(Updated as of 03/14/2025 @ 12:25 p.m.)
We hardly ever think about what happens to our favorite entertainers after they dip from the spotlight. But this week, music lovers were left worried after former R&B star Dawn Robinson revealed a shocking update about her living situation.
As we previously reported, Robinson took to her YouTube channel on March 11, sharing that she’s been homeless for the last few years. “For the past three, almost three years I have been living in my car,” she said. “I said it. Oh my God it’s out!” And although many online shared their sympathies for the singer, Robinson’s ex-husband surprisingly extended a helping hand.
Andre Allen, who was married to Robinson from 2003 to 2010, spoke to TMZ telling them despite their rocky breakup, he has a job offer if she needs it. Allen said he “doesn’t want to see her crash out ... and thinks she’d be a perfect inclusion into the Hilton Brands.” Allen got into the hospitality business after making his exit from the music industry.
Now, according to TMZ, Allen has “found God, a new fiancée and now makes more money than he ever did in the music industry,” and he wants to see his ex have stability and success too. Allen added that the industry isn’t going to pay Robinson what she’s worth, so it’s time to “use her charisma and personality” to make “real money in his field to influence people with sales,” TMZ reported.
The Rise and Fall of R&B Fame
When you talk about R&B music in the 1990s, it was all about En Vogue, made up of members Robinson, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones known for hits like “Hold On” and “Free Your Mind.”
Ellis, Herron and Jones still perform together...even making an appearance on Season 7 of the game show “The Masked Singer.” Robinson left the group in 1997 due to contract issues, only to return in 2002 and leave for good in 2008. She’s remained out of the spotlight for the past few years. But this week, the singer revealed life hasn’t exactly been going her way recently.
Robinson told viewers that in 2020, the last time she was doing lots of interviews, she was living with her parents in Las Vegas. However, differences with her mother caused her to leave and sleep in her car for about a month. That’s when one of her co-managers convinced her to come to Los Angeles and stay with him. But when she got to his place, Robinson realized he didn’t have the room for her that he promised.
“It turned into ‘I’m gonna put you in a hotel for the night,’ and that one night turned into eight months,” she said.
Unable to find an apartment, Robinson told her assistant she was researching car life. She made a plan, left the hotel on March 9, 2022, and headed to Malibu, Calif. to give it a try.
“There’s a whole community of people that live in their cars and a whole community of people that live in their RVs and a whole community of people that live in vans. And I loved what I was seeing,” she said.
Robinson said that although others encouraged her not to open up about what she was doing, she thought it was something she needed to do.
“Part of being human is being vulnerable,” she said. “I’m a human first. I don’t care about being a celebrity. I don’t care about being a woman.”
Robinson credited the mother of one of her exes (who she called her forever mother-in-law), her assistant Niecey, and a man named Evan (who she calls her brother from another mother) with keeping her going through the tough times. But she’s not looking for anyone to feel sorry for her.
“It’s not ‘woe is me,’” she said. “I’m learning about who I am, I’m learning myself as a person, as a woman.”
Robinson said that while she misses her family and friends, she needed to go through this alone without the judgment and opinions of others.
“I’m glad that I made this choice because I needed to go through this fire,” she said.
The Internet Reacts
Many shocked fans are giving Robinson credit for her courage and praying that she comes out better on the other side.
“The strength this took! Many cannot fathom removing the mask at this level. You are strong, I hope you feel lighter & more free after this. Greater is coming,” wrote someone in the comments of her post.
Singer-songwriter and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Kandi Burruss shared her reaction on her radio show.
“It’s crazy how the world can just switch up on you,” she said.
But others are blaming her pride for landing her in this difficult situation.
“She keeps leaving and doesn’t wanna be there as long Rhona is there. That pride has to go out the window. Get your money girl,” someone wrote on X.
We’ll keep following this story and hope Dawn Robinson remains safe and healthy through her journey.