Nearly four decades of living rent-free in a Los Angeles home have come down to a dispute over a property inspection. Stevie Wonder is suing his reported former fiancée, Carmen Efferson, after she allegedly refused to allow his representatives into the residence, jeopardizing its insurance coverage. The arrangement dates back to 1988, but the Grammy-winning singer now wants a judge to order her removal.
According to a complaint filed Thursday (October 22) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Wonder and Efferson reached a verbal agreement allowing her to occupy his Studio City property without paying monthly rent. The arrangement continued for 38 years before their relationship as property owner and occupant deteriorated this summer.
Their history apparently extends beyond the housing arrangement. Efferson reportedly became engaged to Wonder in the late 1980s, around the time she moved into the home. Archival records also credit her as a producer on the music video for "Get It," Wonder's 1988 collaboration with Michael Jackson, according to Billboard. Efferson reportedly confirmed their former engagement to the publication, although the two never married.
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Stevie Wonder's Eviction Lawsuit Details Heated Email Exchange
The dispute escalated in July when Wonder's representatives attempted to schedule an inspection required to maintain property insurance. Per documents reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, Efferson rejected the request and accused one of the singer's attorneys of displaying a racist attitude. "I'm feeling harassed," she wrote in a July 25 email included in the complaint. "Regarding your ORDERS of entering into the place where I am living, I do not consent."
She also accused the attorney of having a "racist coldblooded 'white male privilege' tone." Wonder's legal team responded by explaining that the attorney who originally contacted her was neither white nor male. Efferson subsequently threatened to contact law enforcement if anyone attempted to enter the property without her permission. The correspondence ultimately resulted in a July 28 notice terminating her occupancy agreement and requiring her to leave by August 27. When she allegedly refused, Wonder's attorneys issued another notice in October, claiming her actions had caused the property's insurance policy to be canceled.
The filing reportedly states that the 76-year-old musician is seeking possession of the home, termination of their verbal agreement, and reimbursement of legal fees. He's also requesting up to $600 in statutory damages. Neither Efferson nor Wonder's representatives responded to the Los Angeles Times' requests for comment on the lawsuit. His attorneys maintain that the canceled insurance policy has left him exposed to potential financial losses, an argument they are now asking the court to consider as they seek to end an arrangement that began when Ronald Reagan was still president.
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