Smokey Robinson (Photo: John Mathew Smith)
A lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles alleges that Motown legend Smokey Robinson sexually harassed and raped four women who worked as housekeepers for him and his wife Frances.
The lawsuit claims that Robinson, 85, would find ways to isolate the women at his homes in the San Fernando Valley and Las Vegas, and forced them to have sex despite their protests, Rolling Stone magazine reports. The allegations span a period between 2007 and 2024.
In addition to the rape allegations, the suit accuses Robinson of false imprisonment and gender-based violence.
The lawsuit also names Robinson’s wife as a defendant, accusing her of promoting a hostile work environment, negligence, and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, Rolling Stone reports.
A representative for Robinson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Rolling Stone reported.
