Smokey Robinson accused of rape, sexual assault in lawsuit filed by 4 former housekeepers

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Four former housekeepers of Motown legend Smokey Robinson allege that the singer repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted them, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court seeks at least $50 million in damages over the alleged assaults, which the women say took place between 2007 and 2024, and labor violations including a hostile work environment, illegally long hours and lack of pay.

"We believe that Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist, and must be stopped," the women's attorney John Harris said at a news conference.

Many of the alleged acts occurred at Robinson's Chatsworth home.

The four women each say that Robinson would wait until he was alone with them in his house, then sexually assault and rape them over their objections.

The singer's wife, Frances, is also named in the lawsuit, which accuses her of knowing about the alleged misconduct. It also blames her for the hostile work environment, saying she berated them with language that included ethnic slurs.

"We believe she was aware of the misconduct by her husband, Smokey Robinson, and that she used their status as well as our clients' reliance on their living wage in order to keep them in check," plaintiffs' attorney Herbert Hayden said regarding Frances' alleged role.

The former housekeepers appeared at Tuesday's news conference but attempted to conceal their identities and did not speak. Their lawyers say the women all made below minimum wage and weren't paid overtime - all factors for why they didn't speak up.

"They all feared missing a payday and not being able to pay their rent or buy food for their families," Harris said.

Attorneys added that Robinson's celebrity status intimidated the women and made them feel powerless. They said their clients have not reported the alleged misconduct to police but that that could change.

Robinson is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He rose to fame as a member of the Motown group the Miracles and as a solo artist.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.