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📂 Category: Smokey Robinson,Music,Pop and rock,Soul,Culture,US news
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Two other former employees of soul music star Smokey Robinson, both male and female, have alleged that he sexually assaulted them, which he denies.
Robinson is already facing similar allegations from four other former employees, who filed a joint lawsuit in May. This week, lawyers for the defendants filed a motion to add two more defendants to the lawsuit, both of whom are unidentified.
The man, who worked as a car driver for Robinson, claims that Robinson fondled himself in front of him and attempted to place the man’s hand on his genitals. Like the first four defendants, the woman worked as a housekeeper, and claimed that Robinson tried to have her touch him while he showered on numerous occasions.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Robinson’s attorney Christopher Frost said the latest accusers were “part of the same group of people who conspired together against the Robinson family and are making their allegations to get maximum negative publicity,” and called the lawsuit “an organized and greedy campaign to extract money from an 85-year-old legend.”
Robinson denied the allegations made by the first four women, which included allegations of rape.
His wife, Frances, is a defendant in the original suit, accused of labor abuse, using “racially derogatory words and language,” and knowing about the alleged sexual assaults. The plaintiffs are seeking $50 million in financial damages.
After the initial lawsuit was filed, their attorney Frost called the allegations “despicable and false,” and said it was an “ugly way to try to extract money” from Smokey Robinson.
Later in May, Robinson’s family filed a $500 million countersuit, alleging defamation and elder abuse, and describing an “extortion scheme to take everything” from them. They claimed to have been generous to the women, giving them gifts and funding dental treatment.
Despite the serious allegations, Robinson has continued to perform ever since, including concerts in the UK at the Love Supreme jazz festival and the Eventim Apollo in London over the summer.
He is known for a string of hit songs with his group The Miracles, followed by 24 albums as a solo artist. Her most recent, What the World Needs Now, was released in April.
Robinson also wrote a string of hits for other artists in the Motown stable, including My Girl and Get Ready for the Temptations.
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