October 23, 2026, 8:05 p.m. ET
Stevie Wonder is seeking to evict his former fiancée from a Hollywood Hills home where she has lived rent-free for nearly 40 years.
The “Superstition” singer’s legal team filed an eviction suit against Carmen Efferson in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, October 22, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
She has lived in the three-bedroom Hollywood Hills home since 1988, when she and Wonder, 76, reportedly reached an oral agreement that she could stay for free.
In July, Efferson allegedly refused requests from the musician and his representatives to gain access to the home to conduct an inspection “for the purpose of updating and maintaining property insurance,” a violation of their decades-old agreement.
Carmen Efferson refused to comply with Stevie Wonder and the lawyers
Upon receiving a notice of inspection scheduled for July 23, Efferson sent Wonder’s attorney, David Huff, an email on July 25 saying, “Please refrain from your cold-blooded racist (sic) ‘white man’s privilege’ tone.”
“I feel harassed,” she added. “Regarding your ORDERS to enter the place where I live, I do not consent to them. Do not attempt to make any kind of contact with me. You or any of the ‘Us’ you are referring to.”
In her response, Huff clarified that the author of the letter she was referring to “was not me. It was my associate, Tempestt Tatum, who is neither racist, cold-blooded, nor white nor male.” Huff further informed Efferson that her “refusal to consent to entry is unreasonable” and illegal, noting that Wonder “has asked us to proceed with your eviction” if she continued to refuse entry.
“If we do not hear from you by tomorrow morning, this process will be initiated immediately and the result will be your final court-ordered eviction from the property in approximately 30 days,” the July 27 email read.
Hours later, Efferson responded that she had not given “permission to access the property for any reason” and that if anyone attempted to do so, she would “contact law enforcement immediately.” The next day, she received an eviction notice ordering her to move out by August 27, 2026.
Efferson did not leave on time and remains on the property, which is why the matter went to court.
Wonder’s team is demanding that Efferson be evicted and pay damages amounting to $600 for her “malicious and obstructive behavior preventing the legal protection of the property,” which has been unsecured since Aug. 4 due to her refusal to inspect.
USA TODAY has reached out to Huff for comment.
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