Stevie Wonder has filed a lawsuit seeking to evict a woman who has lived rent-free in one of his properties for nearly 40 years.
The singer’s legal team sued Carmen Efferson Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, demanding that she vacate Wonder’s three-bedroom home in the Hollywood Hills. Efferson, who is reportedly Wonder’s fiancée, has lived in the house since 1988, when she and Wonder reportedly entered into an oral agreement allowing him to live rent-free.
However, when it came time to gain access to the home as part of Wonder’s property insurance renewal, the singer’s representatives attempted to enter the home three times in July for inspection. Efferson refused to allow them to enter the property and instead sent Wonder’s attorney, David Huff, an email saying “fuck you,” according to exhibits obtained by the trial. rolling stone.
“Your cold-blooded racist (sic) tone ‘white man’s privilege’ (again with you). I feel harassed,” Efferson wrote to Huff in response to the certified mail requesting entry to the property. “Regarding your ORDERS to enter the place where I live, I do not consent. Do not attempt to make any contact with me.”
(Huff clarified in response: “The author of the letter addressed to you on behalf of Mr. Morris was not me. It was my law partner, Tempestt Tatum, who is not racist, cold-blooded, white or male.”)
The legal wrangling continued for a few more emails, at which point another lawyer informed Efferson that the oral agreement between her and Wonder had been revoked for non-compliance and that the lawyers were serving her with an eviction notice with a move-out date set for August 27, 2026.
That time elapsed without Efferson leaving the property, prompting Thursday’s civil suit. Wonder is asking a judge to order Efferson evicted from the Hollywood home, as well as pay damages of $600, the amount he now owes due to the renewal of his expired property insurance.
A representative for Wonder did not immediately respond to rolling stonerequest for comment.
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