Smokey Robinson Faces $50 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit Alongside Wife Frances

Smokey Robinson and His Wife Accused in $50 Million Lawsuit

The world probably knows Smokey Robinson for his soulful voice and Motown classics. But now, he’s in the spotlight for something much darker—a $50 million lawsuit linking both him and his wife Frances Robinson to a string of sexual assault and workplace abuse allegations.

Four women who once worked as housekeepers in the Robinsons' upscale Chatsworth home stepped forward. Rather than using their real names, the lawsuit refers to them as Jane Does. All four plaintiffs are Hispanic, and their attorney says this wasn’t just about individual incidents—it was a pattern lasting almost two decades, with accusations stretching back as far as 2007.

The lawsuit, filed at Los Angeles Superior Court on May 7, 2025, reads like a script from a crime drama. The allegations include sexual assault, sexual battery, gender-based violence, and workplace violations. According to the formal complaint, the women say they experienced repeated abuse by Robinson, all while trying to do their jobs as housekeepers. They claim they were locked into an environment where intimidation and fear were daily realities—eventually, they felt forced to quit just to escape the situation.

Graphic Accusations and a Battle in Court

During a press conference, attorney John Harris didn’t mince words—calling Robinson “a serial and sick rapist.” The language was raw and blunt, maybe intentionally aiming to punch through the usual celebrity fanfare and highlight what his clients say they endured. Specifics of the alleged assaults weren’t made public, likely to protect the privacy of the women involved and to keep the focus on the wider pattern of abuse and power imbalance.

The complaint doesn’t just accuse Robinson of individual attacks. It also alleges false imprisonment, meaning the women claimed they were confined or restricted against their will, and cites other serious workplace violations as well. The legal documents argue that the Robinsons created a hostile work environment so intolerable that resignation was the only option for these women.

Racial and gender dynamics stand out in this case, too. The plaintiffs say their Latina background made them more vulnerable—they were worried their complaints wouldn’t be taken seriously or that their immigration status might be threatened if they spoke up. This isn’t just about celebrity scandal, then, but also about power, vulnerability, and the risks that domestic workers sometimes face behind closed doors.

Right now, Smokey Robinson and his wife haven’t made a public comment on the accusations. The legal process will likely drag on, with the court trying to balance the privacy of the women against the need for transparency in such a high-profile case. The $50 million sum isn’t just about financial damages; it also sends a signal about the seriousness of the claims and how big the alleged harm is perceived to be.

This lawsuit is part of a larger pattern unfolding in recent years, where women in the service and entertainment industries have begun to come forward against famous, powerful figures. Whether this case leads to a trial or a settlement, the claims will hang over Robinson and his wife for the foreseeable future, bringing uncomfortable questions about fame, trust, and the hidden realities of life inside celebrity homes.