LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Thursday that it has opened a criminal investigation into rape and sexual assault allegations against Motown music luminary Smokey Robinson.

The investigation comes just over a week after four former housekeepers filed a lawsuit seeking $50m (£37m) in damages over the alleged assaults.

Robinson’s “Legacy Tour” stop was his return to the stage after allegations from four former housekeepers of sexual assault, including at least one alleged incident in Las Vegas.

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.

Get latest articles and stories on Entertainment at LatestLY. Smokey Robinson, the legendary Motown singer, has denied allegations of sexual assault following a lawsuit filed by four women on May 6. Entertainment News | Smokey Robinson Denies Sexual Assault Allegations.