Motown legend Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances Robinson have launched a $500 million defamation and elder abuse countersuit against four former employees who previously filed a $50 million lawsuit accusing the singer of rape. Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the new countersuit challenges the validity of the claims and highlights the emotional and professional fallout Robinson has endured.
According to court documents submitted on May 29, the Robinsons argue that the four women—referred to as Jane Doe 1 through 4—fabricated the allegations in an attempt to extort money. “The Robinsons did not abuse, harm or take advantage of plaintiffs; they treated plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity,” the suit states.
The countersuit alleges the women initially demanded $100 million for their silence but turned to legal action after being refused. The legal battle now casts a shadow over the release of Smokey Robinson’s latest album, What The World Needs Now, which debuted in late April.
The original lawsuit, filed on May 6, claims that the 85-year-old singer raped each of the women multiple times at his residences in Las Vegas, Chatsworth, and Bell Canyon. The civil complaint describes repetitive patterns in their stories and even accuses Frances Robinson of complicity, alleging she fostered a hostile work environment and withheld wages.
The Robinsons’ countersuit not only denies the claims but accuses the plaintiffs of theft. It reports missing financial records and gold Krugerrands from a hidden safe—valuables allegedly accessible only to the household staff. The couple claims to have supported the women with financial help, dental work, and vehicles during their employment, positioning the countersuit as a defense against “baseless” and “slanderous” accusations.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed a criminal investigation into the matter, intensifying public attention.
Attorneys for the four plaintiffs have not commented on the latest legal developments.
