learn more.
Visit Detroit Free Press
Story by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press
5 min read
Smokey Robinson — the singer, songwriter, producer and celebrity who had a vital role in building the Motown record label — is facing a $50 million civil lawsuit filled with racy allegations that, proven or not in court, threaten to damage his reputation and legacy.
In court documents filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, four women, each identified only as Jane Does to protect their privacy, accused Robinson of an array of offenses that their attorney said included "sexual misconduct of the worst sort."
Among the allegations: sexual battery, sexual assault and sexual harassment.
"I will not describe the details of the sexual assaults and rapes because they are too graphic and disturbing for this news conference," attorney John Harris said at the Los Angeles news conference. "But you can read about them in the complaints."
Within hours, the news was all over the internet.
In addition to the Free Press, several news outlets, that included USA TODAY, Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Associated Press and Fox News are seeking — but did not yet receive — a response from Robinson's representatives.
The lawsuit, reports said, asserts in explicit detail that Robinson, now 85, sexually abused and financially took advantage of the women who were working in his homes in Los Angeles; Ventura County, Calif.; and Las Vegas for many years.
The court filing also accuses Robinson’s wife, Frances Robinson, of knowing about the misconduct, but failing to prevent it, and three of the women, one report said, feared reporting the incidents to authorities because of their immigration status.
The bombshell allegations against the celebrated musician — born and raised in Detroit and who returned last year to serve as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix grand marshal and an honored guest — cast a cloud over his other accomplishments.
The lawsuit's allegations
Three accusers were at the news conference in person, wearing masks and dark glasses, according to several news reports, and the fourth appeared remotely through video conference. Her face was also obscured.
Their attorney, whose remarks were translated into Spanish during the news conference, said all the women are Hispanic and Robinson paid them less than minimum wage and violated various labor rules.
According to USA TODAY, which reported it had reviewed a copy of the lawsuit, the women said they were forced to leave their jobs because of Robinson’s "repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment."
One woman, USA TODAY reported, claimed the singer offered to pay her for sex.
Another said that Robinson had raped her several times for more than a year, accusing the singer of initiating advances on Saturdays, when she was working, after dropping off his wife at the nail salon.
The woman also said Robinson would call her into his bedroom, where he was "clothed only in his underwear," and kissed her, penetrated her with his fingers and forced her to have oral sex and intercourse.
"Obviously, no amount of money can compensate these women for what Mr. Robinson subjected them to," Harris said in the news conference. However, he added, given the nature of the allegations, the $50 million his clients are seeking "is clearly warranted."
Starting Motown Records
Known as the "King of Motown," William Robinson Jr., was born in Detroit to working-class parents, who, one biographical account goes, had little money but lots of love.
But they didn't necessarily have enough love for each other because, when Robinson was a boy, his parents divorced. And then, when he was 10, his mother died, and his older sister looked after him.
Robinson got the nickname Smokey, he once explained, because he loved cowboy movies and that’s what his favorite uncle and godfather called him, “Smokey Joe.” It mostly stuck, with Robinson later dropping the Joe.
He went to Northern High in Detroit, where he formed a doo-wop group. He also lived not far from two other future stars, Aretha Franklin, another future Northern graduate, and Diana Ross.
Smokey Robinson speaks about inspiration from the Motown family while addressing a crowd at the unveiling of expansion work at Detroit's Motown Museum on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. Motown© USA TODAY
Robinson formed a group with friends — the Matadors, which later became the Miracles — and after a failed audition, met songwriter Berry Gordy, who helped them release singles, and later started the Motown label.
For writing, producing, and performing for the singles, Gordy, Robinson and the rest of the group got a check for only $3.19, and that’s when, according to music magazine Wax Poetics, Robinson got in Gordy’s ear.
The magazine said Robinson told Gordy: The only way to make money would be to control the publishing as well as writing. Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and set up a venture that later became Motown.
Disbelief and disappointment
Fans, so far, have reacted to the allegations with skepticism and disappointment.
A spokesperson for Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the case was not under review for criminal prosecution because law enforcement had not presented a case, according to Reuters news.
The Los Angeles police, the news service added, had no statement on the matter.
Civil cases involve disputes between people and organizations, and its usually resolve by paying monetary damages. In criminal cases, the government on behalf of the people allege a crime has been committed and attempts to prove it.
In the former, a plaintiff — or plaintiffs — must show that it is more likely than not the accusations are true, while in the latter, the standard is higher, beyond reasonable doubt. The punishment often is time behind bars.
At 85, some have suggested Robinson may be too old and frail to assault anyone.
Smokey Robinson speaks onstage during the 10th annual Hollywood Beauty Awards at Avalon Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles on April 6, 2025.© Amy Sussman, Getty Images
Throughout his music career, Robinson has had his share of celebrity scandals over what might be considered "bad boy behavior," including affairs and drug addiction. But, the star later said, God freed him from cocaine.
And to Robinson’s admirers, he is more than a velvety-smooth crooner who raced to the top of the music charts as the frontman of the Miracles. He is a savvy business executive who blazed a trail for other artists.
Through the lawsuit — and a trial, if there is one — the public may learn more.
Visit Detroit Free Press
