Rob Lowe's Nanny Speaks Out, Claims Groping And Flashing

Last Monday actor Rob Lowe wrote an exclusive blog for Huffington Post as preemptive strike against what he described as a $1.5M blackmail attempt by a former nanny to his two sons. He has since filed a lawsuit against her and two other members of his household staff. Tuesday that nanny, Jessica Gibson, appeared on Today with her attorney Gloria Allred. She claims she was sexually harassed and assaulted but kept working because she needed the job. (SCROLL FOR VIDEO & HER COUNTERSUIT)

Jessica Gibson told Today:

"I love the children, I needed the job, and I always thought it would get better -- and I was scared," Gibson told TODAY's Meredith Vieira Tuesday, one day after she filed a countersuit against the actor and his makeup artist wife, Sheryl Berkoff.

"A lot of people in her position are scared to go against someone who is rich and powerful and a famous celebrity such as Rob Lowe," added Gibson's attorney, Gloria Allred...

In court documents filed Monday, Gibson alleges: "On several occasions beginning in or about September 2005 and ending in or about January 2008, without consent, Cross Defendant Rob Lowe placed his hand inside Gibson's pants in order to touch her crotch. In or about December 2007, Cross Defendant Lowe grabbed Gibson's buttocks without consent."

Watch Gibson on Today:

Meanwhile, TMZ has Rob Lowe's nanny Jessica Gibson's countersuit:

In her suit, Gibson claims Lowe not only groped her, he repeatedly exposed his "flaccid penis" and his "erect penis" to her, repeatedly asked her "to touch his penis," repeatedly masturbated in front of her, showed her pornographic images on his computer, asked her to give him a massage and tell him dirty stories ... and that's just Rob!

She then says Rob's wife Sheryl walked around naked --"completely exposing herself" -- made "numerous sexually vulgar comments about male genitalia," "would talk about her sex life" with Rob and said that "she would never have a boyfriend because only a married man would want to f*** her."

Meanwhile, several of Lowe's other employees have come to Lowe's defense:

Lowe's estate manager, Carol Andrade, defended the actor in a written declaration provided to Lowe's legal team and obtained by PEOPLE: "Jessica never told me ... that Rob ever said or did anything that she found inappropriate or offensive or that made her feel uncomfortable ... or made sexual advances toward her."

...
In another declaration, Jennifer Dynof, president of Lowe Profile, a company owned by Lowe, also stated that she'd never witnessed any questionable behavior by Lowe.

"[In the past four years working for Rob], I have never seen him make any sexual advances toward any other woman or act inappropriately, offensively or disrespectfully toward any woman," Dynof stated.

Both employees added they would testify in court if need be.

Comments

[jumperpin]

Will someone please 'splain to me the nanny thing? If one can afford a full-time surrogate, then why can't one of the parents stay home and do it?

[HatingTheGame]

You have no idea how the other half lives do you?

[KOisGod]

Too busy shopping....

[dattexas]

Mr. Low can grope me anytime, for any reason. I won't sue, but I might ask for a cocktail.

[HatingTheGame]

Or a cockatoo

LOL

[dattexas]

LOL!

[cjo30080]

Okay, I'm a guy, so others can tell me if I'm being sexist, but for the sake of argument (and for the sake of argument only), let's give Jessica Gibson the benefit of the doubt.

Jessica Gibson is quoted above as saying, "I always thought it would get better..."

What the ...?

If true, when the first incident occurred, isn't the first order of business to IMMEDIATELY get the hell out of there? Isn't the second order of business to report the incident to the authorities (police/lawyer/EEOC/whatever)? Isn't the third order of business to contact the wife to let her know why she walked out without notice? Isn't the fourth order of business to NEVER go back to that house again?

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WOULD GET BETTER? This woman makes it difficult for me to stand behind her if she doesn't first help herself.

[Jinxykb]

I think its a pretty normal reaction for a woman in an abusive situation. Think about a relationship you or someone you may know has had that was toxic and hurtful; It's typical that people break-up and get back together over and over, or stay too long period. People do the same thing with their jobs (I should have quit 18 months ago....). It's just what we do. If you don't have that experience that is pretty great, but don't begrudge the rest of the world for not being as self-aware and together as you are.

[dattexas]

Yes, but by the same token, it can and should be considered once you file suit. The fact is, people do stay, and others do hold it against you.

[cjo30080]

First of all, sexual harassment isn't analogous to a "hurtful" relationship or a job with an frustrating boss (we all have them).

Second of all, how "self-aware" does one have to be if the employer "placed his hand inside Gibson's pants in order to touch her crotch..."?

Again, giving Gibson the benefit of the doubt (only for the sake of argument), there of course would be no excuse for any form of sexual harassment, even if she continued to re-expose herself to the situation.

However, maybe I'm naive, but there's also no good reason that I can think of for any woman to do anything other than walk out the door and never return when first encountering such harassment.

[rzan]

Women often don't leave. She finally left precipitously, probably when things got too difficult to bear, and to me, the E-mails sound like they were written by someone who is frightened and may have major self esteem issues.

[bobsmith]

Nope, it's usually not that simple. You don't know the facts. Sexual harassment can start out very subtly and progress. I can envision a scenario where a young, unassertive, financially desperate woman would tolerate a lot of crap before acting. It depends on the woman and a whole host of circumstances. There's not enough info to form an opinion.

[speakyourmind]

15 minues and counting...

[theobviouschild]

I call "BULLSHIT." This woman is obviously trying to get rich, famous or both. When Meredith Viera asked the woman whether she had demanded money from the Lowes, and whether or not she sent e-mails (saying that her leaving had nothing to do with them), the woman just looked flummoxed and somewhat stoned. Then Ms. Allred jumped in with a wordy distractions, without ever answering the questions. Gloria Allred should be ashamed of herself for defending someone who is clearly not a victim.

[Jinxykb]

'Cause really, who WOULDN'T want to take on a rich, famous, and most beloved hollywood actor, be accused of being a liar, slut and gold-digger, counter-sued for millions, and have their personal life publicly raked over the coals? Good times.

[speakyourmind]

If it results in a big pay-off, history has shown us there are MANY people who do exactly that.

[hollyo]

Allred is a publicity hound who exploits sensationalizing women's issues.
Her hand on Gibson's knee is to signal her to shut up so she can grandstand.

[CammyV]

This is, of course, possible, but watching her Today appearance and the look on her face during the interview, I am having serious doubts about her veracity. Plus having Gloria Alred as your mouthpiece just make you look desperate. Her (Alred's) explanation of the text messages was unimpressive and I think that this will be this girl's undoing. Her own words will kill her case.

[rzan]

I believe the young woman, but I also think Gloria Allred was a poor choice. I don't think Jessica is very sophisticated though, and would not know this.

[LRM216]

She's out for the bucks - that's it - all of it.

[visualizechimpeachment]

If I even tried to hire a "nanny" that hott my wife would hang me by the scrote.

[robotfog]

nothing wrong with a good scrote hanging.

[Dendera]

Did anyone notice the verbal dance Alred did when asked: "Did she ask for money to keep quiet?"

She didn't actually say, No I did not.

The lady is looking to cash in. I don't believe her. Sexual harrassment is a very serious issue, and women who rely on their proximity to famous people to cash in are only hurting the cause of real victims.

Nothing about what I have heard from the woman in question or her lawyer sounds very convincing.

[shedances]

I've seen a lot of misunderstandings between adults over issues of intimacy. I'm not sure exactly what went on between Rob Lowe & his young nanny; but whatever it was, it doesn't quite sound like sexual harassment. It sounds more like a mutual-type attraction that may have interferred with her work there ... but which both adults are responsible for (Lowe & Gibson). I think Lowe has over-reacted; but I also think his nanny is trying to gain financial favors from this predicament. Don't get me wrong, though; I don't like sexual harassment ... I've seen it happen & know how bad it can be (especially to the woman). But this doesn't quite sound like that, from the information made available so far.

K

[pizzmoe]

She makes Rob Lowe sound like Jimmy Hoffa.

[kathy001]

Yeah, right. He's a scary dude. And, of course, this is 1960 not 2008, so women are naturally afraid of speaking up about sexual harrassment.

Frankly, I've never needed a job so badly that I would stay where someone actually put his hands down my pants without my consent. Sheesh! What was the unemployment rate in her area - 75%? It must have been if she felt she had to hang on to a job like that. Besides, what about the story that she told her friend - that she was hoping Rob would divorce his wife for her?

Sorry, I don't buy it. Too many conflicting stories and the one she is telling has been told so many times and is so worn that I can actually see right through it.

[AgathaX]

I've represented women like this, and it all rings true. Personally, I'm with you. No one could put me in that situation. However, it happens. One of the things that makes people (mostly women) stay, is that the harassers can be complex: sometimes doing unthinkable things, other times being quite personable. The victim has generally spent countless "normal" hours with the harassers and is likely fond of them on some level. Moreover, in this case she was looking after children whom she was likely fond of.

Where the harassers are the bosses, victims have no one to complain to. Almost always there is an age/experience disparity between harasser and victim. Occasionally, they feel bad for the wife and don't want to tell her about her husband; other times she's part of the problem. Or they fear she'll view the victim as the problem and they'll lose their livelihood. And never underestimate people's capacity to hope tomorrow will be different.

Often when the victim finally decides to do something about the harassment they do something inappropriate themselves like curse out the employer, quit after the harassment has stopped, or make clumsy requests for money. When "normal" has not been very normal for a long time, you can lose perspective on how to handle situations.

Fear that they won't be believed is one of the biggest reasons that victims of harassment do not come forward. The thing will play out. Don't be too quick to judge.

[kathy001]

Good words and ones to take to heart. However, when the so-called victim tried to extort money from her alleged victimizer she lost all credibility with me.

[MizJ]

"In or about December 2007, Cross Defendant Lowe grabbed Gibson's buttocks without consent."

Now how would that request go exactly? "Do I have your permission to touch your buttocks?"

[robotfog]

only if you wash your hands first.

[DrFelch]

Oh no! Rob Lowe? A Pervert? Who would have guessed? Actually... who friggen cares?????
this stuff is so lame.

[ming099]

........aaahhhh....the magic words.......GLORIA ALLRED.........

.....stick to your guns Rob............make the 'justice whore' prove it in court........