Smokey Robinson sues his accusers for elder abuse, defamation in $500M countersuit

Smokey Robinson has filed a $500 million countersuit against his accusers, alleging elder abuse and defamation in response to their claims of sexual assault.The Motown legend, 85, earlier this month was slapped with a $50 million lawsuit from four women, who claimed to be his former employees, which included numerous disturbing allegations, including sexual battery and assault.In his filing, the “Cruisin'” hitmaker likened the allegations against him to a shakedown, saying the women made “gratuitous and slanderous allegations” at a “media circus” press conference on May 6.The singer, born William Robinson Jr., denied any wrongdoing and described the four women — who were his former housekeepers — as his “extended family.”In legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Robinson noted that he and his spouse had gifted the four accusers — who allegedly worked as Robinson’s housekeepers between 2012 and 2024 — concert tickets, vehicles and cash during their tenure.The Detroit-born musician also noted that he attended the graduation of one of his former housekeeper’s children, and submitted text message evidence showing one of the plaintiff’s sending him a friendly message.Elsewhere, his legal team submitted an image of Robinson’s wife, Frances Gladney, vacationing in Cabo San Lucas Mexico with another one of the plaintiffs — a vacation for which Robinson footed the bill for, he claims.In his filing, which alleges defamation of character, emotional distress, financial elder abuse, invasion of privacy and civil conspiracy, Robinson’s legal team said that the four plaintiffs “had the ideal access to take advantage of them,” and asked that the women be named in the lawsuit.The four women named the singer in the $50 million lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 6, claiming sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence, hostile work environment, and more.Jane Doe 1 — who said she worked as a housekeeper for...