A Detroit-area hospital caused distress for the lead singer of the Four Tops when they restrained him and demanded a psychological exam. The singer was not believed to be a part of the iconic Motown music group.
On Monday, Alexander Morris, a Black man, brought a lawsuit against Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren. Morris claims that during his visit to the hospital in April 2023 for chest pain and breathing difficulties, he experienced racial discrimination and other forms of misconduct.
According to the lawsuit, the hospital staff made a wrongful assumption that the individual was mentally ill when he disclosed his identity as a celebrity figure.
In the 1950s, The Four Tops made their debut and went on to create chart-topping hits like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “It’s The Same Old Song.” Their contribution to the music industry was recognized when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 2019, Morris became a member of the group, even though he wasn’t part of the original lineup.
According to the lawsuit, Morris was only believed to be a member of the Four Tops after a nurse intervened, leading to the cancellation of his psychological exam.
According to the lawsuit, Morris declined a $25 gift card offered by the hospital as a gesture of apology.
The hospital responded to the lawsuit by stating that they are committed to upholding human dignity and displaying integrity and compassion towards all individuals and the community. They made it clear that they do not tolerate any form of racial discrimination and refrained from making any comments on the ongoing litigation.
In a public statement last year, Morris disclosed the incident and revealed that upon returning to his hometown of Detroit, he was met with accusations of being insane or schizophrenic.
