Smokey Robinson denied the sexual-assault allegations made by four former housekeepers, first through his lawyer and later in a brief airport interview reported by TMZ. The allegations remain claims in a civil lawsuit, not findings of fact. Separately, a judge dismissed the defamation portions of Robinson’s countersuit in April 2026; that ruling did not decide whether the assault allegations are true.
What Robinson said about the allegations
In a September 2025 airport interview, Robinson told TMZ the women’s claims were “bull****” and said he expected to be exonerated. This was a brief interview reported by the outlet, not a sworn statement or a court filing.
After the lawsuit was filed, Robinson’s attorney, Christopher Frost, described the allegations as “vile” and “false” and said the defense would challenge aspects of the complaint. Frost also characterized the lawsuit as an attempt to extract money. The plaintiffs’ lawyers said they stood behind their clients’ claims. These are opposing statements by counsel, not judicial findings.
What the former housekeepers allege
Four former housekeepers filed a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 6, 2025. According to the complaint, they allege Robinson sexually assaulted and raped them while they worked for him, during a period they place between 2007 and 2024. The complaint also alleges workplace violations, including a hostile work environment, long hours and unpaid wages.
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The plaintiffs seek at least $50 million, as reported by the Associated Press. That is the amount requested in the complaint, not damages awarded by a court. Frances Robinson was also named as a defendant; the complaint accuses her of enabling conduct and contributing to an abusive workplace. Those claims, too, are allegations and have not been established as facts in the sources available here.
What is known about the criminal investigation
ABC News reported on May 15, 2025, that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau was actively investigating criminal allegations and that the investigation was in its early stages. The sources available here do not establish what happened to that investigation afterward. They do not confirm whether it remains active, ended, or resulted in charges.
How the April 2026 countersuit ruling fits in
Robinson filed a separate $500 million countersuit against former workers. On April 23, 2026, CBS News Los Angeles reported that Judge Kevin Brazile dismissed the defamation aspects of that countersuit under California’s anti-SLAPP framework. The report said the judge found the challenged statements concerned a matter of public interest and that the evidence of actual malice did not meet the clear-and-convincing standard.
The judge allowed certain other claims to proceed insofar as they were not based on defamation. As CBS quoted Brazile: “Here, the subject statements relate to a matter of public interest because they pertain to sexual assault by a legendary musician.” The ruling addressed the defamation claims in Robinson’s countersuit and the legal protections for the statements at issue. It did not determine whether the housekeepers’ allegations are true.
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The separate 2015 investigation
The current lawsuit should not be conflated with a prior matter. The Associated Press reported that prosecutors confirmed a 2015 investigation into an earlier sexual-assault allegation and declined to bring charges, citing insufficient evidence. That decision concerned the 2015 matter only; it is not a finding about the allegations filed in 2025 or the later investigation reported by ABC News.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unresolved
The sources available through October 8, 2026, do not establish the later disposition of the criminal investigation or any court action after the April 23 countersuit ruling. The civil complaint’s allegations, Robinson’s denials, the criminal investigation and the countersuit ruling are distinct matters, and none should be treated as resolving the others.
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