A lawsuit has been filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, leveling grave accusations against the 85-year-old Motown legend, including sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence, and gender violence. Additionally, the plaintiff alleges multiple labor violations pertaining to wages, breaks, meal times, and overtime pay. The legal action also implicates Robinson's wife, Frances Robinson, accusing her of fostering a hostile work environment replete with "ethnically derogatory remarks." Representatives for the Robinsons have yet to issue a statement in response, leaving the accusations unverified independently.
Robinson, born William Robinson Jr. in Michigan, holds the distinction of being Motown's inaugural hitmaker, penning chart-toppers such as Mary Wells' "My Guy" and the Temptations' "My Girl." He served dual roles as a talent scout and a prominent recording artist for the label, renowned for hits like "Tracks of My Tears," "Shop Around," and "Tears of a Clown." Inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Robinson boasts credits on over 4,000 songs.
The lawsuit's plaintiffs, Hispanic women employed by the Robinsons for wages below the minimum, felt "powerless" due to Robinson's formidable reputation and status, as articulated by their lawyer, John Harris, during a press conference in Los Angeles. "As low-wage workers in precarious positions, they lacked the means to safeguard themselves from sexual assault," Harris emphasized.
The women, suing anonymously as Jane Doe 1, 2, 3, and 4 due to the severe sexual misconduct allegations, including rape, against the musician, held diverse roles. Three were former housekeepers, while one served as Robinson's personal assistant, cook, and hairdresser, court documents reveal.
The complaint describes harrowing accounts where Robinson summoned the women to various parts of his properties in Chatsworth, Bell Canyon, and Las Vegas, predominantly when his wife was absent. Allegedly, he emerged naked from the shower and compelled them into various sexual acts spanning years, beginning in 2006. Jane Does 1, 3, and 4 assert that Robinson sexually assaulted them in the "blue bedroom" of his Chatsworth residence, laying down towels to shield the bedsheets before the assaults. Jane Doe 2 alleges that Robinson raped her in the laundry room and garage, areas obscured from closed-circuit cameras.
The women contend that during these alleged assaults, Robinson employed physical barriers and threats of force, preventing their escape. Moreover, the lawsuit enumerates several workplace violations. All four plaintiffs claim to have worked 10 hours a day, six days a week, without receiving minimum wage or overtime pay. They also assert that they worked holidays without a holiday pay rate. Citing the alleged sexual misconduct and hostile work environment, all employees eventually resigned.
The BBC has reached out to Robinson's representatives for comment on the lawsuit. To date, no police reports or criminal charges have been filed against the musician. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney clarifies that the women's claims are not under review as law enforcement has yet to present a case. Similarly, the Los Angeles police have declined to comment on the matter.
