Smokey Robinson allegations: Housekeepers sue Motown legend and wife Frances Robinson, accusing him of years-long sexual assaults

The women, identified as Jane Does 1-4 in court filings, allege that Mr Robinson, 85, took advantage of them in areas of his Southern California home “where closed-circuit cameras weren’t located”, refused to wear a condom and revelled in humiliating them.

According to the complaints, Mr Robinson left them short on wages and never permitted them rest periods or lunch breaks.

Robinson’s agent and publicist did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jane Doe 1 began working for the Robinsons on weekends at their home in Chatsworth, LA, in January 2023, according to the bombshell complaint, which was filed on May 6 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The first sexual assault occurred that March, when Robinson – as he allegedly did on a “typical Saturday” – would “rush home” after taking his wife to the nail salon, the complaint states.

It says Mr Robinson assaulted Jane Doe 1 at least seven times over 13 months

“Upon returning home… Robinson would call [Jane Doe 1] into his blue bedroom, lock the door and escort their dog Shilo out of the room,” the complaint goes on.

Robinson, clad only in his underwear, would then place a towel on the bed so as “not to soil the bed linens, in preparation for what was about to occur,” the complaint contends. Robinson would then sexually assault Jane Doe 1, without protection, while “casually” ignoring her protestations, the complaint continues.

It says Mr Robinson assaulted Jane Doe 1 at least seven times over 13 months, until she finally quit. She was too scared to tell police for fear of losing her livelihood, shame and embarrassment, and the “possible adverse effect on her immigration status,” the complaint states.

“Defendant Frances Robinson failed to take the appropriate corrective action to prevent defendant Smokey Robinson’s deviant misconduct against JD1, despite having full knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct, having settled cases with other women that suffered and experienced similar sexual assaults perpetuated by him,” it says.

Jane Doe 2 worked for the couple from 2014 through 2020, and says she was first assaulted two years into her tenure.

Her allegations almost exactly mirror those made by Jane Doe 1, and the complaint says Mr Robinson’s “brutal sexual advances were constant and even predictable”.