Stevie Wonder’s former fiancée, Carmen Efferson, was reportedly shocked by his decision to seek her eviction from a Los Angeles home where she has lived for nearly four decades.
A source close to Efferson told TMZ that the lawsuit came as a surprise given her long relationship with the musician. According to the source, she told friends that Wonder had promised the property was hers, although she never received a deed transferring ownership. Sources close to Efferson said she had made the house her home over the years and that her late mother also lived there until her passing.
Efferson and Wonder reportedly had an on-and-off romantic relationship dating back to the 1980s. They were said to have been engaged during that period but never married. According to the report, Wonder also helped Efferson secure jobs in the music industry during their relationship.
The dispute became public after Wonder filed a lawsuit seeking to remove her from the property. Court documents obtained by TMZ state that she has lived there rent-free since 1988, paying only the utilities. Wonder alleges that problems arose when Efferson refused to allow people onto the property for insurance-related purposes.
A separate source familiar with the situation told TMZ that the dispute concerned safety, security and ensuring that the house could be properly insured. The source described the action as a response to those requirements rather than a personal dispute. TMZ also reported that online images appeared to show wear to the property, although the report did not include an independent assessment of its condition.
In his filing, Wonder said Efferson had been given until August 27 to leave but remained in the house. The report also referred to an alleged email in which Efferson described members of Wonder’s legal team as “racist cold-blooded”. The attorneys rejected the accusation.
Wonder married Tomeeka Robyn Bracy in 2017. Efferson had not filed a response to the eviction lawsuit at the time of the report. Her reported claim that Wonder promised her the home and his allegations concerning access to the property remain unresolved.
