UPDATE: 5/8/25 at 2:38 a.m. ET — Smokey Robinson’s attorney, Christopher Frost, slammed the accusations of sexual assault by four women in a new lawsuit as “vile” and false.”
“As this case progresses, the evidence (the crucial element that guides us) will show that this is simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon — $50 million, to be exact,” Frost said in a statement obtained by TMZ on Wednesday, May 7.
The star’s attorney added, “Through this process we have seen the bizarre theatrics of yesterday’s news conference, as the plaintiffs’ attorneys outlined vile, false allegations against Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, trying to enlist the public as an unwitting participant in the media circus they are trying to create.”
Earlier Wednesday, Robinson said he was “appalled” by the allegations in a phone call with the Daily Mail. “I can’t speak about this right now,” he told the outlet.
Original story:
Smokey Robinson has been accused of sexual assault by four women.
According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, four women — who have chosen to all go by Jane Doe — filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, May 6, against Robinson. The former Motown record executive, 85, is being accused of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and creating a hostile work environment by the women who allegedly worked for him.
The women are also suing Robinson for failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, failure to provide rest and meal periods and inaccurate wage statements.
In the docs, Jane Doe 1 stated that she worked as a housekeeper for Robinson and his wife, Frances Gladney, at their residence in Chatsworth, California, from January 2023 to February 2024. She claimed that she was “forced to resign” due to Robinson’s “repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment against her.”
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While working on the weekends, Jane Doe 1 claimed that Robinson allegedly took Gladney, 72, to the nail salon and would “rush home, knowing that he would be home alone” with Jane Doe 1. She alleged that Robinson would “lock the door” of his bedroom and be “clothed only in his underwear.”
Jane Doe 1 claimed that Robinson would “place a white towel on his bed” before allegedly assaulting Jane Doe 1. She alleged Robinson would “roughly penetrate her vagina with his fingers, orally copulate her and proceed to penetrate her vagina with his erect penis causing her great pain.” Jane Doe 1 claimed that she would “protest and resist” Robinson’s advances and would remind him he’s married. She alleged that the incidents occurred “at least seven times.”
Jane Doe 2 also previously worked as a housekeeper for Robinson and Gladney from May 2014 until February 2020. She claimed that she resigned due to Robinson allegedly sexually assaulting her, with the first alleged incident occurring in 2016.
According to Jane Doe 2, Robinson texted her to meet in a room that had “no cameras.” When Jane Doe 2 arrived, Robinson allegedly would “grab her and begin to penetrate her vagina with his fingers, causing her excruciating pain, and then would proceed to rape her.” The alleged assaults occurred on “at least 23 different occasions.”
Jane Done 3 worked as a housekeeper for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. She resigned following the alleged abuse and claimed it occurred “during most of her entire employment.”
Similar to Jane Doe 1’s alleged account, Jane Doe 3 claimed that Robinson would place a towel down on his bed before engaging in a sexual act. She alleged that Robinson forced her “to lie face down on the towel so that he could penetrate her vagina with his erect penis from the rear.” She claimed it happened “at least 20 times.”
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Like the previous women, Jane Doe 4 worked as a housekeeper before becoming Gladney’s personal assistant, cook and hairdresser. She worked for the couple from 2006 to 2024 and resigned due to Robinson’s alleged behavior. Jane Doe 4 claimed the first incident of sexual misconduct occurred in 2007 when she accompanied Robinson to his Las Vegas home where he allegedly raped her.
According to Jane Doe 4, the alleged assaults occurred in the Las Vegas house in addition to other locations including Robinson’s Chatsworth home and temporary residence in Bell Canyon, California.
The women are seeking $50 million in damages.
Robinson has not yet addressed the allegations. Us has reached out to Robinson for comment.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
