Latest news with #AQuietStorm
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Smokey Robinson Strikes Back: Tour Earnings in Jeopardy as Legal Team Labels $100M Lawsuit 'Extortionate'
Smokey Robinson Legendary Motown singer Smokey Robinson is back in court after being hit with a multi-million dollar sexual assault lawsuit filed by four of his former housekeepers. The 85-year-old musician has accused the plaintiffs of intentionally prolonging legal proceedings in an effort to damage his public image and disrupt his ongoing international tour, according to Billboard . On June 12, in a court motion, Robinson's lawyers argued that the women—who remain anonymous and are referred to as "Jane Does"—are deliberately delaying evidence collection. The singer's attorney, Christopher Frost, claims the plaintiffs' legal team is avoiding depositions while pushing for a motion to strike Robinson's counterclaims, a process expected to take several months. Frost also alleges that before filing the civil suit in May, the women initially demanded a $100 million settlement from Robinson and his wife, Frances. The lawsuit accuses the singer of coercing the housekeepers into unwanted sexual acts over a span of nearly 20 years at his Los Angeles-area residence. Robinson has strongly denied the allegations and has filed a countersuit for defamation, elder abuse, and attempted extortion. The motion asserts that the timing of the lawsuit is calculated to harm Robinson's financial interests while he is on tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his 1975 album A Quiet Storm . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tired of Your 2BHK Looking the Same? HomeLane Get Quote Undo Frost claims the intent is to 'allow the lawsuit to hang over [Robinson] publicly,' causing continuous reputational harm and increasing pressure to settle for a large sum. "Plaintiffs and cross-defendants have essentially admitted that it was their intent to bring a salacious suit—not to prosecute anything… and allow the Robinsons to live each and every day under the unfair shadow of public opinion," Frost wrote in the filing, as reported by Billboard . The plaintiffs' legal team, however, calls the motion a form of legal intimidation. Attorneys for the accusers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, rejected the motion as 'retaliatory and chilling.' In a statement issued on Friday, June 13, they argued that compelling a deposition from Jane Doe 2 early in the legal process amounted to harassment. 'This is a deliberate effort to re-traumatize a survivor under the guise of legal process,' they said, accusing the defense of trying to intimidate their client and discourage other survivors from coming forward. In addition to the civil lawsuit, the plaintiffs have also filed a criminal complaint with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is currently investigating the sexual assault allegations. As the legal battle intensifies, both sides continue to present conflicting narratives regarding the motivations and timing behind the high-profile case.
Glasgow Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Music legend cancelled Glasgow summer gig at SEC Armadillo
Smokey Robinson was set to perform at the SEC Armadillo in the city's West End on Thursday, July 3, 2025. However, it has been revealed that the legendary Motown recording artist's show at the venue will not go ahead. READ MORE: Rock band announced concert at beloved Glasgow venue On the SEC's website, a statement reads: "Smokey Robinson, originally scheduled to play the SEC Armadillo on July 3, 2025, has now been cancelled: "A message from the promoter: "We are writing to inform you of changes to SMOKEY ROBINSON's schedule. "His shows planned to take place at Cardiff Utilita Arena on July 9, 2025. and Glasgow Armadillo on July 3, 2025, have been cancelled. "The following shows will take place as planned: Birmingham Utilita Arena, July 8, 2025, London Eventim Apollo – July 11, 2025, and tickets are still available. "We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. "Refunds are available from the point of purchase." Image from the SEC'S website (Image: Google) It is unclear why the musician has axed his Glasgow and Cardiff shows. In March, we reported how the 85-year-old, from America, was bringing his Legacy Tour to the city. READ MORE: 'One of the UK's biggest bands' announced Glasgow gig The gig was set to mark 50 years since the release of his 1975 breakthrough album, A Quiet Storm. At the show, he was set to be joined by special guests Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri. Smokey, who rose to fame in the 1950s, is known for his hit tunes including, Cruisin', Being With You, Just To See Her, and The Agony And The Ecstasy.
Business Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Balloon Museum Singapore is the escape all adults need
[SINGAPORE] Stressed out? Check in at the Balloon Museum and watch your worries drift away like balloons. A recent visit to the newest attraction in Marina Bay Sands found as many adults there as children. There was a woman in stilettos tiptoeing through a hall of giant inflatables. There was a man in corporate wear trying to float in a swimming pool of balls. They weren't there as parents – they were there for themselves. As immersive experiences go – and there have been several in Singapore in recent years – Pop Air: Art Is Inflatable is best in class. Everyone in the business of crafting experiences, from brand activations to conferences, should pay a visit. In a world of relentless busy-ness and screen fatigue, sometimes the most memorable experiences are the ones that let adults play like children again. There are several highlights among the 17 installations spread across 6,000 square metres of hall space. Hypercosmo invites you to drift in a vast, 1,000-square-metre 'pool' filled with a million floating balls. Glowing Ballet throws you into a tornado of bright balloons slapping against your body. And in A Quiet Storm, smoke-filled bubbles burst all around you to create a strangely soothing sensation. A Quiet Storm hits you with a torrent of popping, smoke-filled bubbles. PHOTOS: BALLOON MUSEUM Originally launched in Rome in 2021, the Balloon Museum has floated into Madrid, Paris, London, New York and, most recently, San Francisco. Although it initially attracted young families and influencers with TikTok in mind, it has impressed just about everyone with its buoyant blend of innovation and wonder. The museum's curators and design team from Lux Entertainment haven't simply assembled a group of spectacle-makers. They've chosen artists who understand how to build mood, tempo, and even a little narrative, into their work. That's what elevates it from an Instagram-baiting backdrop into something closer to a theatre of childhood emotions. You don't just interact with the works – you inhabit them. You swing beneath luminous clouds. You wander through towering inflatables that pulse with light, like deep-sea jellyfish. You bounce around oversized forms that look like Hayao Miyazaki giants in an electric dream. Every step is accompanied by immersive soundscapes and lighting design that elevate the experience. The installations are highly interactive, inviting you to be playful and silly. PHOTOS: ST As you grant yourself the freedom to be light and silly, the play becomes unexpectedly cathartic. You realise or remember that art does not have to be serious to move you deeply. Delight can be designed; play can be profound. Pop Air: Art Is Inflatable by Balloon Museum runs at Marina Bay Sands (Expo & Convention Centre, B2, Hall F) from now until Aug 31. Tickets at S$45 for children and S$60 for adults on weekends, public holidays and school holidays; entry costs S$35 for children and S$45 for adults on weekdays outside the June school holiday period.
The National
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Music legend cancels Glasgow summer gig at SEC Armadillo
Smokey Robinson was set to perform at the SEC Armadillo in the city's West End on Thursday, July 3, 2025. However, it has been revealed that the legendary Motown recording artist's show at the venue will not go ahead. On the SEC's website, a statement reads: "Smokey Robinson, originally scheduled to play the SEC Armadillo on July 3, 2025, has now been cancelled. "A message from the promoter: "We are writing to inform you of changes to Smokey Robinson's schedule. "His shows planned to take place at Cardiff Utilita Arena on July 9, 2025. and Glasgow Armadillo on July 3, 2025, have been cancelled. "The following shows will take place as planned: Birmingham Utilita Arena, July 8, 2025, London Eventim Apollo – July 11, 2025, and tickets are still available. "We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. "Refunds are available from the point of purchase." Image from the SEC'S website (Image: Google) It is unclear why the musician has axed his Glasgow and Cardiff shows. The 85-year-old, from America, had been due to bring his Legacy Tour to the cities. The gigs were set to mark 50 years since the release of his 1975 breakthrough album, A Quiet Storm. At the show, he was set to be joined by special guests Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri. Smokey, who rose to fame in the 1950s, is known for his hit tunes including Cruisin', Being With You, Just To See Her, and The Agony And The Ecstasy.
Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Motown legend cancels Scottish show weeks after sexual assault allegations emerge
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MUSIC legend Smokey Robinson has dramatically cancelled his only Scottish show less than a month before he was due to appear. The Motown crooner, 85, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his breakthrough album. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 US singer Smokey Robinson has axed his Scottish show Credit: AFP 4 He was due to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his breakthrough Motown album "A Quiet Storm" Credit: Getty 4 Smokey Robinson and wife Frances have both been named in the lawsuit Credit: Getty But in a shock to fans who had booked his gig at the SEC Armadillo on July 3 they received an email on Tuesday saying that the show had been axed. It said: "We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Refunds are available from point of purchase.' The singer's show at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on July 9 Smokey has also been cancelled. No reason has been given for the gigs being called off – while three other dates of his UK tour, in Lewes on July 4, Birmingham on July 8, and London on July 11, are listed as going ahead. Robinson released "A Quiet Storm" in 1975 which became one of his first ever major successes in the music world. As part of the celebrations, he will now perform three shows for fans in the UK this summer. Robinson is under criminal investigation in Los Angeles over accusations of sexual assault. Robinson is being accused of sexual battery, sexual assault, false imprisonment, gender violence, and creating a hostile work environment in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday. His wife, Frances Robinson, is accused of knowing about the alleged assaults and doing nothing about them, according to court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed last month that it had launched a formal inquiry into the allegations, saying the probe was in the "early stages". US music legend in talks to play Glastonbury for first time 17 years after previous appearance at festival fell through The investigation comes after a lawsuit was filed by four anonymous housekeepers against the singer-songwriter, accusing him sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence and gender violence. Robinson has denied the allegations. His lawyer has said those behind the accusations are after the musician's money, and he welcomed the police investigation "because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing". "We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and make even more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs were previously able to create," the attorney, Christopher Frost, said in a statement to the BBC. He argued the police investigation was only opened because the plaintiffs filed a formal report with their allegations and said the claims were "manufactured" and designed to "tarnish the good names" of the musician and his wife, who is also named in the lawsuit and accused of contributing to a hostile work environment. The sheriff's department said in a statement that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson AKA 'Smokey Robinson.' "The investigation is in the early stages, and we have no further comment." The women filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on 6 May under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4. They are seeking at least $50m (£38m) in damages and a jury trial. 4 He had been due to play the SEC Armadillo Credit: Alamy Robinson was Motown's first hitmaker, writing number one records like Mary Wells' My Guy and The Temptations' My Girl. He was both a talent scout for the record label and one of its most prominent recording artists in his own right, known for songs like Tracks of My Tears, Shop Around and Tears of a Clown. He has spots in both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs.
