Smokey Robinson is speaking out following disturbing sexual assault allegations made against him in a civil lawsuit filed this week. The Motown legend told the Daily Mail he is “appalled” by the claims, while his legal team is calling the case a false and calculated attempt to extort millions.
The lawsuit, filed on May 6 in Los Angeles Superior Court, names four former employees who accuse Robinson of rape, sexual battery, false imprisonment, gender violence, and maintaining a hostile work environment over a span of nearly two decades.
The women, all listed as Jane Does, say they were employed as housekeepers and personal staff for Robinson and his wife, Frances Glandney, who is also named in the suit. They are seeking at least $50 million in damages, citing repeated sexual assaults, harassment, and verbal abuse.
On May 7, Robinson’s attorney Christopher Frost issued a strong denial, vowing to seek a dismissal.
“As this case progresses, the evidence—the crucial element that guides us—will show that this is simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon,” Frost said in a statement. “Fifty million dollars, to be exact.”
Calling the complaint “vile and false,” Frost accused the plaintiffs of attempting to spark a media circus, and claimed the suit includes “issues relating to purported timelines, inconsistencies, and relationships between the plaintiffs and others.” He did not offer details to support those claims.
“We ask anyone following this case to reserve judgment as the evidence comes to light,” Frost added, noting that Robinson will address the situation “in his own words” when the time is right.
The lawsuit describes a series of graphic and repeated sexual assaults dating back to 2006. One woman alleges Robinson raped her over 20 times. Another claims he forced her to perform oral sex multiple times over a six-year span. The most recent allegations come from a woman who says she was assaulted seven times before resigning in February 2024.
Frances Robinson is also accused of enabling her husband’s alleged abuse and verbally mistreating staff.
Attorneys for the four women pushed back on Robinson’s denial, saying, “We stand behind our four clients’ truthful claims, which are neither false nor vile, but clearly describe Mr. Robinson’s despicable criminal acts.”
No criminal charges have been filed at this time, and the matter is proceeding as a civil case.
