Smokey Robinson sues his accusers for elder abuse, defamation in $500M countersuit
By Nika Shakhnazarova
Smokey Robinson has filed a $500 million countersuit against his accusers, alleging elder abuse and defamation in response to their claims of sexual assault.
The Motown legend, 85, earlier this month was slapped with a $50 million lawsuit from four women, who claimed to be his former employees, which included numerous disturbing allegations, including sexual battery and assault.
In his filing, the “Cruisin'” hitmaker likened the allegations against him to a shakedown, saying the women made “gratuitous and slanderous allegations” at a “media circus” press conference on May 6.
Smokey Robinson performing onstage at the 65th GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles, California
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Smokey Robinson has filed a $500 million countersuit against his accusers, alleging elder abuse and defamation in response to their claims of sexual assault.
Getty Images
The singer, born William Robinson Jr., denied any wrongdoing and described the four women — who were his former housekeepers — as his “extended family.”
In legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Robinson noted that he and his spouse had gifted the four accusers — who allegedly worked as Robinson’s housekeepers between 2012 and 2024 — concert tickets, vehicles and cash during their tenure.
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The Detroit-born musician also noted that he attended the graduation of one of his former housekeeper’s children, and submitted text message evidence showing one of the plaintiff’s sending him a friendly message.
Elsewhere, his legal team submitted an image of Robinson’s wife, Frances Gladney, vacationing in Cabo San Lucas Mexico with another one of the plaintiffs — a vacation for which Robinson footed the bill for, he claims.
Smokey Robinson and his wife, Frances Gladney, at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles, California on February 10, 2019.
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Robinson’s wife, Frances Gladney, was also named in the plaintiff’s suit.
Getty Images for The Recording Academy
In his filing, which alleges defamation of character, emotional distress, financial elder abuse, invasion of privacy and civil conspiracy, Robinson’s legal team said that the four plaintiffs “had the ideal access to take advantage of them,” and asked that the women be named in the lawsuit.
The four women named the singer in the $50 million lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 6, claiming sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence, hostile work environment, and more.
Jane Doe 1 — who said she worked as a housekeeper for the couple from Jan. 3, 2023 until February 2024 — claimed she was sexually assaulted by Robinson at least seven times until her resignation.
Smokey Robinson performing at the 'Michael Forever' concert in memory of Michael Jackson at The Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales in October 2011.
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The Motown legend, 85, earlier this month was slapped with a $50 million lawsuit from four women who claimed to be his former employees.
AFP via Getty Images
The second accuser claimed that if she refused to have sex with the “Baby Come Close” singer, he would threaten that he’d make Frances be “mean” to her.
The third plaintiff said she had worked for Robinson from February 2012 until April 2024, and alleged she was “sexually harassed, sexually assaulted and raped” by the musician “at least 20 times.”
Jane Doe 4 claimed Robinson first sexually assaulted her in 2007 and raped her at his temporary residence in Bell Canyon, California, in 2019.
All four accusers claimed they didn’t report the alleged sexual assaults out of fear of losing their livelihood, public embarrassment, shame and humiliation.
Smokey Robinson and Frances Gladney attending Elton John AIDS Foundation's 32nd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party
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In his filing, the “Cruisin'” hitmaker likened the allegations against him to a shakedown.
Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation
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John Harris, the attorney for the four women, said that they believe Robinson is “a serial and sick rapist and must be stopped.”
“Having to tell their [spouses] and children of these despicable actions left them filled with shame and embarrassment. So throughout their dreadful experiences with Mr. Robinson, all four women remained silent,” he said in a statement.
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