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Smokey Robinson has pushed back against the recent allegations against him in what we’d characterize as a fairly drastic fashion: The musician has just issued a $500 million countersuit against the four women currently suing him for a tenth of that amount, over accusations of alleged sexual battery, assault, and false imprisonment. Robinson’s suit, filed today with his wife Frances, accused the Jane Does of slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and financial elder abuse.
The suit is, in essence, a legal continuation of the argument that Robinson’s lawyers were already making in the press: That the four women in question—all former housekeepers for the family—are attempting to extort the 85-year-old Robinson, an “American icon.” Per Variety, the suit states that the Robinsons treated the women as “extended family,” vacationed with them, offered them financial support, etc. (Simultaneously, it goes so far as to suggest that the women robbed the family while in their employ, while also lambasting them for filing their suit anonymously; it’s a very hot-and-cold $500 million accusation of elder abuse.)
Each of the four Jane Does has accused Robinson of raping them, multiple times, over several years of employment. Their suit states that the four women have remained silent up until now out of fear of retaliation. (Their suit also targets Robinson’s wife, accusing her of creating a hostile work environment, and of knowing about the incidents and failing to protect them from Robinson.)
In addition to the $500 million in damages being sought, Robinson’s camp is also calling for the suit against him to be dropped, or at least re-filed under the women’s actual names. Robinson is currently under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for charges related to the accusations, part of the standard procedure that occurs when allegations like this come to light; the Department has issued no statements as of yet about what it’s found.
