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.