Smokey Robinson Accused of Alleged Rape, Sexual Assault in New Lawsuit Filed by Four Women

Smokey Robinson is facing accusations of sexual assault from four former employees.

In the complaint filed to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, May 6 and obtained by PEOPLE, the former Motown record executive, 85, was accused of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and creating a hostile work environment by four women who worked for him.

The plaintiffs claim that Smokey’s alleged sexual battery was “willful, wanton, and malicious, with a conscious disregard” of their “rights, privacy, and feelings.”

Also named in the lawsuit is Smokey’s wife, Frances Robinson.

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According to the complaint, Jane Doe 1 claims that his wife allegedly had “full knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct” and “failed to take the appropriate corrective action” to prevent his “deviant misconduct” even after settling cases with other women who experienced similar sexual assaults at his hands.

She alleges that the first sexual assault occurred in March 2023 and she experienced “repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment” against her.

Jane Doe 2 claims in the complaint she worked for the defendants from 2014 to 2020 when she was “forced to resign” due Smokey’s “repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment” against her, which allegedly began in 2016.

Jane Doe 3 also worked as a housekeeper for Smokey from 2012 until 2024, when, per the complaint, she was allegedly forced to resign due to Smokey’s repeated incidents of “sexual assaults and sexual harassment against her,” per the complaint. She also claims in the complaint that Smokey “raped” her from behind “at least 20 times” after forcing her to “lie face down” in a towel.

A fourth housekeeper also alleged in the complaint that she worked for Smokey from 2006 to 2024 and was allegedly forced to resign due to “repeated sexual assaults and sexual harassment” against her that began in 2007.

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The plaintiffs are asking for a sum of no less than $50,000,000 in damages.

More information will be provided in a press conference on Tuesday, May 6 in downtown Los Angeles.

PEOPLE has reached out to Smokey, Frances and the plaintiffs’ reps for a statement.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.