Inquiry launched against Smokey Robinson, with allegations of rape and sexual misconduct levied against him.
Fresh Take on the Smokey Robinson Investigation
In the City of Angels, things aren't so rosy for soul legend Smokey Robinson. The LA Sheriff announced an investigation into the veteran artist, triggered by a bombshell lawsuit filed by four former housekeepers. The four ladies, known as Jane Does 1 through 4 in legal documents, allege a pattern of sexual misconduct spanning several years.
The Sheriff's department is diving headfirst into the criminal accusations against William Robinson, aka Smokey Robinson. According to their statement, the investigation is still in its infancy, and they're tight-lipped about any further details.
Now 85 years old, Smokey made his name with the iconic Motown label in Detroit, alongside his group The Miracles. Hits like The Tracks of My Tears, Ooo Baby Baby, and The Tears of a Clown echo the '60s like a time capsule.
The lawsuit filing happened at the beginning of May. Among the allegations, one plaintiff claims she was sexually harassed, assaulted, and raped over a 12-year stint with the singer, up until 2024. Another accuses the singer of seven sexual assaults between March 2023 and her resignation in February 2024, claiming he gained entry to his LA villa underwear-clad and forcibly assaulted her despite her resistance.
Another housekeeper alleges repeated assaults totaling over 20 incidents in four years. The final plaintiff claims the singer began assaulting her in 2007, when she accompanied him to a secondary residence in Las Vegas. All plaintiffs have requested anonymity.
Lawyers John Harris and Herbert Hayden, representing the women, spoke to AFP and praised the opening of a criminal investigation. They stated that the women intend to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation "to seek justice for themselves and for potential other victims." The lawsuit demands at least $50 million in damages and interest.
The lawsuit also accuses Frances Robinson, Smokey's spouse, of turning a blind eye to her husband's alleged misconduct. Upon learning of the lawsuit, Frances stated she was "as shocked as you."
This case is far from closed, with the criminal investigation still underway as of mid-May 2025. The details presented are based on legal complaints and initial law enforcement reports, but no formal charges or convictions have been confirmed as of the latest available information.
The lawyers representing the four anonymous housekeepers, who allege sexual misconduct by Smokey Robinson, commended the criminal investigation opened by the LA Sheriff's department, expressing their intention to cooperate fully to pursue justice and potentially other victims. Meanwhile, general-news outlets have covered this matter extensively, also reporting on the concurrent entertainment, crime-and-justice, and celebrity headlines surrounding the legendary Motown artist, Smokey Robinson.
