Motown legend Smokey Robinson has denied the allegations in a civil lawsuit accusing him of repeatedly sexually assaulting four former housekeepers.
In a statement to Urban Hollywood 411, an attorney for Robinson and his wife Frances Robinson said the complaint is a ploy to “extract money” from the wealthy couple.
“As this case progresses, the evidence will show that this is simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon — $50 million dollars, to be exact,” attorney Christopher Frost said.
Related: Smokey Robinson Accused of Sexual Assault by Ex-Employees in $50M Lawsuit
The attorney also criticized the accusers’ lawyers for “bizarre theatrics” during a May 6 news conference announcing the lawsuit.
“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. We ask anyone following this case to reserve judgment as the evidence comes to light and all the actual facts of the case unfold,” Frost said.
“We will be addressing the numerous aspects of the complaint that defy credulity as well as issues relating to purported timelines, inconsistencies, and relationships between the plaintiffs and others,” Frost added. “We will be asking the Court to dismiss the lawsuit.”
The Daily Mail published an article on May 7, after reaching Smokey Robinson by phone for comment on the allegations.
“I am appalled,” he was quoted as saying. The British tabloid reported Robinson “began mumbling incoherently” during the call and “did not sound well.”
The singer-songwriter told the outlet, “I can’t speak about this right now,” before abruptly ending the call.
Attorneys from Los Angeles-based Harris & Hayden law firm filed the lawsuit against Robinson on Tuesday in L.A. County Superior Court on behalf of four anonymous “Jane Doe” accusers.
The allegations in the complaint included sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and creating a hostile work environment.
The suit alleged the singer touched the women over their “entire bodies, including their vaginas, breasts, legs, abdomen, lips, and face” without consent.
Robinson’s wife was also named in the lawsuit, with the women claiming she did nothing to prevent the alleged assaults.
Per the lawsuit, the women said they were afraid to report Robinson to police because of his celebrity status and they feared being shamed by their families.
During the news conference, the attorneys were joined by the accusers who wore masks to obscure their faces. The attorneys said the alleged assaults occurred between 2007 and 2024.
“Our four clients have a common thread. They’re Hispanic women who were employed as housekeepers by the Robinsons, earning below minimum wage,” attorney John Harris told reporters.
Harris said Robinson is “sick” and the singer “must be stopped.” The accusers are seeking $50 million in damages.
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