Smokey Robinson makes dramatic move against former housekeeper accusing him of rape
Smokey Robinson claims four ex-housekeepers are stalling a rape lawsuit to sabotage his tour and force an 'extortionate' payout.
The 85-year-old Motown legend's legal team filed a motion Thursday seeking to compel one of the anonymous accusers, known only as Jane Doe. 2, to sit for a deposition - accusing the women of blocking evidence collection while Robinson is on the road.
Robinson, who vehemently denies the allegations and previously told DailyMail.com he was 'appalled' by the lawsuit, has countersued for extortion, defamation, and elder abuse.
His attorney, Christopher Frost, alleges the women's lawyer, John Harris, 'wants to delay all discovery' until a motion to strike Robinson's counterclaims is decided - a move that could stall the case for months.
Frost argues the delay is a strategic attempt to damage Robinson financially during his 50th anniversary A Quiet Storm tour and strengthen the women's settlement demands.
'Plaintiffs have effectively conceded that their intention was to file a salacious lawsuit, do nothing to prosecute it, neuter the Robinsons' ability to defend themselves, and let the lawsuit linger publicly while the Robinsons have to live every day under the unfair specter of public opinion and while Mr. Robinson's tour is negatively affected,' Frost wrote.
'This plays into plaintiffs and cross-defendants' strategy to exact leverage on Mr. and Ms. Robinson.'
'The longer Mr. Robinson's livelihood is harmed, the more pressure there is for the Robinsons to give in to plaintiffs' and cross-defendants' extortionate demands.'
Frost claims the women had previously demanded $100 million from Robinson and his wife Frances before filing the civil suit in May - and are now refusing to engage in discovery while letting the allegations fester in the public eye.
He's asking the court to compel Jane Doe 2 to appear for a deposition at his Los Angeles law office within two weeks of the motion being heard - and to force the women to cover nearly $5,000 in legal fees Robinson has spent bringing the motion.
'If plaintiffs and cross-defendants are not sanctioned for their abusive behavior, they will expect that they can continue this behavior during the pendency of this case, which will only create more delays and more motion practice,' Frost wrote.
'The utilization of this strategy must be nipped in the bud.'
But the women's attorneys blasted the filing Friday as an attempt to intimidate and silence them.
'This motion is a calculated effort to misuse the discovery process in a manner that is both retaliatory and chilling,' lawyers John Harris and Herbert Hayden said in a statement.
'By singling out Jane Doe 2 for a compelled deposition at this early stage, the defendant is engaging in a broader strategy of harassment and coercion - an attempt to retraumatize a survivor of sexual violence under the guise of lawful process.'
'This motion is not about truth-seeking; it is about exerting power. It should be recognized for what it is: a transparent attempt to chill participation in this case and deter other survivors from coming forward.
'We remain steadfast in defending her rights and will hold the Robinsons accountable for any effort to subvert those rights through abusive and vexatious litigation tactics.'
His attorney, Christopher Frost, alleges the women's lawyer, John Harris, 'wants to delay all discovery' until a motion to strike Robinson's counterclaims is decided - a move that could stall the case for months
The women have also filed a police report, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has launched a criminal investigation into their sexual assault allegations.
When asked by DailyMail.com about the claims, a visibly rattled Robinson said, 'I am appalled,' then began mumbling incoherently during a call on Wednesday morning.
He did not sound well.
He regained clarity a few moments later, ending the call with: 'I can't speak about this right now.'
The civil suit, filed this week, accuses Robinson and his wife of a disturbing pattern of abuse and harassment spanning nearly two decades.
The alleged victims - all Hispanic women - worked in his homes in Los Angeles and Las Vegas between 2007 and 2024.
They say they were lured into private rooms where Robinson would allegedly expose himself or appear in just a towel before demanding sexual acts.
One woman alleges she was raped without a condom at least 23 times beginning in 2016 - often in the laundry room or garage where there were no security cameras.
She gave graphic detail, claiming Robinson would 'enjoy ejaculating all over (her) face' and threatened her by saying his wife would be 'mean' if she didn't comply.
Another former housekeeper says she was assaulted at least seven times between January 2023 and February 2024.
She claims Robinson would escort the dog, Shilo, out of his blue bedroom, lock the door behind her, and then attack her on his bed - 'causing her great pain.' She said she would try to resist but couldn't.
She once shouted 'you're married' in desperation, but said Robinson would 'casually ignore' her. She ultimately quit in February.
The same plaintiff also accused Robinson and his wife of failing to pay minimum wage and overtime.
A third woman claims she was raped 20 times between 2012 and 2024 and was once offered $500 so Robinson could 'allow him to orally copulate her.'
She accuses Frances Robinson of doing nothing to stop the abuse 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.'
The fourth woman, who worked for Robinson between 2007 and 2024, said he 'never used a condom' while assaulting her in his home.
Frances is also accused of enabling the assaults, allegedly screaming at staff in a 'hostile manner' and using 'ethnically pejorative words and language.'
She was also allegedly driven to a nail salon weekly so Robinson could be 'home alone' with one of the plaintiffs.
The women are suing for $50 million and allege sexual battery, assault, gender violence, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to pay wages, and the creation of a hostile work environment.
The shocking allegations come just weeks after Robinson released his new album What The World Needs Now, telling CBS Mornings: 'I want people to be inspired to care about each other and to love each other.'
When asked about his legacy, he added: '(One) who recognized the fact that you don't get any bigger than being a human being. I don't care what your craft is, or what you do for your living and all that... So, I hope that that's my legacy.'
Robinson is currently on tour celebrating A Quiet Storm's 50th anniversary — and is scheduled to take the stage in Huntington, New York, just hours after the women's press conference.
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