Oct. 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 lawsuit against Carmen Efferson in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Oct. 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, allegedly entered an oral agreement that she could stay for free.
In July, Efferson allegedly refused requests for the musician and his representatives to gain access to the house to conduct an inspection “for purposes of updating and retaining property insurance,” which the filing claims is a violation of their decades-old agreement.
Carmen Efferson refused to comply with Stevie Wonder, lawyers
Upon receipt of a July 23 notice of a scheduled inspection, Efferson sent Wonder’s lawyer, David Huff, an email on July 25 telling him to, “Please refrain from your rascist [sic] coldblooded ‘white male privilege’ tone.”
“I am feeling harassed,” she added. “Regarding your ORDERS of entering into the place where I am living, I do not consent. Do not make any attempt to make any kind of contact with me. You or any of the ‘We’ you are referring to.”
In his response, Huff clarified that the author of the letter she was referring to “was not me. It was my law partner, Tempestt Tatum, who is neither racist, coldblooded, white nor male.” Huff further informed Efferson that her “refusal to consent to enter is unreasonable” and unlawful, noting Wonder “instructed us to proceed with your eviction” if she continued to withhold entry.
“If we do not hear from you by tomorrow morning, that process will be commenced immediately and the result will be your court-ordered, permanent removal from the property in about 30 days,” read the July 27 email.
Hours later, Efferson replied that she did not give “permission to step onto the property for any reason” and if anyone attempted to do so, she would “immediately contact law enforcement.” The next day, she was sent an eviction notice ordering her to move out by Aug. 27, 2026.
Efferson did not leave by the deadline and remains on the property, which is why the matter has been taken to court.
Wonder’s team is asking for Efferson to be evicted and pay damages amounting to $600 for her “malicious and obstructive behavior in preventing the lawful protection of the Property,” which has been uninsured since Aug. 4 due to her denial of an inspection.
USA TODAY reached out to Huff for comment.
