Smokey Robinson Denies Rape Allegations

Earlier this week, four unnamed women, all of whom worked at housekeepers for the 85-year-old pop legend Smokey Robinson, sued Robinson for a list of offenses including rape, sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence, and a hostile work environment, among other things. The lawsuit, which also names Robinson’s wife Frances, claims that Robinson committed dozens of ritualistic assaults between 2007 and 2024. Robinson has now responded to the lawsuit, as has his lawyer.

When The Daily Mail reached Smokey Robinson by phone, he simply said, “I am appalled,” and then ended the call by saying, “I can’t speak about this right now.” According to The Daily Mail, Robinson “did not sound well.” Robinson’s lawyers have issued a more extensive statement, denying the allegations and accusing the former housekeepers of trying to extort Robinson.

According to The New York Times, Smokey Robinson’s lawyer Christopher Frost describes the lawsuit’s charges as “vile,” “false,” and “an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon.” Frost says, “We ask anyone following this case to reserve judgment as the evidence comes to light and all the actual facts of the case unfold.”

If you or someone you know is undergoing sexual abuse, please visit rainn.org or contact the National Sexual Assault Helpline at 1-800-656-4673.