Smokey robinson sues his accusers for elder abuse, defamation in $500m countersuit

Smokey robinson sues his accusers for elder abuse, defamation in $500m countersuit


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Smokey Robinson has filed a $500 million countersuit against his accusers, alleging elder abuse and defamation in response to their claims of sexual assault. The Motown legend, 85, earlier


this month was slapped with a $50 million lawsuit from four women, who claimed to be his former employees, which included numerous disturbing allegations, including sexual battery and


assault. In documents obtained by The Post, the “Cruisin'” hitmaker likened the allegations against him to a shakedown, saying the women made “gratuitous and slanderous allegations” at


a “media circus” press conference on May 6. The singer, born William Robinson Jr., denied any wrongdoing and described the four women — who were his former housekeepers — as his “extended


family.” Robinson noted that he and his spouse had gifted the four accusers — who allegedly worked as Robinson’s housekeepers between 2012 and 2024 — concert tickets, vehicles and cash


during their tenure. EXPLORE MORE The Detroit-born musician also noted that he attended the graduation of one of his former housekeeper’s children, and submitted text message evidence


showing one of the plaintiff’s sending him a friendly message. Elsewhere, his legal team submitted an image of Robinson’s wife, Frances Gladney, vacationing in Cabo San Lucas Mexico with


another one of the plaintiffs — a vacation for which Robinson footed the bill for, he claims. In his filing, which alleges defamation of character, emotional distress, financial elder abuse,


invasion of privacy and civil conspiracy, Robinson’s legal team said that the four plaintiffs “had the ideal access to take advantage of them,” and asked that the women be named in the


lawsuit. The four women named the singer in the $50 million lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 6, claiming sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence,


hostile work environment, and more. Jane Doe 1 — who said she worked as a housekeeper for the couple from Jan. 3, 2023 until February 2024 — claimed she was sexually assaulted by Robinson at


least seven times until her resignation. The second accuser claimed that if she refused to have sex with the “Baby Come Close” singer, he would threaten that he’d make Frances be “mean” to


her. The third plaintiff said she had worked for Robinson from February 2012 until April 2024, and alleged she was “sexually harassed, sexually assaulted and raped” by the musician “at least


20 times.” START YOUR DAY WITH ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. THANKS FOR SIGNING UP! Jane Doe 4 claimed Robinson first sexually


assaulted her in 2007 and raped her at his temporary residence in Bell Canyon, California, in 2019. All four accusers claimed they didn’t report the alleged sexual assaults out of fear of


losing their livelihood, public embarrassment, shame and humiliation. John Harris, the attorney for the four women, said that they believe Robinson is “a serial and sick rapist and must be


stopped.” “Having to tell their [spouses] and children of these despicable actions left them filled with shame and embarrassment. So throughout their dreadful experiences with Mr. Robinson,


all four women remained silent,” he said in a statement.