Rob Lowe’s Ex-Nanny Claims Sexual Abuse
The 24-year-old former nanny of Hollywood actor Rob Lowe has slapped a lawsuit on the star and his wife, claiming that she was sexually assaulted by the Brothers & Sisters star during her 7-year employment.
Jessica Gibson is currently being sued by Lowe and his wife for allegedly violating a confidentiality agreement, but filed a counter-suit of her own on the grounds of sexual harassment in the workplace. According to the charges, 44-year-old Lowe is said to have “stuck his hand into [Gibson's] pants, grabbed her bottom, exposed himself [to her], masturbated in front of her and showed her pornography.”
And it wasn’t just Lowe that sexually harassed the young nanny. Gibson says that Sheryl (Lowe’s wife) would often walk around the house naked and speak to her in a vulgar manner, and at one point, the Hollywood make-up artist commented that “[Gibson] would never find a boyfriend because only married men would want to have sex with her.”
In the lawsuit, which was filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on Tuesday, Gibson asks for US$50,000 in general damages, as well as an unspecified amount of unpaid wages and other punitive damages.
In response to the sexual abuse claims, Lowe has released copies of text messages Gibson sent to him shortly after her abrupt departure in late January. Two such messages said that Gibson “did not leave out of spite or anger” and had “nothing bad 2 say” about the Lowes.
Gibson’s attorney, Gloria Allred, said that her client only sent those text messages to keep the peace with Rob and his wife, because she was “afraid” to upset them further.
“She was trying to flee the situation, get away from it. She was afraid of risking their anger at that point,” Allred said.
The former nanny appeared on NBC’s Today shortly after the counter-suit was filed, and explained why she stayed with the Lowes for seven years despite being abused by them. “I loved the children,” she said [the Lowes have two sons, aged 13 & 14]. “I needed the job. I always thought it would get better. And I was scared.”
Allred added: “The rich and famous are not above the law. They are not granted any special immunities. The rich and famous, just like any other employer, must not sexually abuse their employees.”
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