Trigger Warning: This article contains references to sexual abuse. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional or a crisis hotline.
Music legend Smokey Robinson is facing a major lawsuit. Four former employees have filed serious accusations against him. The lawsuit was submitted on May 6 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The plaintiffs are identified as Jane Doe 1 through 4 in the legal documents.
The 85-year-old Motown star is accused of multiple offenses. These include sexual battery, assault, negligence, false imprisonment, and creating a hostile work environment. The lawsuit also claims civil rights and labor law violations. The women are demanding no less than $50 million in damages. They cite physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Details of the Allegations on Smokey Robinson
The 27-page lawsuit was reviewed by The Mirror US. It also names Smokey’s wife, Frances Robinson, as a co-defendant. Frances is accused of using hostile and ethnically offensive language. She also allegedly failed to stop her husband’s misconduct.
Jane Doe 2 claims Smokey used threats involving his wife. He would warn her about Frances’ “mean” behavior if she refused his sexual advances.
All four women worked for the Robinsons as housekeepers. Jane Doe 4 also served as Frances’ personal assistant, cook, and hairdresser. Their employment spanned from as early as 2006 to as recently as April 2024.
Smokey Robinson is being sued by 4 former housekeepers who allege that he repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them during their employment. pic.twitter.com/YpahOI539N
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 6, 2025
Jane Doe 1 said she was assaulted at least seven times between January 2023 and February 2024. Following that, Jane Doe 2 reported 23 incidents during her employment from 2014 to 2020. Jane Doe 3, employed from 2012 to 2024, claimed 20 incidents. Jane Doe 4, who worked from 2006 to 2024, said she was repeatedly assaulted at two of Smokey’s properties. One in Bell Canyon, Ventura County, and the other in Las Vegas.
Claims of Hostile Workplace and Wage Theft
The lawsuit says the alleged assaults happened in areas of the Robinsons’ home without cameras. These included parts of Smokey’s Chatsworth residence. The plaintiffs say this environment forced them to resign.
They also claim they were not paid fairly. The Robinsons allegedly failed to meet minimum wage standards. The lawsuit says the women were denied lunch breaks, rest periods, and overtime pay. They were even made to work holidays without holiday pay.
Attorney John Harris spoke at a press conference on May 6. He said, “The employees were Hispanic women employed as housekeepers earning below minimum wage. As low-wage workers in vulnerable positions, they lacked the resources and options to protect themselves.”
As the case moves forward, both the music icon and his wife face increasing scrutiny.
