Smokey Robinson recordsdata defamation go well with in opposition to former housekeepers accusing him of sexual attack

Smokey Robinson has filed a $500m (£370m) defamation lawsuit in opposition to the 4 former housekeepers who accused the Motown celebrity of sexual attack previous this month.

Retaining anonymity, the ladies characterized Robinson, 85, as a “serial and sick rapist” who had assaulted them on more than one events between 2007 and 2024 at 3 other places. Their legal professionals stated that “as low-wage workers in vulnerable positions, they lacked the resources and options necessary to protect themselves from sexual assaults”.

They additionally accused Robinson and his spouse, Frances, of labour violations, together with failure to pay minimal salary and time beyond regulation, filing erroneous salary statements and making a adverse paintings atmosphere.

Having denied the ladies’s claims from the outset, Robinson and Frances at the moment are accusing them of fabricating their accounts to extort cash from him. In criminal paperwork bought through the Guardian, the couple said that the alleged sufferers spent years operating with them, authorized monetary assist from the couple and took holidays and celebrated vacations with them.

The Robinsons’ case claims that “the depths of plaintiffs’ avarice and greed knows no bounds”, accusing them of “concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons (everything over and above what they were freely given) and wrongfully destroy the Robinsons’ well-built reputations”.

Robinson faces legal investigation in Los Angeles over the allegations. He to start with stated he welcomed the investigation “because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing”. His legal professionals declare that the ladies will have to no longer were approved anonymity and filed a movement to have their case brushed aside.

All of Hispanic beginning, the ladies stated they’d simplest now made their allegations public owing to worry about their reputations and – in some instances – their immigration standing. They search £50m (£37m) in damages and a jury trial.

The ladies additionally accused Frances of the usage of “ethnically pejorative words and language” and being conscious about her husband’s alleged habits.

“We believe she was aware of the misconduct by her husband … and that she used their status as well as our clients’ reliance on their living wage in order to keep them in check,” stated legal professional Herbert Hayden.

Robinson used to be one of the crucial first stars of Motown, with hits to his title equivalent to The Tears of a Clown, together with his team the Miracles – and as a songwriter for the likes of Marvin Gaye and the Temptations. He launched his most up-to-date album, What the World Needs Now, this 12 months.