American music legend Stevie Wonder’s former fiancée, Carmen Efferson, has reportedly been left shocked by his decision to sue to evict her from a Los Angeles home she has occupied for nearly four decades.
According to a report by TMZ published on October 27, Efferson was surprised by the lawsuit given their decades-long relationship. A source close to her told the outlet that she had believed Wonder promised the property would eventually be hers, although she never received a deed.
Efferson has reportedly lived in the house since 1988, with court documents cited by TMZ indicating that she occupied it rent-free and paid utility bills. The dispute escalated after Wonder allegedly accused her of refusing to allow people onto the property for insurance-related inspections.
A source familiar with the dispute told TMZ that the matter centred on safety and security, saying the necessary steps needed to be taken to ensure the property could be properly insured.
The report states that Wonder had given Efferson until August 27 to vacate the home, but she had not left. Efferson also allegedly sent an email to Wonder’s legal team accusing them of being “racist cold-blooded,” an allegation the lawyers reportedly rejected.
Efferson and Wonder are said to have had an on-and-off romantic relationship dating back to the 1980s. Although they were reportedly engaged, they never married. Wonder married Tomeeka Robyn Bracy in 2017.
TMZ reported that Efferson had not yet filed a response to the eviction lawsuit in court.
The claims surrounding the dispute have not been fully resolved in court.
