Four former housekeepers for retired record mogul Smokey Robinson and his wife, Frances Robinson, are suing the pair for alleged sexual assault and harassment so pronounced that each employee was forced to quit.
The Jane Does filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing the former Motown record exec of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and creating a hostile work environment, People reported. They’re seeking a trial and at least $50 million in damages, according to Variety.
The 85-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member did not immediately return requests for comment.
Robinson’s accusers said his wife not only knew about prior abuse her husband had inflicted but failed to prevent his ongoing misconduct. She also spewed “ethnically pejorative words and language” at Robinson, creating a hostile work environment all around, the suit claims.
On top of that, the Jane Does allege they were deprived them of meal and rest breaks, were paid less than minimum wage and never paid overtime or holidays, according to KTLA. Jane Doe 4 said she was never compensated for time she spent traveling with the couple.
Each plaintiff had similar stories about Smokey Robinson’s alleged abuse. He would get them alone, typically after dropping Frances at the nail salon, maneuver them out of sight of security cameras and force himself on them over their objections, according to the suit.
Jane Doe 1 said Robinson would summon her to his bedroom, lock them in and attack. She alleged he raped her at least seven times between January 2023 and February 2024, when she quit, Variety reported, citing the lawsuit.
Jane Doe 2 said Robinson would maneuver her away from security cameras and assault her, which happened at least 23 times. The alleged assaults began in 2016, after she’d been working there for two years, and lasted until she quit in February 2020.
The third Jane Doe worked for the Robinsons from February 2012 to April 2024 and was raped 20 times, she said. Jane Doe 4 was a personal assistant and chef for Frances from October 2006 through April 2024 and had similar stories, but didn’t give a number of assaults.
According to the suit, the women kept their allegations quiet until now out of embarrassment, fear of retribution, jeopardy to their livelihoods and the potential effect on immigration status.
With News Wire Services
