Alexander Morris, the lead singer of the iconic Motown group The Four Tops, has filed a lawsuit against a Michigan hospital, alleging racial discrimination and mistreatment. Morris claims that staff at Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital in Warren, Michigan, assumed he was delusional when he identified himself as a member of the famous vocal quartet. Instead of providing him with the necessary medical care for his severe heart condition, they placed him in a restraining jacket.
The incident occurred on April 7, 2023, when Morris, who is Black, arrived at the hospital’s emergency room with chest pains and difficulty breathing. Despite explaining his medical history and his role as the lead singer of The Four Tops, Morris alleges that the predominantly white hospital staff did not believe him. According to the lawsuit, they removed his oxygen, placed him in restraints, and ordered a psychological evaluation.
Morris’s complaint, filed in federal court in Michigan, details how he was treated for 90 minutes as if he were mentally ill. He claims that a white male security guard told him to “sit his Black ass down” when he tried to prove his identity. None of the nursing staff intervened to stop the alleged racial discrimination and mistreatment.
The situation only changed when Morris convinced a nurse to watch a video of him performing at the Grammys. Realizing he was indeed a member of The Four Tops, the nurse informed the other staff, leading to the cancellation of the psychological evaluation. Morris was then released from the restraints and finally received medical treatment. He was diagnosed with a severe heart condition and pneumonia.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Ascension said it could not comment on the pending litigation but emphasized that it does not condone racial discrimination. “The health, safety, and well-being of our patients, associates, and community members remain our top priority,” the statement read. “We remain committed to honoring human dignity and acting with integrity and compassion for all persons and the community.”
Morris’s lawsuit also includes allegations from a hospital security guard who reached out to him after the incident. The whistleblower guard claimed that the security guard who restrained Morris had a history of making racist comments and using excessive force with patients. The whistleblower also alleged that employees tampered with the incident report and were instructed not to discuss what happened.
Morris’s lawyer, Maurice Davis, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “This case is important because the hospital staff assumed that because he was a Black man, he was having some kind of psychotic episode,” Davis said. “Instead of providing him with treatment, they were restraining him. He could have died.”
Morris described the experience as “terrifying” and said he never imagined he would become a victim of “being sick while Black.” He filed the lawsuit to hold the hospital accountable and to protect future generations from racism in healthcare.
The lawsuit names the hospital, a nurse, and a security guard as defendants. It seeks more than $75,000 in damages and includes counts of racial discrimination, false imprisonment, gross negligence, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Four Tops, a Grammy Award-nominated group, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Known for hits like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” the group continues to tour. Morris joined The Four Tops in 2019 and was on a national tour with The Temptations at the time of the incident.
Morris has a significant history of heart problems, including the placement of stents and a defibrillator. He was transported to the emergency room by ambulance and was already receiving oxygen. During his hospital stay, he was diagnosed with a heart attack that may require a heart transplant and pneumonia. He also suffered three seizures.
The lawsuit alleges that when Morris arrived at the ER, he informed a nurse and a security guard about his medical history and current symptoms. However, the staff assumed he was mentally ill and removed his oxygen. When he tried to show his identification, the security guard told him to “sit his Black ass down.” None of the nursing staff intervened.
Morris’s wife eventually arrived and informed a security guard that he was a member of The Four Tops. A nurse then reviewed a video of Morris performing at the Grammys and informed the doctor, who canceled the psychological evaluation. Morris was released from the restraints and placed back on oxygen.
Morris was offered a $25 Meijer gift card as an apology, which he declined. The lawsuit seeks to address the racial discrimination and mistreatment he experienced and to ensure that such incidents do not happen to others in the future.
