How many nannies have sued Rob Lowe? A look at all sexual harassment allegations against '9-1-1: Lone Star' actor
'9-1-1: Lone Star' actor Rob Lowe plays a hell of a firefighter on the Fox procedural. Even with the world burning around him, Captain Owen Strand keeps his head cool. Perhaps Lowe draws inspiration for the zen portrayal from his own life where scandals and lawsuits have been aplenty. Courtroom drama became a part of 'The West Wing' alum's real life, but he soon learned to fight back. How did Rob Lowe tackle nannies who accused him of sexual harassment?
In April 2008, Lowe filed separate lawsuits against three former employees accusing them of breach of contract, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Accusations against an ex-nannies
Lowe’s lawyers say one of the nanny claimed to have "a personal and intimate relationship (with Lowe), and, in effect, accusing Rob Lowe of infidelity." According to court papers, on at least one occasion, the nanny “bragged” about giving Lowe a massage during a trip with the Lowe family. The Lowes also learned that the nanny repeatedly expressed romantic interest in Rob and told people that "she wished he would divorce Sheryl Lowe". She also allegedly claimed that Lowe sexually harassed her and that Sheryl Lowe was an "overly demanding" and "abusive" employer, who made "inappropriate comments of a sexual and racial nature" to her.
Lowe accused her of engaging in a scheme to hurt him and his wife by spreading "malicious lies".
In an April blog post he wrote in The Huffington Post at the time when the Lowes initially sued, Rob Lowe wrote that another one of the nannies demanded $1.5 million from the couple, or she would "accuse us of a vicious laundry list of false terrible". He did not say which one.
Accusations against Chef Pete Clements
Lowe claimed that he had sex on their bed “with third parties” when the family was out of town, stole prescription drugs from their medicine cabinet. The actor claimed that the chef shared the drugs with his friends, broke several security cameras and overcharged the couple for food.
Jessica Gibson
In April 2008, Jessica Gibson, Lowe's then 24-year-old former nanny, countersued the Lowes, making 12 allegations against Lowe involving sexual harassment claims and labour-code violations. She claimed that Lowe stuck his hand into her pants, grabbed her bottom and exposed himself to her.
In an interview with TODAY’s Meredith Vieira in April 2008, she said, "I love the children, I needed the job, and I always thought it would get better - and I was scared"
But on June 19, 2008, Santa Barbara, California, Superior Court Judge Denise de Bellefeuille dismissed two allegations regarding labor-code violations due to lack of legal basis.
The legal battle ended in May 2009. The press reported that court records showed that lawsuits filed by both nannies and Lowe were dismissed in Santa Barbara. Attorneys for both women and Lowe sought the dismissals.