Music icon Smokey Robinson is in the middle of a dramatic legal fight — and it’s getting intense. The 84-year-old Motown legend is now suing four of his former employees for $500 million, just weeks after they sued him for $50 million. Their original lawsuit accused Robinson of serious crimes, including sexual battery, assault, and even false imprisonment. But now, Robinson and his wife Frances are firing back.
According to Smokey and Frances Robinson, these women weren’t just employees — they were like family. The couple says they traveled together, celebrated holidays, and even helped them out financially.
“They were treated with kindness, not cruelty,” the Robinsons claim in their new legal filing. “These women were extended family. We shared our lives with them.”
The couple says that the claims in the original lawsuit are completely made up. They believe the women are just trying to make money with a “false and extortionate scheme.”
Before the women even filed their lawsuit, Smokey’s legal team says they made secret demands for over $100 million. When the Robinsons didn’t pay, the women took their story public. According to Smokey’s lawsuit, that’s when things got ugly.
The women’s attorney, John W. Harris, even called Robinson a “serial and sick rapist” in public — something Smokey’s lawyers call a total lie. “None of these women ever filed a complaint while they worked for the Robinsons,” said their legal team.
In a surprising twist, the Robinsons say one of the women stole gold coins and financial records, and another erased messages and photos from Frances Robinson’s phone. They believe these actions were meant to hide the truth.
Even more, Smokey and Frances are asking the court to throw out the original lawsuit because the women used fake names when filing. In California, that’s not allowed unless someone has a strong reason for privacy — and the Robinsons say that doesn’t apply here.
As if that weren’t enough, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating the original accusations. Their Special Victims Bureau says the investigation is “in the early stages” and that they are taking the matter seriously.
This legal battle is far from over. Smokey Robinson, known for classic hits like “Tracks of My Tears” and “Being With You,” is now fighting to clear his name. His team says this case isn’t just about money — it’s about truth and protecting his legacy.
“Smokey Robinson did not do these things,” his lawyers said. “This is a fight for justice.”
Stay tuned — because this courtroom drama is only just beginning.
