Rob Lowe’s Ex-Nanny An Avaricious Prevaricator?
This whole Rob Lowe Nannygate crap is wearing thin. Gloria Allred has been brought in to the case to add what? A lack of credibility? The potential for high B.S. detection? To add the scent of mothballs? Seriously, aren’t there any fresh and young lawyers available to extort money from celebs?
Jessica Gibson, the ex-employee who brought a counter-suit against actor Rob Lowe and his wife Sheryl, is about as credible as OJ Simpson’s alibi. Gibson worked with the family on and off for seven years, going back to work for them several times while having jobs elsewhere. Her excuses for going back, despite accusations of sexual harassment and abuse were “love for the children,” “the hope things would get better,” “she needed the money.” Especially that last one.
I have no particular fondness for Rob Lowe. He’s some middle-aged actor who’s no stranger to scandal, but seems to have tried to make a second go at a career in Hollywood, and that’s not always easy.
In cases like this, it can go either way from my point of view. I am just as inclined to believe the accuser as I am the accused, but something about Jessica’s story smells funny.
If she were *really* sexually abused and harassed by Lowe as she claims, why on earth would she go back to such a horrific situation? Surely they are better jobs (and she seemed to have many) out there so as to not be forced to endure abuse. Second, Rob Lowe posted two very complimentary and apologetic emails from Jessica sent AFTER she quit working for them.
Thirdly, she just has something “off” about her. People has posted a photo shoot they did with her. Seriously, a photo shoot? WTF? Also, it turns out Jessica’s sister (half-sister) worked for the Lowes first and helped her get the job. From People Magazine:
Jessica, who is suing Lowe for sexual harassment, was introduced to the actor by Jamie, who had worked for Lowe and his wife Sheryl as a nanny in 2000 for about a year, then later became their assistant.Jamie left to get married but wanted to stop working for the couple anyway, Jim Gibson says.
“She was happy to get out of there. She couldn’t take it anymore. Nothing really bad happened like it did with Jessie, but Jamie was overworked and couldn’t stand it,” he says.
He adds that although Jessica and Jamie have different mothers, “They don’t consider each other half-sisters but full, true sisters – one family. She is concerned for Jessica and is supporting her now and tries not to dwell on the past. We’ve all pulled together as a family to help Jessie.”
Lowe has denied the allegations and accuses Jessica of being behind an extortion plot.
Something about this story is rotten and my instincts scream, “this woman is a LIAR.” Again, what’s with the photo shoot? Is she a supermodel also? Ugh, Hollywood’s full of attention-whores.
Not that Rob Lowe’s some angel.
Back in 1988, Rob was caught in a scandal at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta for videotaping sex acts with two girls he met at a bar. One girl lied about her age and in reality was only 16. Not exactly Tom Hanks this Rob Lowe fellow.
This, however, does not give the world-at-large carte blanche to take advantage of him for something that happened 20 years ago. Gloria has to know her case is shaky at best. Perhaps her hope is by linking her name to the case, it will give the perception of validity. So far it just makes it that much more suspicious.
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Yes, there does seem to be cowpie-flies all over this story. Heheh, Allred linking her name gives the opposite of the perception of validity to anyone’s claim!
Good article and good points for both sides. We’ll see who’s story ends up in the trash after all is said and done.
Comment by Capcom — April 17, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
I used to work as a personal assistant in LA (worst period of my life, but thankfully short) and can say this:
Personal assistants have to be super trustworthy. I had full access to every aspect of my former employee’s life, personal, financial, even sexual.
In fact, you kinda live their life for them, for better or worse. I went to Walk-of-Fame dedications. Ate in the Roosevelt Hotel (with the wait staff). I picked up his dry cleaning, lied about his rehab, even wrote “quotes” for him in trade publications. I mediated fights where I had to dodge cotchkies and waffles. His housekeeper used to come and cry on my shoulder. In short, I was miserable and tired of being forced into becoming a horrible little shit-eating toady. No thank you.
I learned enough to know that if I can’t buy my own dog shampoo or schedule a Mac appointment on my own, something is horribly wrong.
In Hollywood, there still is very much a feudal class system. And it’s not going anywhere. Sadly, assistants are treated like shit. This really is the way of things. But…come on, you KNOW that going in. Anyone who thinks they’re gonna be friends with their boss or become a part of their circle is seriously deluded. You’re on the fringe of life.
Granted, not everyone is a nightmare. There are some genuinely nice people. Out there…somewhere….I heard rumors.
I got out of my crappy situation, but some choose to stay in. IF YOU GO BACK TO A BAD SITUATION AFTER GETTING OUT, THEN YOU’RE A DUMBSHIT.
That is all.
Comment by Plainjanelane — April 17, 2008 @ 6:15 pm