Smokey Robinson files $500M defamation lawsuit against four rape accusers

Famed Motown singer Smokey Robinson on Wednesday filed a $500 million defamation lawsuit against four former employees who accused the musician of sexually abusing them over the course of nearly two decades.

The four former housekeepers sued Robinson for $50 million earlier this month, after alleging the man serially raped and sexually abused them numerous times in the nearly 20-year span. The women alleged the abuse primarily occurred at the star's home in Chatsworth, California, located north of downtown Los Angeles.

Robinson strongly denied the allegations in his counter-suit, which was also filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, and claimed the women tried to get $100 million from the singer and his wife but turned to a lawsuit when it failed.

“The Robinsons did not abuse, harm or take advantage of plaintiffs; they treated plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity,”the countersuit alleges of the Jane Does. “Unfortunately, the depths of plaintiffs’ avarice and greed knows no bounds ... Because of Plaintiffs’ slanderous statements, the Robinsons had no choice but to seek legal relief. Plaintiffs may be able to make slanderous statements in a legal pleading (for now), but they are not entitled to do so in gratuitous, self-serving press conferences.”

The defamation suit also argued the Jane Does' allegations harmed the singer's career, including sales of his new album that came out last month. 

The rape lawsuit also names Robinson's wife Frances as a co-defendant because she allegedly created a hostile work environment, had "full knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct" and "failed to take the appropriate corrective action." 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is also conducting its own criminal probe into Robinson over the rape and sexual abuse allegations, per Deadline.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.