The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has initiated a criminal investigation into allegations of rape and sexual assault against Smokey Robinson. The department’s Special Victims Bureau is currently looking into the claims, although no further details have been disclosed at this early stage of the investigation.
The inquiry follows a lawsuit filed last week by four former housekeepers who accuse the renowned Motown artist of repeatedly assaulting and raping them during their employment from 2007 to 2024. The lawsuit, which has been lodged in the Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks damages of at least $50 million (approximately AUD 78.1 million) for the alleged misconduct.
Robinson’s legal representative has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the criminal investigation but has previously dismissed the allegations as “vile” and “false.” The attorney described the lawsuit as an unscrupulous attempt to extract money from an 85-year-old music icon.
The lawyers representing the accusers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, expressed satisfaction that law enforcement is investigating the matter. They affirmed that their clients are willing to fully cooperate with the investigation in pursuit of justice not only for themselves but for others who may have faced similar assaults.
Robinson’s lawyer, Chris Frost, asserted that the accusations are implausible and rife with inconsistencies. The four plaintiffs, whose identities remain confidential, have detailed harrowing experiences in which they allege that Robinson would exploit moments when they were alone to carry out the assaults, with some stating that they were victimised multiple times over a number of years. One woman reported working for Robinson from 2012 to 2024, claiming she was assaulted at least 20 times, while another alleged 23 assaults between 2014 and 2020.
Harris has labelled Robinson a “serial and sick rapist,” insisting that he must be stopped. Despite not initially speaking to police, the accusers felt it was necessary to involve law enforcement due to the severity of the allegations.
All four of the women indicated they eventually left their positions due to the ongoing assaults and voiced concerns about retaliation, social stigma, and potential repercussions on their immigration status if they chose to speak out sooner.
Smokey Robinson is celebrated as one of the major figures of 1960s music, renowned for his contributions both as a member of the Miracles and as a solo artist, with classic hits like “Tears of a Clown” and “The Tracks of My Tears.” He has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.