Smokey Robinson, 85, has filed a $500 million cross-complaint against four former housekeepers who accused him of sexual harassment and rape. The Motown musician claims the women conspired with their lawyer to make false statements about him and his wife at a press conference.
Robinson says he treated the women like family, giving them autonomy in their jobs and generous gifts, including money for dental work, vacations, and concert tickets. He alleges that while they were being “extraordinarily generous” from Robinsons, they concocted an extortionate plan to take everything from him and destroy his reputation.
The filing claims that the women’s lawyer, John W. Harris, made false statements about Robinson at a press conference, including saying he was a “serial and sick rapist.” The complaint argues that while Harris is protected in lawsuits, his comments at the press conference were not.
One of the housekeepers deleted text exchanges from Robinson’s wife’s phone, but the filing includes some purported texts, including an invitation to a graduation dinner and a birthday message. A redacted photo also shows Frances Robinson with one of the plaintiffs on vacation in Mexico.
In a related motion, Robinson and his wife asked the court to strike the women’s complaint and order them to refile it with their real names. The lawsuit originally sought $50 million in damages for sexual assault, battery, false imprisonment, and gender violence.
Robinson’s lawyer had previously said the lawsuit was based on “vile, false allegations.”
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/smokey-robinson-sues-accusers-defamation-elder-abuse-1235349416